Frequently Asked Questions
What is the easiest way to explain what Celebrate. Remember. Fight Back. is?
Relay For Life events have always featured moving ceremonies that touch people emotionally,
help them heal and inspire them to want to fight back against cancer. At Relay, opening
ceremonies and survivor/caregivers’ lap are a celebration of those who have overcome cancer
and the luminaria ceremony provides a time and place to remember the memory of those we’ve
lost.
The Fight Back ceremony is held to encourage participants to make a commitment to take
concrete steps to save lives. Using the words Celebrate. Remember. Fight Back. is simply a
way of capturing in words the spirit of Relay For Life.
Is there anything different about “Celebrate” that my committee is supposed to do?
Be sure to be inclusive when planning your celebrate activities during Relay – especially your
opening ceremonies and survivor/caregiver laps. Opening Ceremonies should include
messaging that makes all in attendance see the importance of being involved with Relay.
Consider adding a caregivers lap or including caregivers as part of the survivor lap. And
consider that some caregivers attend Relay to celebrate the life of a loved one lost and should
feel included in any caregiver activities.
Sample scripts that address these concepts are in the CRFB Resource Guidebook and are
available in hardcopy through your staff partner and on RelayForLife.org in the Relay Library
under CRFB.
If you are looking for other ways to refresh and update your celebrate activities and ceremonies
– great new ideas are also available in these same resources (CRFB Resource Guidebook &
RelayForLife.org)
Is Celebrate. Remember. Fight Back. the theme for the 2008 Relay season?
No. Celebrate. Remember. Fight Back. is not a theme – it is a way of messaging what Relay is
and what we do at Relay.
Is there anything different about “Remember” that my committee is supposed to do?
Just like with “Celebrate” remember to be inclusive of all audience members when planning your
Remember activities – especially your Luminaria ceremony. The Luminaria Ceremony is
symbolic of remembrance and a time of healing. You may choose to do something as simple as
asking a former caregiver to be your guest speaker. Ask them to share their story of
remembrance.
Again, as with new ideas to refresh and update your Remember activities, look to your CRFB
Resource Guide available through your staff partner and on RelayForLife.org in the Relay
Library under CRFB.
So, is Fight Back just the Fight Back ceremony?
No. Fight Back is our mission in action. It is the personal commitment and concrete steps
someone takes to fight back against the disease – deciding to get their colonoscopy,
encouraging a friend to stop smoking, becoming an ACS CAN member, etc. The Fight Back
ceremony is simply that – a ceremony at Relay that encourages and inspires an individual – as
part of a greater community – to a pledge to fight back. It also provides a concrete visual
representation (with the display of Fight Back flags) of the cancer burden in a given community.
The Fight Back ceremony is new – where should I start with my planning?
The first place to start is to visit with your staff partner about what the Fight Back ceremony is
and together make your plans about how best to proceed. The next step is to read through the
information in the CRFB Resource Guidebook including the sample script. From there you
should identify a speaker and determine any supplies or logistical needs you might have.
Because this is a new ceremony, we will be tracking what is happening across the country –
how people are planning their ceremonies, what they are planning, how they conduct them,
what responses they receive – and then sharing best practices. You can look for this tracking
and sharing of real-time information through your staff partner and through RelayForLife.org on
the Fight Back page beginning in May 2008. Be sure to check out the Fight Back blog and
forum as well as the Fight Back ceremony podcast.
Do I have to recruit a brand new committee to plan all the Fight Back stuff – the
ceremony and day of activities?
No. Each community is different and, depending on how your committee is structured your
Fight Back ceremony and day of activities may fall within a few different committees. Here is an
example of how the Fight Back responsibilities may fall within your committee:
Committee Chairperson –
 Working closely with staff partner to assure all committee members understand CRFB
 Assure each committee member understands their role as it relates to CRFB
ceremonies
 Provide a basic roll-out training on CRFB
 Work with Mission/Advocacy committee chair to include Fight Back activities into
committee meetings
 Help to identify a motivational/inspiring speaker for the Fight Back ceremony
Ceremonies Committee –
 Work with Event Chair on scripting and flow of Fight Back ceremony
 Work with the Logistics committee on assuring sound system, speakers, staging is set
and as adequate as possible
 Responsible for setting up the logistical pieces of the Fight Back ceremony including
staging area decorating, display of banners for signing, display of banners for
decoration, display of flags
 Work with mission/advocacy committee to staff the Fight Back area – where banner is
being signed, pledge cards given out, stickers provided
Mission/Advocacy Committee/s –
 Plan day of Fight Back activities (see CRFB Resource Guidebook and RelayForLife.org
in the Relay Library for specific day of ideas)
 Work with Ceremonies committee to identify and prepare volunteers to staff the Fight
Back area where banners are signed, pledge cards given, stickers provided, etc
 Collect and return pledge cards to the staff partner
Team Recruitment Committee –
 Work with Mission/Advocacy committee on including Fight Back activities in Kick-off
events and Team Captain meetings
Marketing/Communications Committee –
 Work with appropriate committees to provide press releases, feature stories including
the CRFB messaging
 Work with appropriate committees to market to the public the Survivor/Caregivers’ lap,
Luminaria and Fight Back Ceremonies using the CRFB messaging
Who on my committee should be responsible for planning the Fight Back ceremony?
Again, this will depend on your own unique committee. In the above example the responsibility
of the script and speaker fell within the Chair and the Ceremonies committee. This may work
for your committee – it may not.
If you don’t have a ceremonies committee – the responsibility may fall with your Chairperson, it
may fall with your Mission/Advocacy committee Chair.
If there doesn’t seem to be a logical fit for your committee – then, yes, you may want to consider
recruiting a new committee member who is responsible for the planning and implementing of the
Fight Back ceremony. This can be a great opportunity for a past Chair or Team Development
Chair.
Which committee is responsible for the Fight back activities that happen during the
event?
These activities typically fall within the responsibility of the Mission and/or Advocacy Chair and
their committee.
Is the Fight Back ceremony supposed to be my event’s new closing ceremony?
The Fight Back ceremony was not created as a closing ceremony. The purpose of the Fight
Back ceremony was to create a time during the event to symbolically represent a personal call
to action – to fight back against cancer. The closing ceremony still has an important role in the
event. Of course, referencing the opportunity for Relayers to fight back would be a great thing to
mention during at closing time. When an event chooses to hold their Fight Back ceremony is up
to the volunteers, taking Division recommendations into account.
When is the best time to do our Fight Back ceremony?
Your Fight Back ceremony should be planned at a time when you feel it will have the most
emotional impact on the largest number of people at your event. This could be Friday evening
after luminaria – it could be Saturday morning or afternoon.
Should we invite the community to our Fight Back ceremony?
Absolutely! The Fight Back ceremony is designed to inspire people to take personal action that
could make the difference to them, someone they love or someone in their community.
Everyone in all communities should be given this opportunity to join in the Fight Back ceremony
and making a pledge to Fight Back!
What is the best way to invite the community out to our Fight Back ceremony?
Think about those ways you invite anyone out to your event.
 Start with your own committee – and have them invite those people they know.
 Your Team Captains are a great resource to help spread the message of this exciting
new ceremony and the positive impact it can have on their community.
 Through your registered survivors and caregivers or as you invite them out to participate
in the event – invite them to stay or return for the Fight Back ceremony.
 Work with your Marketing & Communications committee to make sure press releases
and feature stories go out – telling your community about how they can Fight Back and
inviting them to join fellow community members at your event to publically make their
pledge.
Sample press releases are available in the CRFB Resource Guidebook and on
RelayForLIfe.org in the Relay Library under CRFB.
Where should we hold our Fight Back ceremony?
The event works best anywhere you can host an audience and have good sound reception from
your sound system. Consider using your existing stage area – it’s already set up and ready to
go. If you are at a stadium – and you have access to a small stage and microphone – consider
inviting your participants & guests to sit in the stands and have your speaker on the track in front
of them.
How should we set up our Fight Back ceremony? What supplies should we use?
Decide what will work logistically best for your facility and in relation to where your actual Fight
Back ceremony will be held. Where you set up your banners to sign, pledge cards, stickers, etc.
don’t need to be directly next to where your speaker is – as long as they are in close enough
proximity you don’t lose or confuse your audience once you’ve reached the point in the
ceremony script where you ask them to make their pledge, sign the banner, etc….
How you display your flags is up to you also. Some events may choose to have their flags as
part of the banner signing area. In other words – when you make your pledge – you take your
flag with you.
Other events may choose to have the flags represent the number of diagnoses in a given year
in their county/community and have them displayed somewhere on their field or in flower pots
on their stage – having people retrieve one as they make their pledge during the ceremony.
How do we determine the quantity of supplies to order?
It’s best to work with your staff partner on how to order supplies. However, you can use the
following as a guide to the basic items needed to implement a successful Fight Back Ceremony.
Please refer to the CRFB Guidebook, your staff partner or go to Ariba for additional CRFB
materials.
 RFL CRFB banner for signatures (7547.20): order one banner for each Fight Back tent
or one banner for every 200-300 participants
 RFL CRFB "I Can Fight Back By" Banner (7548.45): order one banner for each Fight
Back tent or one banner for every 200-300 participants
 RFL CRFB Hand Held Flags (7547.56): order one per participant – or one per cancer
diagnosis for county/community
 RFL CRFB Pledge Card (7548.73): order one per participant
 RFL CRFB "I Made the Pledge to Fight Back" Sticker (7547.58): order one per
participant
Round up what you can…flags, pledge cards and stickers only cost pennies!
