Relay For Life - Fighting Cancer Together 2010 was officially launched on Sunday 10 Jan 2010 at Hard Rock Hotel, Batu Ferringghi.  The event was hosted by the management of Hard Rock Hotel who also sponsored a high tea for staff, guests, survivors and volunteers as well as provide entertainment by the hotel band.  We are very grateful to the General Manager, Mr. John Primmer who was no stranger to Relay For Life which was also carried out in 3 other countries on his tour of duty.  The ambience was a wonderful change from the city crowd with beautiful sunny weather and a constant steady sea breeze blowing right through the afternoon.  It attracted 82 staff, guests, survivors and volunteers.  We had to keep the invitation list down because of the limitation of space.

Staff and volunteers busy getting things ready as guests started to register themselves

The hotel band provided music before the official ceremony.  The atmosphere was so enticing that many survivors, guests and volunteers started dancing to the music, the Chair of the RFL 2010 Organizing Committee, Mr. James Lochhead,  taking the lead.

The official launch started with short speeches by YB Phee Boon Poh, State Exco Member for Health, Welfare, Caring Society and Environment, NCSM (Pg) Chariman, Dato' William Ng Jit Thye and Mr. James Lochhead.  Then YB Phee and Dato' Ng carrying torches of Hope led the crowd down to the beach to place them next to a plaque and then write messages of hope for cancer patients.

A sumptious tea and refreshment was provided by Hard Rock Hotel for the guests and other participants.

YB Phee writing his message on the message board.

After the short tea break, guests, survivors and volunteers performed a mini-luminarie ceremony.  Beautiful purple candles in small glass containers were lit and people stood in silence for one minute in remembrance of lost ones and then slowly walked down to the beach to place them around message boards in front of the main board.

YB Phee congratulated everyone for the fine afternoon's event before leaving.  Others remained behind to play some games and win prizes.