2009 will be the fifth year the Second Life community has come together for the Relay for Life, an walkathon event created by the American Cancer Society. This event aims to raise both money and awareness of cancer, to help support those who are dealing with the disease, and to eventually find a cure. The teen community is holding RFL events of its own for the third year.
Around the Teen Grid, donation signs and boxes have cropped up in the most popular areas, allowing residents to pay as much or as little as they like. In addition, Global Kids donated a large plot of land to set up a headquarters. Just like the MG, teen RFL donation presents spot the area, contributed by a number of adults such as Arizona Ballinger, char Fhang, azure Milev, Lilliput Little, Dellybean North, and plenty more. Teen designer Anna Normany has given away two of her hairs in purple, a rare and always appreciated freebie.
One May 29th event sponsored by In Eros Veritas, a large TSL club, raised over $L11,00 and matched it $L for $L, for a total around $L22,000. The party was even briefly attended by ex-Teen Community Manager Blue Linden.
On June 1st, teens plan to paint the grid purple to raise awareness by asking shop owners to cover their stores in purple, and individuals to wear purple clothing. Global Kids will even be turning its entire island purple for the day and is encouraging other islands to do the same.
The mastermind behind this whole event is the talented Lucky Figtree, a longtime GK helper and teen activist who has been running TG RFL events for the past three years. She also speaks at conferences both in-world and first life with Global Kids. On the Relay for Life, she said, “With Relay for Life on the Teen Grid, I hope to give teens all the opportunity in the world to make a difference. Too often the teen grid is regarded as a waste of time and space, and I want to change that and show the teens just how much good they can do when they come together. Our plan is to educate and train in hopes that when it’s time for these teens to transfer, they’ll take part in the main grid relay and continue to celebrate, remember and fight back.” Lucky will transfer on August 23rd, 2009.
As of this writing, teens have raised over $L42,000, or about US$150, and far more is expected in the coming weeks.
(You can view pictures of the Teen Relay for Life area on my Flickr photostream and the Second Life Relay for Life group.)
