Relay for Life 2014: how it went

You can still sponsor us: http://www.mycharity.ie/event/team_archaeology_2014/

On Wednesday 9th and Thursday 10th of April 2014, the Archaeology Society took part in the UCD Relay for Life in aid of the Irish Cancer Society. This year, we had two teams of 15 members registered !

>>> All photographs of the event can be found here <<<

We started early by setting up our fundraising tent between 12pm and 2pm: last year, the treacherous Irish winds had broken our previous gazebo, so this time, we took extra care to make it as stable as possible, tying it to the fences and adding extra weights around the feet. We had the Classics society as our neighbours for the event.

The Archaeology tent at the UCD Relay for Life 2014

The Classics Society at the UCD Relay for Life 2014

In addition to our 24-hour bake sale, we had organised a special lap, in armour and historical costumes: our very own "Historical Shield Parade". We received the visit of Prof. Gabriel Cooney, Dr. Alan Peatfield and Mr. Conor McDermott for this occasion ! However, the organisers of the Relay had quite a few problems with the sound system and in the end, we had to charge mainly to the sound of our Viking horns and battle cries. It was great fun though, and we sure made an impact on the visitors !

The Historical Shield Parade

We spent the rest of the afternoon selling cakes at our tent, as well as around campus, where a few of us went around with boxes of beautifully decorated cupcakes. Back on the pitch, the rest of the team was busy showing our visitors the various pieces of armour that we had on display: chain-mail, leather scabbards, furs, horns...

Curious visitors handling Tom Manning's shield

Then the evening came and with it, the beautiful Candle of Hope ceremony. This is really the heart of the Relay for Life: when candles are lit to celebrate survivors and to remember, to honour those we lost to cancer. A choir was singing The Parting Glass and members of the organizing committee read a poem. We then proceeded to walk three laps, in silence, to reflect on the meaning of Relay.

The Candles of Hope

As night went on, everyone kept fundraising in a variety of ways: selling tea, selling pizza, a raffle prize, dying hair, giving massages ... At the same time, the Relay organisers had put together a programme of activities to keep us all awake, and so it is that around 11pm, the UCD Trad Soc took the pitch and entertained us with their lively music (see video below). The bravest of us stayed at the tent throughout the night... ( I didn't this time!).

The "Night Team" at the Archaeology tent

The Relay ended at 2pm on the following day, by a gathering of all participants on the Relay track, and a crazy run to the sound of loud pop music. Once more, we were putting down the gazebo - in one piece this time - feeling both exhausted and exhilarated by the energy of Relay. It really is the most special event taking place at UCD every year, and we hope that the Society will be there again next year with a team (or two! ), to keep the spirit of Relay alive, and to keep fundraising for the Irish Cancer Society. The video below shows the highlights of the Relay 2014.

By Alexandra Guglielmi

>>> All photographs of the event can be found here <<<

You can still sponsor us: http://www.mycharity.ie/event/team_archaeology_2014/

The UCD Relay for Life 2014 Highlights

The 2014 UCD Relay for Life Archaeology Team (Team Members, Bakers and Shield-Bearers) was: 

Micheál Butler, Paul Codd, John Collins, Cian Corrigan,Alan Cumiskey,
Sarah Delaney (Team Captain), Peter Dodd, Mollie Christina Dogherty, Stephen Domican,
Emmet Fennelly, Mena Fitzgibbon, , Connor Fitzmaurice, John Fogarty, Adam Fowler,
Emily Geoghegan (Team Captain), Alexandra Guglielmi, Alix H., Sam Hughes,Conor Kavanagh,
Terry Kelleher, Patricia Kenny, Sean Kinsella, Lily MacNulty, Tom Manning,
Miriam McGovern, Holly Miley, Kerrie Nic Chormaic,Paula Moran Ortin,
Aisling O'Riordan Greene, Elena Sanchez Alonso, Jonathan Shiell,
Aoife Spollen, Brandon Walsh and Liam Wilson.

THANK YOU !