The University of Texas at Arlington College of Nursing will present a program with Dr. Dee McGonigle (SL: Houstonccn) speaking on the topic “Use of the Virtual Environment for Learning”.

Date: Wednesday, September 3, 2014

Time: 2:00-3:15 pm SLT

Location: The UT Arlington Conference Center in Second Life, UTArlington III, SLURL: http://bit.ly/UTASLConferenceCenter

More information: http://www.uta.edu/secondlife/nursingce/

Dr. Dee McGonigle, PhD, RN, CNE, FAAN, ANEF, is a Professor and Chair of the Virtual Learning Environments (VLEs) at Chamberlain College of Nursing. She is a Fellow in the American Academy of Nursing and the NLN Academy of Nursing Education.

She co-founded the Online Journal of Nursing Informatics (OJNI) and was Editor in Chief from 1996 through 2013. She is an active researcher and through her grant writing, has received over $870,000 in funding. She is an active researcher, presents internationally and nationally, and co-authored two textbooks: Nursing Informatics and The Foundation of Knowledge, one of Jones & Bartlett’s best sellers and AJN’s 2010 Technology Book of the Year, Integrating Technology in Nursing Education: Tools for the Knowledge Era.

Dr. McGonigle has written more than 100 publications including work books, book chapters, and articles. She is a member of both the Informatics and Technology Expert Panel for the American Academy of Nursing and the Serious Gaming and Virtual Environments special interest group for the Society for Simulation in Healthcare. She is searching for a way to facilitate translation by helping those who know (researchers) and those who do (clinicians) communicate and share. Her current areas of interest are in the nursing informatics competencies and diffusion of innovative technologies, especially those impacting learning.

I’m always extremely impressed with the commitment that goes into organising this even each year and aside from all the great fundraising it does, it also challenges the stereotype of virtual worlds being ephemeral things without substance.

Here’s the latest info I’ve received from the organisers:

REGISTER TODAY AND BE PART OF HISTORY-MAKING!

Want to be a part of the largest fundraising movement on the grid?

There’s still time to form a team and join Relay For Life of Second Life as we Relay across the grid raising funds in support of the American Cancer Society.

You may register at www.relayforlifeofsecondlife.org by clicking the orange register button and following the on screen instructions. Won’t you come Relay with us?

We began with the 2014 Kick Off Party on March 8. Teams continue to fundraise through July by holding fun-filled events. The Relay For Life of Second Life finishes with the official overnight Relay on July 19-20. During that weekend, team members gather at their Team Campsites, walk the

Relay Track, enjoy live music, participate in fun events, and explore the many Relay Sims as the event runs overnight and into the next morning.

In 2013, there were 200 RFL of SL Teams which participated in the largest virtual fundraising walk in the world and together raised $393,000 US dollars. For more information about registering a team, or assistance forming a team, please contact Gem Sunkiller at gemsunkiller@gmail.com.

Relay For Life of Second Life is an annual activity that takes place in Second Life in July each year. Volunteers form or join teams to have fun while fundraising and raising awareness from March through mid-July. In July, teams build campsites and walk a track, just like in a real world Relay.

Over the last nine years, Relay For Life of Second Life has raised more than $2 million for cancer research and is the largest charity event in the virtual worlds. Several thousand volunteers from more than 80 countries participate each year, truly making it a global event.

The Relay For Life of Second Life wiki details the history of Relay For Life of Second Life. Relay For Life is the signature fundraising event of the American Cancer Society.

There are many ways to get involved in Relay For Life of Second Life and another way to show your support is through sponsorships. Relay For Life of Second Life is proud to have the following as premier sponsors: RGF Estates, Roses & Thorns Skins Inc., Wild Kajaera and United Realms of the Archipelago. Other sponsorships are available; please contact the PR/Outreach Division more details.

Another way to get involved is through rezzing Relay For Life event boards at your establishment or land. Contact Serina Juran for details.

