Meet the Team

Shenandoah Rain

Co-Founder, Caregiver, Survivor

Andy and I founded the SHB Gems in Memory of Julian who was my SL partner who lost his battle with cancer in 2018. He stood by me through my battle with cancer in 2016 and fought his fight with dignity and battled hard. As a RL nurse, I have seen cancer touch so many people and the mark it leaves on so many lives. I am again battling cancer and I will win due to the money raised to fund research that gives me the best treatment available. I relay for Julian who lost his battle, for Mike who won his battle, and myself who is fighting the battle again.

Andy

Co-Founder

Shen and I founded the Gems about a year after Julian passed away. She had taken that year off, away from SL. When she returned, she found me. \u201cAndy, I want to do this for Julian.\u201d

Julian was my best friend here. I promised him, at the end, that I would take care of his girls. Shen wanted to start a team, I would help her make that a reality. For the longest time, it was just Shen and I fumbling our way through. Now others have chosen to stand beside us.

I fight so that others need not lose the Julian in their lives. I fight for Shen and for all those who have fought and are still fighting. I fight for the children who often cannot fight for themselves.

Can one boy make a difference? Maybe not, but with a thousand other RFL members besides Shen and I \u2014 yeah, I think we can.

Marcus Asturias

Team Member

I was moved to get further involved in the SHB Gems by my friends' commitment to it and an abiding, visceral refusal to accept the carnage cancer causes. This is one more way to push back against that.

Krix Zuzu

Resident Witch, Lover of Disney, Most Evil Woman In SL

You should not exist. Nor should I. Existence should not exist but here we are. No matter your philosophy, you will hit a wall of paradox trying to explain it. Therein lies the answer. A paradox does not happen in a natural system. Hence magic and the divine are the answer. I work to draw it into human perception. However, daemons will not do that which you will not do for yourself.

I have been fighting death in my own way for years. I still do. I joined this team to fight it in additional ways and support the people whom I most respect. I have seen death. I have seen cancer. It angers me.

Death \u2014 I am coming for you. One way or another, I am coming. You will not be happy when you meet me.

Stormy Dench

Caregiver, Family Member

Cancer has touched my life as it has everyone else on my team. I relay for so many people. I relay because I refuse to let cancer be the determiner of life and happiness.

I relay for my Mom, my Grandfather, my Husband, my Mother-in-law, my Sis (Shen) and so many others. I relay so that we can find that cure!

I relay because I refuse to give up.

Mal

Family Member, Team Member

I relay because I have been imkpacted by cancer with 4 of 7 family members passing from cancer.

I feel very passionate about the need for a cure.

If you see me out and about DJing, you'll likely find that my tip jar is labeled 'All proceeds going to cancer research'

Journey

Caregiver, Honourary Team Member

In 2020 I lost my Second Life partner, Ertina Loopen (Tina), to breast cancer only six months after she first discovered it. During the following four months I converted her home into a memorial home and garden and also created the Ertina Loopen Memorial Foundation to honor and pay tribute to her.

Prior to Tina's passing, she and I participated on a Relay For Life team together. After her passing, I wanted the Foundation to become a new team that would carry her name forward in remembrance. So In 2021, the Foundation began its first official year of Relaying in Tina's name.

In April of 2023, the Ertina Loopen Memorial Home & Garden needed to find a new home after Tina's original landlord announced plans to leave Second Life. The SHB Gems graciously offered to host it and I have ever since been immensely grateful for having a space where I can continue to honor Tina every day.

So, although I raise donation funds for the American Cancer Society from different RFL team, I have a strong association with the SHB Gems team and enjoy Relaying alongside them as much as I can. It is an honor and a pleasure to be in their orbit.

Sage

Caregiver, Family Member

I have had my RL touched. Watching two nieces have this beats crash their lives, one through losing her father and one through her own personal fight.

In RL I have helped with volunteering at youth camps for warriors and their siblings and helping my sister navigate her life while helping her daughter fight.

Finding Gems and RFL in SL gave me a way to try and contribute in my SL life also :)