Virtual Worlds Save Lives – Relay for Life in Second Life

Matt Ryan
DailyPWN.com
July 22, 2010

Virtual worlds are still a very new concept in the world of technology while the idea of existing inside virtual spaces has been around since the dawn of the information age. While many of these concepts are used exclusively for gaming, virtual worlds like Second Life occasionally use their immense sense of community to do a lot of good in the world.

Last weekend Relay for Life was held in Second Life lasting a full 24 hours from midday Saturday to Sunday. This relay contained all the elements you would find in a real-life Relay for Life including an opening ceremony, luminaria, fight back ceremony and closing ceremony events ending in a brilliant fireworks show put on by Second Life’s RacerX Gullwing.

Second Life’s Relay for Life Opening Ceremonies

Throughout the past year, events and fund raisers were held to contribute to a growing pool of virtual currency that is then traded in for real-world currency sent directly to the American Cancer Society fund. During these events and including the 24-hour relay, over $221,000 USD was raised (over 53 million Linden dollars). The vast majority of this money was raised through micro-transactions often as low as fractions of a dollar.

Fantasy Faire was held in Second Life in mid April gathering some of the virtual world’s leading fantasy designers, enthusiasts and musicians for a 7 day festival benefiting the Relay for Life. During the event, over 2.5 million Linden dollars were raised towards the cause.

RacerX Gullwing’s Giant Snail Races went cross-country and held a race spanning miles and miles of virtual road through Second Life. Each snail purchase went towards the fund-raising and participants were able to make larger donations for slight advantages in starting line placement.

During the actual Relay events, tiny snails were raced through the main event island for Relay for Life. The island was riddled with obstacles including river rafting, abandoned mineshaft, springy mushrooms and a steep hill. As with the previous snail race, proceeds for the tiny snails went towards the fund.

A live auction for real-life items including sports jerseys signed by pro athletes ranging from football players to American cyclist Lance Armstrong. This auction went directly to benefit Relay for Life and the American Cancer Society.

Over 130 teams signed up for the 2010 Relay for Life and each team had a chance to create a unique campsite. Some of the builds were inspirational, some very artistic and many were a bit of both. These camp sights were judged and the most impressive one won a prize. Below is an episode of Designing Worlds on Treet.TV dedicated to taking a look at some of the impressive builds made by attendees.

Treet.TV held a telethon throughout the Relay events to help encourage viewers of their live stream to log in to Second Life and join in the festivities as well as donate to the cause. Virtual television hosts pitched in to offer their support and capture some of the very touching events on video for people to look back on in the future.

So the next time someone mentions how Virtual Worlds can help the real world, you will have at least one solid example of virtual communities coming together to make a serious difference. Second Life has been holding Relay for Life events for five years now and planning is already underway for next year’s festivities.

More information about the official Relay for Life – Second Life event can be found on the official site here.