How do we order our supplies?
As a volunteer you will want to go through your staff partner – they are happy to help you order
the supplies you need. As a staff person, you can order these supplies through Ariba.
What are we supposed to do with each of the supplies?
The CRFB Guidebook does a good job of explaining what each item is intended for. Here is a
quick summary:





CRFB Fight Back banner – banner for people to sign and make their pledge
CRFB I Can Fight Back banner – a display banner that gives people ideas on what types
of pledges they can make.
CRFB Hand Held Flags – represents a person’s life – the life someone is committing to
save by making a pledge to Fight Back. Use these flags in a display and as part of
ceremony during which everyone is encouraged to take one.
CRFB Pledge Card – a card they sign to confirm an individual pledge. The pledge and
contact info goes on one piece which should be kept at the event . The participant
keeps both the actual pledge card that he/she signs and the piece which provides the
information they need to take action (i.e. on RelayForLife.org, etc)
CRFB “I Made the Pledge to Fight Back” Sticker – provide everyone one once they’ve
made their pledge
What do the flags represent?
They represent a person’s life – the life someone is committing to save by making a pledge to
Fight Back.
Are people supposed to keep their flag?
Yes – encourage people to take their flags with them and keep them as a reminder of their
pledge to Fight Back all year long.
When do participants get the Fight Back stickers?
Once a participant has signed the banner and their Pledge card – give each a sticker to proudly
carry. It will also encourage others to ask how and where they received it.
Do people sign the Fight Back banner or the I Can Fight Back banner? – What’s the
difference?
They sign the Fight Back banner. The I Can Fight Back banner is meant to be a display and to
provide examples for people to consider as possible pledges.
What are the Pledge Cards?
The Pledge cards serve three purposes. They provide a place for an individual to make his/her
pledge and provide contact information so an event/Division can follow-up with participants
regarding their pledges. The pledge cards can also be used to tally the number of pledges made
during an event).
The wallet cards attached to the Pledge Cards serve as a reminder of an individual’s pledge. It
also provides information about next steps now that a pledge has been made.
How are the Pledge Cards different from people signing the banner?
They are different because they serve three individual purposes: a wallet reminder card, an
information card and a pledge/contact information card (tally card).
What am I supposed to do with the Pledge Card?
Once the event is over, return the pledge cards to your staff partner. If you are the staff partner,
visit with your Division Relay For Life department about how to manage the pledge cards
gathered during an event.
What do I do if someone doesn’t know what kind of pledge to make?
Encourage participants to read the “I Can Fight Back banner” for ideas. Engage them in
conversation about what lifestyle changes (nutrition, exercise, quitting tobacco, getting
screening, etc) would benefit them or someone they love. Work closely with your staff partner
and Mission/Advocacy committee chair on potential Fight Back pledges that address the
specific cancer burden in your community.
How do I find the right speaker for our Fight Back ceremony?
Think about those people in your community – either current or past Relay volunteers,
participants, survivors or caregivers – community leaders – who are committed to the fight
against cancer, passionate about how they support the cause, motivational in the way they
speak and have a story to tell. They don’t have to be “expert” speakers – they just need to be
someone who isn’t afraid to speak – and who can speak from the heart.
Use your CRFB Resource Guide and visit with your staff partner to find more ideas on
identifying a good Fight Back ceremony speaker.
How long should the Fight Back ceremony be?
Not long!! Just like with any of our ceremonies – keep the message simple and to the point so
you keep your audience engaged. The sample script in the CRFB Guidebook is for a ceremony
approximately 15-20 minutes.
Should we have people come up and make their pledges on the microphone?
Having people state their pledge openly can be very powerful and it may happen naturally even
if you don’t plan for it. It might be a good idea to have some people “planted” in your audience
to come up and make their pledge – if you want your audience to come up for certain. This way
– they get the idea and don’t have to be the “first one” to do it.
What are some ways we can follow up with people who made pledges to encourage them
to keep Fighting Back all year long?
If your event/Division has chosen to follow up with those individuals who have made pledges,
you could:
 follow up with them by sending an individual personalized reminder after Relay
encouraging them to take action on their pledge – offering support in making it happen
where appropriate
 Send a monthly e-newsletter or reminder encouraging them to Fight Back and linking
them to the monthly Fight Back opportunities on RelayForLife.org
 turn the pledge cards over to your Mission/Advocacy staff and ask them to develop a
CRM plan for these individuals with an emphasis on moving them to take action on their
pledges, building relationships with them, etc.
