I definitely believe that it is important to be happy and enjoy your life to the fullest; but on the other hand, you’ve got to give back too.  It’s equally important to leave the world a better place than when you arrived to it.  The same goes for travel: have fun yet still leave a positive impact wherever you may go.

Well The Relay for Life, an event that happens all across the United States, usually during June, is the perfect balance between the two.

This event is run by the American Cancer Society, and takes place overnight.  Anybody of any age can create a “team”, which helps raise money to support the ACS prior to Relay.  The event is called a “Relay” because it always takes place at a track and the teams come and camp out for the whole night, and walk laps around the track.

It may not sound like the most exciting thing, but take my word for it when I say that it is a blast.  It’s one big social event, with music being played all night long, sports games and other little games going on in the center of the field, and a lot of sleepless fun with all of your friends.  Even if you don’t have friends there, it’s so easy to meet plenty of new people.

“Luminaria” bags are decorated and placed around the track and lit up in memory of those who have died from cancer.

Each hour of this overnight event is a new themed lap.  Of course, costumes are optional, but it’s always fun to dress up and be absolutely ridiculous.  Some of these themed laps have included Halloween, Crazy Hats, Olympic Sports, Mardi Gras, Rock Star, ’50s, and a whole lot more ridiculous themes which I don’t remember.  And when you don’t feel like walking around the track, dressed for the theme or not, you can always grab some food, retreat to your team’s tent to try and at least get some sleep, or just chill with some friends.

I have participated in the Relay for Life since I was 13, and now that I’m going to college, soon, the one I did this year might be my last.  I always have a blast, and the long night of practically no sleep and sore feet is definitely worth it every year, especially since at the same time that I’m having fun, I’m helping out a good cause.