Tag: RFL 2019

Fantasy Faire 2019: theme and dates announced; merchant applications open

Posted on by Inara Pey
via Fantasy Faire

Update: The Merchant Application Form is now available – click here if you’re interested.

Fantasy Faire, the largest fantasy-related event to take place in Second Life, has announced both the theme for the 2019 event and its dates.

Once again raising money for the global work of the American Cancer Society as a part of the Relay for Life of Second Life 2019 season, Fantasy faire will this year have the theme of Builders of Hope. 

2019 marks the eleventh year for Fantasy Faire, which has traditionally been slated to run eleven days each year, but this year it will be a little different, as the press release announcing the event notes:

Fantasy Faire has always officially lasted eleven days, and in recent years we’ve been fortunate to have a few extra days added. This year we’re making it official: our formal programming will still conclude with our One Team dance party marathon on Monday, April 29th, but now we invite you to join us for an additional week of shopping, questing, and exploring as the Fairelands will be open through Sunday, May 5th. That’s a total of eighteen days of the Faire – and you never know when something unexpected might happen in that final week!

So in total, Fantasy Faire will run from Thursday, April 18th through until Sunday, May 5th, 2019, inclusive.

Fantasy Faire 2018: Aetherea (Alia Baroque)

As with previous years, Fantasy Faire 2019 will comprise 10 shopping regions hosting 200 of Second Life’s top Fantasy Creators, offering the most comprehensive opportunity for fantasy shopping. In addition, there will be a further six regions focusing on entertainment, the Fairelands Quest, art, the Fantasy Faire Literary Festival, and the Worldling Collection.

All of the regions will be designed and themed by some of Second Life’s top designers, making the event a must-see even if fantasy isn’t a major part of your life. And throughout it all, there will be opportunities to show your support for ACS and the global work of cancer treatment, care and prevention via direct donation or by purchasing some of the many items participating merchants will be selling, with all or part of the proceeds going to RFL of SL and the American Cancer Society.

As always, I’ll be doing my best to provide updates and relay news on Fantasy Faire through the pages of this blog – but to keep right up-to-date on things, be sure to visit the Fantasy Faire website, and follow the event via the social media links below.

Additional Links

RFL 2019: team registrations and Information Day

Posted on by Inara Pey
via RFL of SL

The 2019 Relay for Life Second Life fund-raising season is approaching, and with it comes some changes, some of which have been previously noted in these pages.

Chief among the changes are the move of a couple of key dates:

  • The kick-off weekend for the core 16 weeks of activities will launch at 10:00 SLT on Saturday, February 16th, 2019.
  • The Relay Weekend will take place on Saturday June 8th and Sunday June 9th, roughly a month earlier than has tended to previously be the case.  This will once again feature a number of key activities, including:
    • The Opening Ceremony.
    • Survivor / Caregiver walk.
    • Luminaria Ceremony.
    • Closing Ceremony.

Team registrations for the season opened on Sunday, January 20th, at part of the ACS National Recruitment Challenge, which runs January 20th through February 3rd, 2019.

As noted on the Second life Relay Information website, people can also participate in a number of other ways, including:

  • Attending RFL of SL events.
  • Merchants, creators and club owners can:
    • Place RFL kiosks and / or vendors in their shops / clubs.
    • Display RFL information in their businesses.
    • Donate ad board space.
    • Gift cards and / creations can be donated either to teams or for Relay auctions and raffles.
  • Live Singers and DJs can donate their services at Relay For Life events.
  • Group owners can  notices about Relay For Life events.
  • People can sponsor RDL of SL events – contact Ariel Stormcrow or Dianna Wycliffe for more information.
  • Land holders can donate their land for an RFL of SL event.

American Cancer Society Information Day

Information Day

Want to learn more about the American Cancer Society, Relay for Life and / or RFL of SL? Then why not drop in to one of the Information Day sessions being held on Sunday, January 27th, 2019.

The day will see four meet and greet sessions take place:

  • 06:00-08:00 SLT
  • 10:00-12:00 SLT
  • 14:00-16:00 SLT
  • 18:00-20:00 SLT

Each of these sessions will include the opportunity to hear about Relay for Life, Making Strides Against Breast Cancer, Survivor Support Groups, Caregiver Support Groups, connecting Second Life to Real Life American Cancer Society.

