The First Newsvine Charity Event

After some frenzied discussion with TopJedi, Mykola, prompt, and several other users, we have decided that the first Newsvine charity event (conducted by its users and friends) should support Relay For Life. If you've been waiting for a 'dare to be great' scenario in which to get more involved with Newsvine, it is now at your doorstep.

Relay For Life is a signature fundraising event of the American Cancer Society – however, it is a concept not exclusive to America, with events operating or planned for in Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Honduras, Ireland Italy, Jamaica, Malaysia, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, the Philippines, Portugal, South Africa, Taiwan, the United Kingdom, and Venezuela.

Relay For Life raises awareness about cancer as well as money to support cancer research. RFL 'Teams' are gathered that donate and collect money for the Cancer Society. They also pledge to participate in the 24 hour Relay For Life event, where members take turns and rotate walking/running on a track.

The organization/event was chosen for several reasons:

• The cause is non-discrimantory and so is the disease. Republicans, Democrats, black, white, Jedi, and Sith (okay, maybe not Sith) can all agree cancer is an awful disease, and many of us know someone firsthand affected by it.
• RFL already has an existing infrastructure where members on the Vine can create a Newsvine team in their hometown. RFL also has the setup to donate online.
• Newsvine members on the ground in various locations can be working for RLF, but other users not able to do so, or outside of America/Canada/Whatever can still donate to the cause. Here's your chance to 'put up or shut up' about Newsvine not including members of the global community.
• The donation system is transparent. You can log on to our team RFL website hosted by the American Cancer Society and see that your money is going where you want it to be going. No one is going to be taking your cash to Mexico. We will keep a running tally of all NV donations and provide that information publicly.
• The Cancer Society is a non-profit organization and donations to it are tax-deductible.
• The history of the event is one of hope and togetherness, something that benefits cancer survivors, but would also serve to strengthen our own community here as well.

After discussion, we came to the conclusion that myself and Mykola will host a main 'base of operations' style event in Ohio, as we seem to have several Ohio members here, particularly in the capital city. This event will take place June 23-24 in Grove City, Ohio. We encourage Ohio members to participate in this event and collect donations from your friends, family, and businesses. If you are not in Ohio, you are urged to logon and find an event near you, get a team together, and collect donations in your neck of the woods.

We would like to designate this Ohio event as a 'base camp' as it will allow for people who are unable to participate at all to still donate to a worthy cause and make us all here at Newsvine feel like more of a community while helping others. I will be able to take plenty of pictures and video to share during the event, that will be posted here (videos will probably be linked on YouTube). Depending on internet access, I'm willing to provide this in real-time.

So – are you in, or are you out?

If you host/plan to host an event, post the info below or email it to me and I will see that it gets listed in this space, as well as the series of articles on this topic to follow. As we speak, prompt is looking into organizing a Toronto, Canada event, and other will soon be in the works.

Let's stop talking and start moving, people. If you are in Ohio and can participate in the actual event, logon to the team website or email me and I will put you on the list. If you are elsewhere, organize your own team and relay that information and website to me. If you can't do either, you can still donate online.

I'll start the ball rolling. I'm a poor college student who winces every time rent is due. I'll throw in $20 bucks. I'm challenging Viners to donate half that amount, ten bucks – about the cost of wasting your money watching a mediocre movie at the cinema. If you don't have ten bucks, donate five. I highly doubt that the 30+ people on my friends list can not spare 5 bucks out of their pocket or on their credit card.

Let's get to work and plant those seeds of hope, people.

Add team-newsvine to your watchlist for updates on this event as it progresses.