Seven Reasons To Sign Up For Relay For Life (Specifically North Middlesex's)

If you don't already know, Relay for Life is a fundraiser. You are allowed to pull an activity-filled all-nighter with other cancer-haters, as long as you have raised at least $100. Whatever effort you put in will be returned when it's 2 in the morning and you're sharing coffee and ice cream with your fellow cancer-haters. Here's seven reasons you should sign up now, and for North Middlesex's Relay for Life.

1. You are a generally nice person with a busy life who is looking for a chance to contribute to society.

It's almost time for the holidays, and you're still reeling from summer ending. You've promised your mother you'd clean out the garage, told your environmental teacher you would clean up the nature trails, and wanted to get involved in some sort of organization. But instead you're adding more boxes to the garage, and have spent a lot more time on Instagram than looking into soup kitchens. What are you to do? Sign up for Relay for Life! Go to https://accounts.cancer.org/register and join a team. Registration is only ten dollars. If you're looking for a particularly fun Relay, join North Middlesex Regional High School's event. If you can't get together a team, just join the Got Hope team. Now you haven't even started fundraising, but you've already helped the American Cancer Society.

2. Fundraising is easier than ever

You can now collect donations through your phone! If you have an iPhone or Android phone (sorry Windows phones), you can download the free Relay for Life app. You can also take to every social media platform to ask for donations.

3. Cancer affects everyone

Whether or not you've had cancer, or an immediate family member has, cancer affects you. Friends, family, coworkers, teachers, peers- all of them can get cancer. Cancer affects not only the cancer fighter but the caregiver, the chemo nurse, someone's spouse, someone's boss, etc. In some way, your life has been or will be touched by cancer.

4. It's just a whole lot of fun

The night of Relay represents a cancer patient's journey. The sun going down represents a diagnosis, and it gets darker and darker until the Midnight ceremony. Then, as the cancer patient is in his or her hardest and darkest time, everyone comes together for the ceremony. The rest of the night is dedicated to staying awake until dawn, representing rebirth.

But how does one stay up all night? By camping out around a track (or whatever your venue is) in little tents, walking the track all night. By having games and food. By having a coffee hour, an ice cream hour, a cake walk, and musical chairs. By having a hardcore timed fundraising contest. By buying homemade snacks and crafts and tee-shirts. By participating in an 11 o'clock dodge ball game.

At North Middlesex this year, the theme is carnival and it's going to be fantabulous.

5. Your efforts actively HELP people everyday.

There are two Hope Lodges located near North Middlesex, one in Worcester and one in Boston. It is at these lodges that cancer patients can stay free of charge and be able to relax in between treatments.

The American Cancer Society covers all aspects of stopping cancer. And your fundraising drives them- from our legislative group protecting consumers and the environment, to our informative missions. Money goes to research, to patients, to informing the public, to community events, and most importantly, supporting people.

6. When your mom asks you to clean out your garage, you can tell her you can't because you're doing really important things, like fighting cancer.

Relay for Life gives you opportunities to support others while having fun. Fundraising with friends is not only a good time, it's a respectable activity that's usually mom-approved.

7. We will support you in your mission to support others.

Especially at North Middlesex, Relay for Life is trying to hook you up with the best resources to make your fundraising a success. This year, we will be designating Team Ambassadors to your teams, to help you set up canvassing and fundraising days, along with planning other fun fundraising activities to make sure you get where you need to be. Which is at the North Middlesex Regional High School Relay for Life.