A Message to Celebration Supporters and Attendees
Travel Tips
TRAVEL TIPS & AIRPORT SECURITY
- Travelers should check www.tsa.gov prior to traveling to Washington, DC, for detailed information about baggage and up-to-date security measures.
WHAT TO PACK:
- Celebration on the Hill is “Relay casual,” so dress comfortably. A light jacket or cardigan is recommended for cooler nights. Cool, comfy shorts or light pants are recommended for daytime. The most important item to pack? COMFORTABLE, BROKEN IN SHOES.
WHAT TO CARRY/WEAR TO THE MALL:
- A BLANKET to sit on. The Mall area will have plenty of room to spread out a blanket. With all the walking you will be doing traveling from state tent to state tent, checking out the Relay For Life Wall of Hope, and doing laps, you will welcome the opportunity to get off your feet.
WHAT NOT TO BRING TO THE MALL:
- Valuables and any food that is not wrapped in individual packets. Such food is not allowed per National Park Service regulations. Water and soft drinks will be provided at all the state tents.
Check-In
WASHINGTON CONVENTION CENTER
Once you arrive in DC and are settled, you will want to grab your photo ID and head over to the Washington Convention Center. This is where you will pick up your registration materials including your credentials, commemorative Celebration T-shirt and gift, metro pass and meal coupons. If you have signed up to attend one of the Community Voices CAN! Events on Tuesday evening, September 19th, this is also where you will pick up your ticket to attend.
In addition to picking up your registration materials, check out the following activities, also at the Washington Convention Center (more information on each included below):
- Luminaria Donations & Decorating
- Celebration Mall
- Volunteer Check-In
- Cancer Prevention Study 3 (CPS3) enrollment
- E-Advocacy
- ACS Bookstore
- Silent Auction
- On-site Registration
- Information
The Washington Convention Center is located on 801 Mt. Vernon Place. If taking the Metro, you will want to take the Yellow or Green Line to the Mt. Vernon Square/Convention Center stop then follow the Celebration signs. You can also visit http://www.wmata.com/ for a list of stations and a Metro map.
Celebration Mall
Don’t miss out on your opportunity to purchase one of a kind wearables and collectibles to commemorate your Celebration on the Hill 2006 experience. Bring your pocketbook, credit cards, or family inheritance and plan to update your wardrobe with the latest in Celebration gear and sundries!
Celebration Mall hours are as follows:
The Washington Convention Center
- Monday, September 18th 10am – 7pm
- Tuesday, September 19th 7am – 10pm
On the Mall
- Wednesday, September 20th
Schedule of Events
Monday, Sept. 18
10 a.m. – 7 p.m. Registration and Celebration Store open at Convention Center
Tuesday, Sept. 19
7 a.m. – 10 p.m. Registration and Celebration Store open at Convention Center
4 p.m. – 8 p.m. Community Voices CAN! Receptions
Wednesday, Sept. 20
10 a.m. Celebration on the Hill Opening Ceremonies and Survivor Lap
10:20 a.m. Relay For Life Wall of Hope Opening Ceremonies
11:30 a.m. Lunch is served on the National Mall until 1:30 p.m.
4 p.m. Second Survivor Lap
4:30 p.m. Dinner is served until 6:30 p.m.
8 p.m. Ceremony of Hope (Luminaria around the Capitol Reflecting Pool)
9:30 p.m. Celebration on the Hill Closing Ceremonies
10:30 p.m. Relay For Life Wall of Hope monument closes
Volunteer Check-In
If you checked the “I’m willing to volunteer to help” button when registering on-line you will have already received communication about when and where to check in for your shifts.
As a reminder, Volunteer Check-In is located in the Convention Center, room 102B and again on the Mall (for Wednesday shifts only). Please remember to check in one hour before your first shift at the Convention Center. If your first shift is on Wednesday, please plan to check in one half hour before your first shift at the Volunteer Check-In tent.
If you did not indicate this on your registration but are interested, we would LOVE your help. Once you know which times you might be available, you can check in at any time at either location.
Cancer Prevention Study-3
Personally honor the cancer survivors in your life by being part of the Cancer Prevention Study-3, a landmark new study that will help the Society better understand the lifestyle, environmental, and genetic factors that cause or prevent cancer, and ultimately eliminate cancer as a major health concern for future generations. Interested individuals will have the unique opportunity to demonstrate research in action by enrolling in the study at the Convention Center (Monday 1-5 pm and Tuesday 8:30am-4:30pm) and on the National Mall (Wednesday 12-6 pm). Please visit www.cancer.org/cps3 to get more information about the study.