Keep up with the news on Relay For Life of Second Life through itâ€s website, Twitter, Facebook, Flickr and Tumblr pages:
http://relayforlifeofsecondlife.org/
https://twitter.com/RelayForLife_SL
http://facebook.com/rflofsl
http://www.tumblr.com/blog/relayforlife-sl

Also for those interested, here’s the proposed schedule for the real itself:

Saturday, July 13, 2013
10:00 AM Opening Ceremony
11:00 AM Survivor/Caregiver – CELEBRATE
12:30 PM Teams Lap
2:00 PM Round Up Western
3:00 PM Walking with our Breedable Friends
4:00 PM Fabulous Fifties
5:00 PM Purple Passion
6:00 PM Beach Party
7:00 PM Musicians For Relay
8:00 PM Bald is Beautiful!
9:00 PM Luminaria Ceremony – REMEMBER
10:00 PM Silly Shoes
11:00 PM Sci Fi
MIDNIGHT PJ Party

Sunday, July 14, 2013
1:00 AM Holiday Splendor
2:00 AM Fantasy and Fairy Tales
3:00 AM Crazy Hats
4:00 AM Movie and Cartoon Magic
5:00 AM Heroes
6:00 AM FIGHT BACK
7:00 AM International Lap
8:00 AM Coffee and Donuts – Breakfast Time!
9:00 AM Formal Hour
10:00 AM Closing Ceremonies
11:00 AM Victory Lap! – Walk the track and meet the Relay Committee.
Celebrate YOUR Relay. Take THAT, Cancer!
12:30 PM RAFFLE Draw!
1:00 PM SILENT AUCTION Closes!
2:00 PM Enjoy Walking the Track and Visiting the Builds

Virtual World Conference Supports Quality of Life in Mental Health

Virtual Ability, Inc. announces the third annual Mental Health Symposium to be held Saturday, April 26th, 7:00 am PDT/SLT to 5:00 pm PDT/SLT in Second Life®. The theme of this yearâ€s conference is “Quality of Life.”

The World Health Organization defines quality of life as an individualâ€s “perception of their position in life in the context of the culture and value systems in which they live and in relation to their goals, standards and concerns.”

Quality of life is important to us all, but may be more difficult to attain for those with mental health issues. Overall quality of life is affected by psychological state, physical health, level of independence, social relationships, personal values and beliefs, and the relationship of all of these to the personâ€s environment.

Symposium presentations include (in alphabetical order):
• Hillary Bogner, MD, University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine, will offer insights from her research on depression among older adults.
• Colleen Crary, Executive Director of Fearless Nation, Inc., will share lessons from adversity for creating a vibrant life.
• Dick Dillon, CEO of Innovaision, LLC, shares surprising information about why some recovering addicts become “weller than well.”
• Teresa Goddard, Senior Consultant with the Job Accommodation Network, will inform us about attaining employment equality through accommodation and self-advocacy.
• Dr. Christine Karper and Michelle Stone, members of the American Counseling Associationâ€s Cyber Task Force, will talk about the role of counseling and virtual service delivery.
• Dr. Jacquelyn Ford Morie, University of Southern California, will describe the use of virtual worlds as healing spaces for veterans.
• Dr. Nicolas Rüsch, of the University of Ulm, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany, will explain the results of his research on well-being among persons at risk of psychosis, focusing particularly on shame and stigma.

Alice Krueger, president of Virtual Ability, Inc., stated: “I am pleased to see an increasing focus on quality of life in mental health care in recent years, since many persons with mental health diagnoses struggle with these issues. The Symposiumâ€s international presenters are acknowledged experts in their fields. I will be interested to hear what they have to say on these important topics. Please join us on April 26 to learn more from a variety of exciting speakers!”

All sessions, done in voice and text simultaneously, will take place at The Sojourner Auditorium on Virtual Ability Island within Second Life®:
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Virtual%20Ability/53/172/23

The full schedule of presentations is posted at http://www.virtualability.org/conferences/mh-symposium/mh-symposium-2014/.

About Virtual Ability, Inc.
Virtual Ability, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation based in Denver, Colorado, dedicated to enabling people with a wide range of disabilities by providing a supporting environment for them to enter and thrive in on-line virtual worlds like Second Life®.