The Information Day will take place on the American Cancer Society island, As well as these sessions, there will also be entertainment from:

  • Austin Moores 12:00 noon SLT.
  • Max Kleene 13:00 SLT.
  • Relay Rap 16:00 SLT.
  • Keeba and the Tiny Maniacs 17:00.

For a full schedule of the event, please contact Nuala Maracas or Trader1 Whiplash in-world.

RFL of SL: an important update and KNH Hope Hostel news

Posted on by Inara Pey
via RFL of SL

In mid-December, I offered an update on Relay For Life of Second Life, which included news on the KNH Hope Hostel, and the slightly less positive news that it appeared as if Stingray Raymaker, so long the guiding force of RFL in Second Life and the conduit Second Life and the American Cancer Society (ACS), had departed the organisation.

Well, as it turns out, there is more news on both – and the news is very positive.

Stingray had broken the news of his (then) impending departure from ACS at the end of November, emphasising that while it was due to occur on December 7th, he was confident that ACS’s work in Second Life would continue.

Well – the work will continue – and with Stingray still very much actively involved, having accepted a new position with ACS, as he notes himself:

As you all probably know, my last day as Director, RFL Online Revenue was on December 7, 2018. I have continued to support our volunteers in Second Life during the past weeks while applying and interviewing for other jobs. For those who wish to keep up, I am proud to share with you that I have found a new job that I started Monday, December 17 and the best thing about this new job is that I get to continue working with you all in Second Life. In fact, Second Life is one of the most important priorities that I am responsible for now as the new Sr. Consultant, Virtual Community Development for the American Cancer Society.

The new position stands in recognition of the huge amount of support virtual world residents  – particularly those engaged in Second Life – have given to the American Cancer Society over the years, and came about as a result of ACS leaders meeting with members of the Second Life Relay community, allowing them to gain an even greater understanding of the potential offered by virtual environments.

This is actually very good news, and I’d like to extend my congratulations to Stingray on his new role.

More on the KNH Hope Hostel

As I’ve previously reported in these pages, the Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) Hope Hostel is the flagship of a programme to expand the American Cancer Society’s Hope Lodge facilities world-wide. These provide free accommodations for cancer patients and their caregivers during treatment. More than a place to stay, a Hope Lodge can be an essential part of cancer care for many. In 2014, for example, over 44,000 cancer patients and caregivers stayed at a Hope Lodge in the United States, accumulating over 276,000 free nights of accommodation with access to a range of facilities such as a social centre, library, and laundry, all of which they otherwise might not have been able to afford.

Artist rendering of the Hope Hostel from the Kenyatta National Hospital website

As a part of the initiative, the 2018 RFL of SL Fantasy adopted the KNH Hope Hostel as the recipient of all funds raised.

The total cost to build the new hostel and operate it for two years has been put at US $2.8 million. Thanks to a goal effort by supporters of the American Cancer Society – including Second Life residents – all but US $300,000 has now been raised.

The incredible amounts of money raised by Relayers in Second Life, and their commitment to help us finish the job of funding the KNH Hope Hostel has been an inspiration to our Matching Sponsors. It has gone a long way to convincing them – and us! – that we can get to the finish line in 2019. 

Kristen Solt, ACS Managing Director of Global Alliances.

A plan is now being developed to rally support from Relay For Life teams in Second Life along with those in other virtual and digital communities, as well as in brick-and-mortar Relay For Life events to raise the remaining US $300,000. As well as participating in these efforts during the 2019 RFL of SL season, those who wish can donate directly to the KNH project. Note that all donations made through this page will be automatically matched by ACS Matching Sponsors.

There is a wonderful Kenyan proverb which states that sticks in a bundle are unbreakable. The kinds of partnerships that are emerging through this project – connecting communities across the world including those throughout the metaverse – are proof that when we work together there is nothing we can’t achieve.

Zander Greene, Fantasy Faire of Second Life Co-Captain

So, here’s wishing the ACS and the RFL teams all the very best for the 2019 season, and to seeing the ground broken and work started on the KNH Hope Hostel.

I’ll have more on the KNH Hope Hostel, and of course on the work of the RFL of SL team and fund-their raising throughout 2019.

With thanks to Zander Greene.