ACS Book Store & E-Advocacy
Located on the second floor of the Convention Center, plan to drop in and peruse the ACS bookstore as well as drop in and learn more about how to make a difference in the fight against cancer through our e-advocacy efforts.
Silent Auction
Located on the third floor of the Convention Center, plan to stop by and take in the more than 150 gift basket & silent auction items. Bidding begins on Monday during registration hours and continues on through the CANopener Rally Tuesday evening. All silent auction bids will be finalized and announced by 8pm Tuesday the 19th.
On-site Registration
If you didn’t complete your registration on-line, decided you needed more luminaria, you now want to buy a metro pass or sign up for one of the Community Voices CAN! Receptions – you can take care of this at the Convention Center.
Community Voices CAN is the place to be Tuesday, September 19th! Buy your tickets to see Bobby Hamilton, 2004 NASCAR Truck Series Champ and the NFL’s MVP Thurman Thomas, who will be joining us for CANpaign for Change and The CAN Opener Rally! Everyone who attends any of the Community Voices CAN events will receive a commemorative purple ACS CAN bracelet!
Information
Lost your way…aren’t sure where to find something…not to worry, our Information volunteers are ready and able to help. Located right inside the Convention Center in front of registration – stop by for a visit.
While on the Mall on the 20th, Information volunteers will be located in lifeguard stands around the state tent area.
On The National Mall
Relay For Life Wall of Hope: You won’t want to miss the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to visit the largest monument ever built to honor and remember those who have battled cancer.
On the Track: Everything that makes Relay For Life a life-changing celebration of hope and survivorship in communities across the nation will come to life in Washington, D.C. Be sure to bring the trading cards included in your registration packet with you to the Mall. You’ll want to trade with other Supporters to collect a card from all 50 states!
Ambassadors Representing You will be meeting with their Congressional representatives throughout the day, asking them to sign ACS CAN’s Congressional Cancer Promise, which outlines short-term legislative proposals to put the nation back on track toward defeating cancer; boost federal research funding and invest in the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program.
Ambassador Spotlight
New Jersey resident Bob Schechner has come a long way since he was diagnosed with colon cancer six years ago. When his doctor called with bad news, Bob rolled over and went back to sleep. But after extensive surgery, Bob got off the couch and has been unstoppable.
"I think I was taking a nap when the doctor called," Bob said, “I was in the best physical shape of my life— I just ran a marathon, and I knew I could beat it. My doctors assured me that the cancer was curable and I believed it.”
Since then, he’s spent his days and nights doing advocacy and volunteer work for the American Cancer Society. He testified before the New Jersey State Legislature and helped win mandatory insurance coverage for colon screening. He serves as both a Relay For Life chairperson and Road to Recovery driver.
Next to marrying my wife and the birth of my two daughters, I’ve never done anything more rewarding than volunteering with the American Cancer Society,” said Bob. “
Now Bob Schechner will join an army of nearly 4,000 advocates for his second Celebration on the Hill in Washington—because he feels the country has unfinished business.
The country has a lot on its plate right now between war and natural disaster, but cancer still must be a priority,” said Bob, “Our president himself said that ‘the causes and cures of disease should be a priority’. I want our lawmakers to see our faces, hear our stories, and make something happen.”
"Democracy Live"
Want to learn more about US Senate History?
Want to learn how Congress works?
Where do your cancer tax dollars go?
Who protects the US Constitution and the Declaration Of Independence?
What's it like to work for the President in the West Wing?
Learn behind the scenes what it takes to prepare a Presidential Trip
So you want to run for President?
A special program activity tent titled "Democracy Live" has been arranged to provide Celebration Supporters a unique opportunity to learn more about the Federal Government Agencies and the Democratic Process of our Government. A series of 50 minutes civic forums starting at 11:00am and ending at 7:00pm will be offered to anyone participating in Celebration on the Hill activities on the Mall. Stop by to hear speakers from Congress such as the U.S. Senate Historian, an American Government Analyst who teaches Members of Congress on how laws are made, a representative of the US Archives, an official from the National Cancer Institute, a former White House staffer, a Presidential Campaign Director and a National Pollster who will all talk about their career experiences and answer your questions.
An informed Citizenry Is The Cornerstone of Democracy! Look for the "Democracy Live" tent on the event map.