For more information on Virtual Ability, Inc., including the benefits of virtual worlds for people with disabilities, please see www.VirtualAbility.org.

For further information, please contact:
Alice Krueger, President
Virtual Ability, Inc.
Office: (303) 400-3306
akrueger@VirtualAbility.org

If you have any interest in mental health issues, this should be a great day.

Relay For Life of Second Life shatters records in 2011, raises US$375,000 for cancer research

Relay For Life, the signature fundraising event of the American Cancer Society, has once again shattered records in Second Life.

Less than halfway through the 2011 Relay season, the Relay For Life of Second Life had already raised more than one million dollars all-time.

At the Wrap-Up Party on Saturday, August 20, 2011 Event Chair MamaP Beerbaum proudly announced that the seventh Relay For Life of Second Life had set a new season fundraising record of US$375,000, had a record number of 140 teams, and a record number of over 3,000 relayers.

This yearâ€s theme was ‘Seasons of Hope†and was the largest to date, with a track lined by luminaria winding through 41 sims of amazing builds representing the different seasons. Some 2,140 avatars completed one or more laps, a combined total of 3,486 laps, and visited the campsites and the designer sims. And 4,817 luminaria were lit in support of loved ones going through treatment, and in memory of those heroes who have passed on.

Speaking to committee and team members and volunteers at the Wrap-Up Party, MamaP Beerbaum said: ‘WOW, What a wonderful Relay we had! From Kick-Off in March to Relay Weekend in July, you all worked non-stop, with a passion and commitment that never wavered!

‘As I think back on this season, I am in awe of so many things. We broke so many records. We took the theme ‘Seasons of Hope†to places we never thought it would go. And we brought it to life on 41 sims creating a breathtaking experience for all who found their way there. And most importantly we proved that we really can work together as One Team!

‘Thank you for giving me the honor of being your chair. Thank you for showing the world that SL is a good place, and that in this Second Life of ours, we CAN make a difference.â€

Stingray9798 Raymaker ( in real life Jeff Montegut, the American Cancer Society representative in Second Life) said: ‘It makes me the proudest person in the whole ACS office to represent the coolest people on the planet!â€

Spirit of Relay

The ‘Spirit of Relay†individual award went this year to Daaneth Kivioq. Announcing the award, last yearâ€s winner Ember Farina said: ‘The Individual Spirit of Relay is awarded to the individual that embodies the ‘Spirit of the Relay’ and takes into consideration the ‘spirit’ of the individual, how they embraced Relay For Life and the American Cancer Society Mission, and the enthusiasm displayed.â€

This year, just as Relay was kicking into high gear, Daaneth suffered a debilitating stroke. Ember said: ‘His motivation for a fast recovery was actually Relay for Life! He worried so much about his team that he came back in world before he could even read or type; they all used voice to communicate with him to ensure that the team would keep moving forward.â€

Nevar Lobo, co-captain of last yearâ€s winner of the ‘Spirit of Relay†team award, announced this year’s team winner Team OD, followed by Steelhead Salmons in second place and Team Caledon in third place.

For a complete list of Wrap-Up Awards see: http://rflofsl.blogspot.com/2011/08/final-award-winners.html

For more pictures from the Wrap-Up Party see http://www.flickr.com/photos/ishtarskiss/.

Looking ahead

Looking ahead to 2012 MamaP Beerbaum announced that she would be continuing as Event Chair, supported by this yearâ€s Co-Chair Dwen Dooley and new Co-Chair Nikki Mathieson. Nikki, who has been relaying in Second Life since 2007 and was this yearâ€s Event Day area chair, said: ‘It is a tremendous honor to be invited to be a Co-Chair and I really look forward to the upcoming season.†Her message to Relayers was ‘Keep relaying all winter… Do that by bringing someone… anyone… even if it’s just one person who doesn’t know about us… to ACS Island and let them know we’re here… in SL. Tell them about our RFL season and get them watching for that kick off in the spring… invite them to it… get them excited and enthused to jump onboard with us.â€

The Kick-Off for RFL of SL 2012 will be on March 10, 2012. Next yearâ€s theme will be ‘Time for a Cureâ€. And the clock is already ticking!

Nearly 400 thousand US dollars is nothing to sneeze at for cancer research. Kudos to the organising team for what’s become an iconic annual event in Second Life.

[Photo courtesy of Saeriah Thei]

July 16, 2011 – IDRAC2011

International Disability Rights Affirmation Conference- July 23/24, 2011

Virtual World Conference about Real World Rights

Virtual Ability, Inc. announces the International Disability Rights Affirmation Conference (IDRAC2011) to be held Saturday and Sunday, July 23/24, in Second Life®.

In 2006, the United Nations held a Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The text of the Convention was adopted by the UN General Assembly, and now has over 100 signatory states, including the US and the European Union.

Legislation to protect the rights of persons with disabilities is becoming common around the world. However, the June 9 World Health Organization study, the World Report on Disability, found significant barriers to equal access for persons with disabilities still exist.

This international conference will begin to explore legal protections around the world for persons with disabilities. Featured panels of persons from around the world will discuss local legislation that supports the rights of persons with disabilities. Panelists come from Australia, Belgium, Costa Rica, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, and the UK.

Featured presenters include Scott Gill, Simon Walsh, Sister Abeyante, and Roberta Walker Kilkenny.

Gill is Executive Director of Access 2 independence, a Center for Independent Living in Iowa, US; he will talk about the independence movement. Walsh is head of his own consulting firm in the UK; he will compare the US ADA legislation with the UKâ€s DDA. Abeyante is a Salvatorian Sister; she will discuss advocacy for disability (civil and human) rights. Kilkenny is a college instructor; she will present about the significance of the UN Convention.

Presentations by the National Service Inclusion Project and the Job Accommodation Network will highlight disability services available in the US. Other sessions will feature peer support, comedy, and dance, both as part of the affirmation celebration.

Presentations will take place in Sojourner Auditorium on Virtual Ability Island within Second Life®: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Virtual%20Ability/54/170/23. The full schedule of confirmed presenters is posted inworld, and at http://virtualability.org/IDRAC2011.aspx.

Alice Krueger, president of Virtual Ability, Inc., stated: “It is a great pleasure to host so many wonderful speakers. Our audience will gain information about the extent of the issues facing people with disabilities, and the potentials for solutions to barriers.”

About Virtual Ability, Inc.

Virtual Ability, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation based in Denver, Colorado, dedicated to enabling people with a wide range of disabilities by providing a supporting environment for them to enter and thrive in on-line virtual worlds like Second Life®.

For more information on Virtual Ability, Inc., including the benefits of virtual reality for people with disabilities, please see www.VirtualAbility.org.

For further information, contact:

Alice Krueger, President
Virtual Ability Inc.
Office: 303/400-3306
akrueger@VirtualAbility.org

If you haven’t already, jump in and participate. Even better, add to the donation tally!

All the details you need to get involved are here.

Add to that ongoing initiatives such as Relay for Life and you have a well-established means of making a difference. All of these examples come from Second Life, but at a wider level some serious initiatives are starting to see the light of day.

One such initiative is being driven by a leader in the social gaming sphere, Zynga. Creators of the (in)famous game Farmville amongst others, Zynga.org is devoted to raising money for worthy causes, using Zynga’s worlds as the vehicle. It marries two very powerful forces: virtual goods and a desire to help others. Using the current Haiti disaster as an example, 1.5 million dollars was raised and significant amounts are expected for the current tragedy in Japan:

Twelve hours after the earthquake struck, on Friday, March 11th, 8pm pst, Zynga launched in-game initiatives that made donations possible across a number of our most popular games, including: CityVille, FarmVille, Zynga Poker, FrontierVille and Words with Friends. Vampire Wars is now live with a campaign, as well, and YoVille and FishVille will soon launch theirs.

The impetus for doing non-profit work is always multi-faceted. Aside from the obvious aspect of being community-minded, most companies also know the good PR such activities draw. The huge number of social virtual world users is an obvious area where demonstrating good corporate citizenship is increasingly important. Zynga because of its size has drawn some substantial criticism over some aspects of its games / worlds, and initiatives like this help balance the equation a little.

It’s all under the banner of Extend A Helping Hand (EAHH), and there’s two large ways to make a difference:

1. Attend some of the great events planned, including a 24-hour concert featuring Australian artists on Australia Day (26th Jan)

2. Go shopping at the EAHH Market, which has an enormous range of items you can buy, with most contributing 100% to the appeal – the lowest ratio was 75% on a handful of items. There’s some top notch fashion, house items and body shapes for starters – you can view a list of vendors here.

At time of writing nearly 1.2 million Linden Dollars had been raised – around US$4,500, with the bulk of events still to come. So if you can, jump in and check it out for yourself in-world.

If you’ve got your own fundraising activities organised, post a note about it in comments!

The response over recent months has been good be Jon-Paul needs a few more people to take part in the survey:

We have introduced an amazon gift voucher of $100 which will be randomly drawn from all participants who entered after data analysis is complete. If individuals have already entered prior to the prize they can email me at jcaci@deakin.edu.au and I will add them to the draw.

Thanks for your help

So why not jump in and assist in developing the body of knowledge in an area we all know fairly well – the results could be interesting to say the least.

OneClimate, auspiced by Non-profit organisation OneCLimate, has created Virtual Copenhagen a large exhibition space in Second Life. Aside from the numerous exhibitions (some are listed below), the presence will be streaming content from Copenhagen plenary sessions, press conferences and “voices from the global south that might not otherwise be heard”. Aside from the streaming aspect, those attending in Second Life will have the opportunity to put questions to people being interviewed by the broadcasters in Copenhagen.

I spent half an hour walking around the exhibits and there’s certainly plenty of interesting information to be digested. There are some exhibition spaces remaining (contact Coughdrop Littlething in-world if you’re interested). For more details on the Second Life activities, teleport there yourself or check the OneClimate website.

Exhibitor listing

All but the last two listed below will have staff representatives in-world:

Beta Business Park, HeatSaver Energy Systems Inc, SmarterEarth (working in with the University of Iowa), Commonwealth Islands, NOAA, Virtual Native Lands, V-Innovate, European Metaverse Association, Public Policy Virginia, Lâ€Ultimatum Climatique, Better World – Center for Water Studies, Human Mosaic Systems, The Institute for Sustainable Communication, Four Bridges, Peace Train, Etopia, ViO, State of the World Forum and The Transition Network.

Once the real-workd discussions fire up in December, it’ll be interesting to see what impact the Second Life aspect will play. Virtual Copenhagen is certainly well resourced and organised: whether it can cut through the enormous level of activity that’ll be occurring remains to be seen, but OneClimate certainly won’t die wondering with their efforts.

Check it out in-world

The purpose of R.I.S.E. U.P is singular: to provide an interactive, engaging way for people to find out more about lymphoma. For the veteran Second Life resident, there’s nothing particularly ground-breaking about the approach, but that’s not really the point. Given the importance of the health topic, it needs to be communicated clearly and somewhat simply – it’s about retention not entertainment. R.I.S.E. U.P. achieves that – there’s links to traditional web content, streaming media and a ‘Node Man’, which provides an effective way of showing the myriad of lymph nodes around the human body.

Collaborative partnerships

A noteworthy aspect of the project is its backing by the medical profession, private enterprise, key peak bodies and a range of people who have lymphoma. I took the opportunity to shoot some questions to Professor Jeff Szer, Clinical Haematologist at the Royal Melbourne and Western Hospitals to get his take on the project:

TMJ: What for you would demonstrate that the presence in Second Life has been successful?

Professor Szer: Pairs of eyes – how many people attend the general public presentations on lymphoma, as well as the number of YouTube replays. How many questions received during the presentations – there were a few during the first presentation this week.

TMJ: Do you believe there is growing acceptance of the use of virtual environments as a health education tool within the Australian medical profession, or is it still a case of pockets of innovators fighting against significant scepticism?

Professor Szer: My view is that there is growing uptake of this form of communication. The patients and families are better at this than the profession so we need to engage it proactively.

TMJ: As virtual environments continue to evolve, are there further education or actual interventions youâ€d like to be able to offer in regards to lymphoma or related disease states?

