Inside Stories

Stories » Community » LIME Club to Hold 24-Hour Relay

LIME Club to Hold 24-Hour Relay

by Jen Oemig

CHELMSFORD – With much anticipation, the 22^nd Annual Chelmsford 24-Hour Relay returns this weekend, May 18-19. Opening ceremonies begin at 9 a.m. on Saturday.

Organized by Chelmsford High School’s Leaders In Motion Everywhere (LIME) Club, the relay comprises teams of 5-12 students who walk around the CHS Plateau for 24 consecutive hours.

“It’s really a great community-building event,” said senior Allyse Miller, a LIME Club board member. “I’m very excited to have everyone enjoy themselves. … It’s a lot of work, but it pays off and it’s a lot of fun.”

Throughout the event, students will engage in water gun fights, view movies, sing some karaoke, participate in a volleyball tournament, listen to a live trombone quartet performance and enjoy ice cream at midnight.

There will be themed laps during the day, including country versus country club, tropical and glow in the dark; there is also a lap during which dogs will be able to join in on the fun.

Community members are invited to join in the festivities from noon to 10 p.m. on Saturday.

The entry fees for adults and high schoolers who are unable to stay the full 24 hours is $10, and $5 for middle schoolers; those elementary school age and younger will be admitted for free.

Student teams were each required to raise $25 per person and will be staying overnight at The Plateau.

All of the money raised from the event will benefit the following local charities:

Chelmsford Food Pantry
Chelmsford Senior Center: Meal on Wheels
Chelmsford Alumni Association
Chelmsford Police Crime Prevention Activities
Chelmsford Fire Department’s S.A.F.E. Programs
The Wish Project
CHS Principal’s Fund

New this year is a food competition with three categories: sweet, salty and savory.

Community members are encouraged to prepare a dish fitting one or more of those categories (one entry per category) and bring it to The Plateau beginning at 4 p.m. for judging.

While participants can bring their own bagged lunches and snacks, food trucks will be on site serving up meals, as well.

Getting organized

Organizing this year’s event has been a true team effort for the LIME Club, with students assigned to various committees, including entertainment, site logistics, publicity, business and team participation.

“This is one of those events where our system is really helpful because there are so many moving parts and so many people to reach out to,” said LIME Club board member Elizabeth Kelliher, a junior at CHS. “It’s good that we have a fairly decent-sized club to be able to have enough people to do all the different tasks.”

Matt Bartos, CHS English teacher and LIME Club advisor, said the event has ebbed and flowed in terms of size and participation.

“We’re trying to get people back into doing long-duration activities,” he said. “Kids aren’t as akin to doing something like that, being outside all day with a sustained focus, camping overnight outside … and having to do something that requires managing a bunch of their peers. Those are big time things that can be both thrilling and a bit daunting.”

While the relay may be smaller than in year’s past, Mr. Bartos said those who take part are bound to have a great time.

“It’s still a really positive experience for the several hundred people that end up participating in it,” he said.

Tammy Leary, Hawthorne House counselor and LIME Club advisor, said the relay began as a means to promote unity in the community.

“We were trying to empower youth to take on leadership roles and involve adult community members, as well as communicate with police, fire and Trinity EMS,” she said. “The goal is to get them to not only exercise leadership skills, but get the community involved as a whole for the greater good.”

Ms. Leary said her favorite part of the relay is getting to witness all the LIME Club members watch their hard work pay off.

“It’s a highlight for these young people to see their fruits of their labor come to fruition,” she said. “And seeing the kids enjoying themselves is the best.”

If the weather does not cooperate, the event will be moved into the Chelmsford High School gymnasium.

For more information, contact: