UCD Relay for Life 2015

Dear everyone, 

This year again, the Society will be taking part in the UCD Relay for Life! The event will take place on the astropitch opposite the UCDSport centre (follow the noise! ) on the 14th and 15th of April. It will start on the 14th at 12pm and run for 24hours. 

To see how things went last year, click here.

You can sponsor the Archaeology Relay Team here. 

The information below is taken from the UCD Relay for Life Facebook page: 

• What is Relay?

Relay for Life UCD is a 24-hour CANCER awareness and fundraising event taking place on our very own campus in mid April! We have all been touched by cancer in some way, and this event gives a community like UCD the opportunity to FIGHT BACK!

• What happens during Relay?

A special aspect of RELAY is that you would be a member of a TEAM. Teams are made up of between 10-15 people whereby at least one member of the team must stay on the ‘track’ at all time, RELAY IS NOT A RACE. You may run, dance, skip or somersault around the track if so you wish. The TRACK will have numerous interesting, FUN stands,stalls and entertainment set up by each TEAM to raise funds for the IRISH CANCER SOCIETY! Working TOGETHER to FIGHT BACK!

• Survivors’ Lap

This can only be described as INSPIRATIONAL! The opening lap of the RELAY will be completed by cancer survivors. This is WHY we relay! 

• Candle of Hope Ceremony

The Candle of Hope Ceremony takes place later in the evening as darkness begins to fall. Prior the event, everyone in the community is invited to dedicate a Candle of Hope to someone you know who has been touched by CANCER. As the evening

approaches, the candles are set around the track and lit by participants. It is during this time that the TRUE MEANING of RELAY hits HOME! 

Relay for Life 2014

• Why do we Relay?

CANCER will affect 1 in 3 people in Ireland during their lifetime. Unfortunately, this statistic is only rising. WE HAVE TO FIGHT BACK! All the funds raised through sponsorship and fundraising will go to support the IRISH CANCER SOCIETY ‘s national services and mission to achieve world-class cancer services, working towards fewer people getting CANCER and that those that do- have better outcomes and improved treatment. FIGHT BACK! 

Relay for Life 2014
UCD Archaeology & Classics Society joining up for a Historical Shield parade

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 !

Historical shield parade at Relay for Life 2014

"Hold the line!" - 300 

Dear everyone, 

This year, 30 members of the Archaeology Society are taking part in the Relay for Life 2014 in aid of the Irish Cancer Society. We have come up with quite a special idea to create a buzz and attract people to our fundraising stall - while at the same time, showing UCD what we archaeologists do ! 

We will be hosting a "Historical Shield Parade" at 3pm on the opening day of the Relay, Wednesday 9th April. 

What will this consist of? Very simply, a group of us , having done Combat Archaeology with Dr. Peatfield, and made a shield as part of our assignment, will be marching around the Relay track for one lap and showing off these shields. We will be joined by other students in historical (more or less accurate) fancy dress, we will have a special soundtrack being played for us, and a little bird told me we will be equipped with replica Viking horns to make as much noise as possible !

So COME SEE US ! Come support us !

It is not too late to join the parade, all you need is either a shield or a costume - or just your enthusiasm and your shouts ! - just either email Alex at alexandra.guglielmi@ucdconnect.ie and let her know, or simply turn up on the day at 2:45pm and join the fun !

And remember you can support us by donating online to our fundraising page: 

http://www.mycharity.ie/event/team_archaeology_2014/

Team Archaeology on its way !

Dear everyone,

A huge thank you to all who came today to our coffee morning today, and to the Relay for Life information and recruitment session we held ! We are very happy to announce that we have a team of 15 motivated members ready to take the floor on the day of the event! (Date TBC, somewhere in early April).
So a big thank you to everyone who joined the team today !

Relay for Life information and recruitment session, 22/01/2014

If you could not sign up today and would still like to take part, here are the options available to you:

1. There are still some places on the team! Come to our next coffee morning (Wednesday 29th January) for a chance to sign up: it's only a fiver and it's such a good deed. 
2. Join us as one of our bakers or fancy-dressers/reenactors on the day! We will need volunteers to bake for a bake sale, and to dress up in historical costumes to promote our fundraising stall
3. Can't bake or don't have a costume? You can still join us on the day and give us a hand in setting up, decorating the stall and manning the stall throughout the day. Any help will be appreciated!

If you have any queries, please just drop me an email and I'll be glad to answer them. Relay for Life 2014 promises to be just as fantastic as last year, and we are looking forward to seeing you on the day !
You can read more about Relay for Life on the Irish Cancer Society website.  Find out more about what we did last year by watching the video we made with all the pictures from the day ! And why not follow the UCD Relay for Life page on Facebook?

Thanks again,

Alexandra Guglielmi
Social Media Coordinator

PS: We apologise for the size of the only room we could secure for the day and hope that you had a good time. It was good to see so many of you back after the Christmas break.

Coffee morning in the Old Student Centre , 22/01/2014

Coffee morning in the Old Student Centre , 22/01/2014

Coffee morning in the Old Student Centre , 22/01/2014

Coffee morning in the Old Student Centre , 22/01/2014

Our next coffee morning will be Wednesday 29th of January and will take place in rooms 1-3 of the Old Student centre, from 12-2pm.

Relay for Life UCD: Team Archaeology, information and recruitement!

Dear everyone,

The new semester starts next week and with it comes the most fantastic heart-warming event taking place on campus this year: the Relay For Life UCD in aid of the Irish Cancer Society. Last year, a team of society members took part in it and with the help of our friends an the School, made it a memorable day.

UCD Relay for Life 2013: Team Archaeology

So this year, the Society is ready again! On the first coffee morning of the semester, Wednesday 22nd of January (room TBC), we will host an information,  session, show you what we did last year and will give you the possibility to join the Archaeology Team for 5€ (until the 31st of January).

The idea is simple: 1 track, 15 team members, 24hours to go. You can walk or run around the track for 1 or 2 slots during the 24hour-event. The provisional date for the 2014 event is somewhere during the week of the 7th of April. 

We will also need volunteers to bake muffins and cakes for a bake sale, and we will also call for archaeological fancy dressers to create a buzz at our stall on the day ! So time to dig out thy Viking robes, ladies and gentlemen!

You can read more about the Relay for Life on the Irish Cancer Society official website here.  For any question regarding the UCD event or joining Team Archaeology, please contact committee members Sarah P. Delaney or Alexandra Guglielmi.

Charity book collect in aid of the Irish Cancer Society

The Archaeological Society is committed to take part in charity events and help support important causes. 

The first of our charity projects is a pre-Christmas book collect in aid of the Irish Cancer Society. It will be take place during the last two coffee mornings of the semester (20th and 27th of November).If you have any unwanted books' bring them to the coffee morning and they will be collected by Alexandra Guglielmi for the Irish Cancer Society Charity Shop Rathmines All types of books are welcome! You can also donate DVDs and CDs too if you want.

This event will take place in Rooms 1-3 of the Old student Centre on both Wednesday 20th and 27th November.

If you cannot make it to the coffee mornings, or if you have other items you would like to donate (e.g. clothes, shoes), just contact Alex at alexandra.guglielmi@ucdconnect.ie and she'll arrange to pick up your donations and bring them to the shop.