Professor Szer: I can see many educational opportunities for this type of live interaction. Another patient group that values education is the multiple myeloma population and there may be some interest from the patient groups (such as Myeloma Australia in Australia) in pursuing such an event. Currently, many of these activities are conducted through webinars or the like and this adds another possible dimension of interaction. My only concern is the behind-the-scenes work involved in setup which I suspect was far greater that I was exposed to.

I also had the chance to ask some questions of a lymphoma sufferer, 60-year old Anna Blyth, who I’d like to particularly thank for taking the time to respond (see Anna’s experience with lymphoma at the end of this post):

TMJ: Are virtual worlds like Second Life something you see as being useful for receiving health information i.e. does it provide something that other routes of communication like traditional websites can’t?

Anna Blyth: My experience with virtual worlds is very new and Iâ€ve found that in comparing the communication of information with traditional websites, they are very different. When I looked for information on non-Hodgkinâ€s lymphoma (NHL) on traditional websites I was pretty overwhelmed. There was a lot of medical language that I didnâ€t understand very well. There was also a lot of research data that I couldnâ€t quite follow. And because there are so many types of lymphoma, I found it difficult to find information on the specific one that I have. I also found many sites conflicting with other ones in regards to long term outcome and the benefits of different forms of treatment.

Going to Second Life and visiting R.I.S.E. U.P., I was very impressed. The graphics are great and I felt that I was actually in a place that ‘real†– as is intended of course. But the feeling is a good feeling and a calming feeling when looking for information regarding my health. I found it exciting visiting the different places and reading the information available on lymphoma. The information is direct and easy to understand and going into the Node Man was great also because I could see exactly where lymph nodes are and relate that to my body.

TMJ: How would initiatives like R.I.S.E. U.P. have helped you in your particular circumstance if it had been available?

Anna Blyth: When I was diagnosed in 2007, apart from websites to look up my cancer there wasnâ€t anywhere else to go. I got totally confused which really increased my overall state of anxiety. If I had been directed to the virtual world of R.I.S.E. U.P. I believe that I would have stayed away from the traditional sites and focused on the virtual world. With the simplicity of the tour, the information available and other events such as lectures etc., I think I would have understood my cancer much better. As I described in question one… the overall feeling of being in a real world would have helped me to not feel so alone and I would have had a much more positive experience as I learnt about lymphoma. Instead I was in a state of constant anxiety and fear as to what to believe from which traditional website.

Finally, I asked some questions of Libby Day, Roche Products’ Australian Director of Corporate affairs:

TMJ: Can you outline why Roche chose to get involved in virtual environments as a health education tool?

Libby Day: Roche Products has been committed to improving the health and well-being of people across the world for more than 50 years. Lymphoma is the most common blood cancer and the incidence has doubled over the past 20 years for no known reason, yet new statistics released by Lymphoma Australia reveal that one in five Australians do not know what lymphoma is, and less than 20% can name at least one common symptom. Furthermore, nine out of ten people donâ€t realise exactly how common lymphoma is within the population, even though more than 4,000 Aussies are diagnosed with the cancer each year.

Australians are increasingly going online to search for health information. After consulting with their doctor, the internet is the most popular source of health information. With the support of a number of health consumer organisations, Roche Products is aiming to meet this need by providing easily accessible lymphoma information to the general public through R.I.S.E. U.P. For many people, receiving a diagnosis of lymphoma is a particularly frightening and overwhelming experience because they have a low awareness of the disease. Furthermore, early detection can make a huge difference in the ability to combat this often life-threatening cancer, making the provision of accurate information critical.

There is a lot of misinformation about healthcare on the internet and Roche is committed to helping ensure that people are accessing correct and accurate resources.

TMJ: Does Roche have any involvement with Second Life outside of this project?

Libby Day: R.I.S.E. U.P. is the first Roche health awareness initiative to be launched within Second Life and is currently in its pilot phase – future plans for the initiative will be confirmed once it has been tested and evaluated. Roche is pioneering the provision of virtual health education amongst the pharmaceutical community and is, as yet, the first organisation to do so.

