Lessons from Relay For Life

The 2008 Relay for Life (fundraiser for American Cancer Society) event is taking place as I write this. My son's boy scout troop prepared bags and placed luminaries yesterday afternoon at our local event and we all contributed our time and energy to this worthwhile event. We filled over 1,000 bags - each one in memory of person.

Names of those being remembered rolled onto a giant screen after dark (about 9:30PM), accompanied to a ground thumping DJ's speakers. The tool of choice was of course PowerPoint.

So far in my continuing research of effective PowerPoint usage, this is the first time that I have seen any valid reason to make extensive use of text on slides. Slide after slide listed names of people being remembered. In this setting, with an automated presentation that was created as people purchase the right to display a name on the screen, text on the screen is a valid methodology. There was minimal time for preparation, and it is necessary to use a standard template because American Cancer Society is holding "Relay for Life" events across the country today. Each one needs to be similar and adhere to a standard format for consistency. Also, without a live presenter, there is no other stimulation - only the names on the screen, which is not comparable to a business presentation where the presenter is the focus of attention.

Of course, I still believe that photo's provide more effective communication if the option is available. If there had been a longer preparatory time available then photo's of people being remembered would have brought home the fact to the audience that cancer shows no preference for affliction. Photos are more powerful than text. Cancer puts lives on hold for people like you and me. My son and I are privileged to have contributed our time to help the American Cancer Society in a tiny way.