Once we begin to track and share promising practices as our Relay season unfolds, we will
learn more great ideas about how to follow up with individuals on their pledges IF that is
something your Division chooses to do.
Are there any resources that can help me while I’m planning my Fight Back ceremony?
Yes. As always, visit with your staff partner and discuss your mutual ideas on what your event’s
Fight Back ceremony can be. Be sure you read through the CRFB Resource Guidebook. Visit
RelayForLife.org and the Relay Library under CRFB where there are a multitude of support
materials for CRFB – and specifically for Fight Back. Beginning in May 2008 – visit the Fight
Back page on RelayForLife.org where a forum and blog focused on Fight Back as well as a
podcast series featuring real-life examples of how to plan, what to plan, how to implement and
what was implement for Fight Back ceremonies will be featured.
Is there an actual example – or video – of a real Fight Back ceremony I can watch so I can
get some ideas?
Yes, you can access the very first Fight Back ceremony –from the Leadership Summit August
2007 – on RelayForLife.org and SharingHope.tv.
Is there anyone I can talk with to share ideas and get ideas from about how they are
planning their Fight Back ceremony?
Yes. Talk with your staff partner first about whether your Division has a system in place to track
and share promising practices and how you can have access to this type of sharing. Next, plan
to visit RelayForLife.org beginning in May to access the Fight Back forum. Log on and share
your ideas, ask others for their ideas and plan to gather inspiration from other Relayers that you
can use to make your Fight Back ceremony the best it can be.
What is considered a successful implementation?
Ultimately each event will need to define what successful implementation means to them. This
may be based on the actual ceremony and the reaction you receive from your participants. It
may be based on the ceremony coupled with the number of pledges made and pledge cards
collected. We encourage you to visit with your staff person and discuss together what you
define as success.
In terms of conducting a successful Fight Back ceremony, the CRFB Guidebook suggests you
include the following three basic components:
 A Fight Back speaker inspiring people to take action
 Participants taking a flag to represent their commitment to save a life
 Participants signing the banner and pledge card symbolizing the action that they will take
to save a life
Are we tracking/recording on-line pledges?
We do not have a system currently to track on-line pledges, but we are researching the best
system for collecting pledges online in a way that will efficiently transfer pertinent information
back to Divisions.
We do have a system in place to track traffic from RelayForLife.org to cancer.org and
acscan.org through the Fight Back page and the I Can Fight Back by XXXXXX….
Statements/opportunities.
On average, what percentage of my participants can I expect to make a pledge?
We really don’t know the answer to this yet but as real-time tracking and sharing becomes
available we will share this information with you.
What we do know is those Fight Back ceremonies conducted through RFL Summits,
Universities and State Lobby Day events have been very successful and participation in making
a pledge has been very high.
Are the flags and pledge cards going to change next year or will I be able to use
leftovers?
Changes will only be made if volunteers and staff from communities just like you say we need to
make improvements. Otherwise – they will stay just the same. As always, we would encourage
the use of leftovers.
Does the Fight Back ceremony involve both Mission and Advocacy?
The purpose of the Fight Back ceremony is to inspire people to take action and commit to
saving a life - choosing a speaker that can do that, by telling their own personal story, is critically
important. However, the message that they use to inspire the audience should not be specific to
either Mission or Advocacy because the way in which someone will choose to Fight Back and
the actions that they pledge to take, will be personal and vary with each individual.
Will the CRFB guidebook be updated each year?
Ceremony scripts, updated ideas on how to refresh your current ceremonies and activities, etc.
will be updated. The guidebook itself will not be updated for the 2008-09 season. However,
there may be a need, once we have lived through an entire year of practical application of
CRFB messaging and Fight Back ceremonies, to create some type of guidebook.
What are some best practices on promotion of the Fight Back ceremony?
We don’t have any yet but as real-time tracking and sharing becomes available we will share
this information with you.
If we are to have each flag represent a future cancer diagnosis within our community,
how would we find this information?
Work closely with your staff partner to find community incidence rates numbers. If you are a
community staff person work with your local Cancer Control or Division Planning & Evaluation
staff partners.
By May 30, there will be a new community tracking tool available on the Link that will help you
determine the data from your local community. This tracking tool will also be available through
RelayForLife.org. Look for webcast training dates within your Division on how to utilize this new
tool.
If your community would like to use numbers more reflective of your state's incidence rate, these
figures are available in Facts & Figures on cancer.org.
Are we ever going to request a participant’s telephone number on the pledge card?
If this is identified as a need by volunteers and staff in the communities then a place to gather
that information will be added when the pledge card inventory is restocked.