TMJ: Outside of this project, dose Roche see virtual environments as a means of maintaining competitive advantage in a competitive marketplace?

Libby Day: The virtual space is a growing area for all business sectors. With regards to education, as mentioned previously, we know that people searching for information regarding health are increasingly turning to the web. Projects such as R.I.S.E. U.P. will hopefully fill a void.

With regards to maintaining a competitive advantage, it is early days but even in this pilot phase, the virtual world technology is promising. At this early state, Roche Australia is only piloting the program and needs to address the technological barriers which have been detected during the test. This technology means Roche delegates can communicate in an engaging manner, at anytime and anywhere. From here, Roche Australia is working to strategise on how best to maximise the value of this technology.

TMJ: Does Roche have any plans in Second Life or other virtual worlds for the future?

Libby Day: The R.I.S.E. U.P. initiative is currently being piloted in Second Life and future plans for the initiative will be confirmed once it has been tested and evaluated.

Upcoming events at R.I.S.E. U.P

For those wanting to find out more or to enjoy some of the activities going on in coming weeks, here’s the details:

Until Saturday 24 October: Robin Roar, a R.I.S.E. U.P ambassador and Second Life expert, will be available to answer any questions you may have about R.I.S.E. U.P. and take you on a tour of the facilities. AEST: Tues‐Sun, 12:00‐17:00. Second Life time: Mon‐Sat, 05:00‐10:00.

Tuesday 27 October – Professor Jeffrey Szer, Clinical Haematologist at the Royal Melbourne and Western Hospitals in Australia, will hold a brief seminar on lymphoma signs and symptoms in the Auditorium. Professor Szer will be available to answer any questions R.I.S.E. U.P. visitors may have. AEST: 14:00. Second Life time: 21:00.

There’s also some music events going on – check out the details on R.I.S.E. U.P itself.

The Sum Up

As a health professional myself, I’ve long had a passion for using a range of methods to get crucial health information disseminated within the community. VIrtual environments are no exception to this, and given their growth, initiatives like this are key early steps. Skeptics may point to a lack of clarity around outcomes versus the cost of implementation. That tends to miss the point to a large extent. As Professor Szer stated: it’s consumers who are driving the momentum in the use of social media for health information. If companies like Roche Products are going to engage in brand recognition exercises in Second Life, I can’t think of a better way for them to do so.

Finally, the machinima created for the project gives a nice summary of R.I.S.E. U.P’s intent:

Check it out in-world

====

Anna’s story:

• Anna noticed a large lump above her collar bone in late September 2007 and was initially advised to have it removed for cosmetic reasons
• However, five weeks later, Anna was diagnosed with Hodgkinâ€s Lymphoma
• Anna was not prepared for this, as she was initially told she wasnâ€t at risk of a cancer diagnosis
• She found it particularly difficult to tell her husband and four children about her diagnosis, as her family is very close
• Later that week, Anna underwent blood tests, a CT scan and a surgical biopsy. She was soon admitted to Cabrini Brighton Hospital and found herself in intensive care following an anaphylactic reaction to one of the anaesthetic agents. She was unconscious for over an hour until the medical team were able to revive her
• Following surgery, Anna was official diagnosed with Follicular Lymphoma and her diagnosis was a shock. She felt physically and emotionally exhausted and found herself in a surreal state
• Annaâ€s treatment consisted of twelve weeks of chemotherapy and a targeted biologic therapy. Throughout the treatment, she felt 100% supported by her family and a group of great oncologists
• On the ninth week of treatment, Annaâ€s oncologist informed her that the treatment was successful and she was cancer free
• Anna has now officially been in remission since April 2008 and she is a proud wife, mum and grandmother

The latest club being proposed will be located in Second Life, with official endorsement by the Lions organisation. Two information meetings are being held on the 5th August at 9am and 6pm Second Life time (2am and 11am on the 6th August AEST), at the current Lions Club presence in-world. If you’re after more information, contact Simba Jaggernov or Piratelionecu Humphreys in-world.

I don’t think I’m alone in my admiration for the work Lions do in local communities and it’ll be fascinating to see what this club will be able to do.