Wonderful Support - JDRF Walk Awards
I want this post to serve as a sincere “thank you” to all of the folks that have supported Arden’s 2010 JDRF Walk. Your kind donations do so much, they help the search for a cure, develop new and innovative therapies and technology that makes Arden’s day a bit easier and gives type I diabetics a voice in Washington.
I wanted to make sure that you all knew about a moment that occurred today at the awards luncheon. Arden received quite a nice treat today, she got a tour of the Phillies ball park, got to stand in the dugout and have her picture taken in some pretty cool places!
The best part of today happened in a split second, the JDRF staff said some nice words about all of the people in the room, gave them credit for being part of the search for a cure and then they named the teams. This is when the moment happened. When our team was announced, “Walk for Arden”, Arden smiled but not just because she heard her name, it was more then that. Arden got to feel today as if she is an active part in helping herself... no helpless feeling today - today she got to feel in control. So, if you are wondering where your donation goes, I think it goes to all of the things I listed above and then it warms Arden’s heart - which in turn warmed ours.
If you made a donation, helped with a fundraiser, told someone about this site or just stop by to read what I write... you are supporting so much. So, “thank you!”.
One last quick thing. So many of you make amazing financial gifts to the JDRF through Arden’s walk. In fact we have raised north of 40k in the four years that we’ve been doing this. <applause for you>. This year we invited Alex and his parents, Steve and Maria to come with us to the awards lunch. We wish that you all could be there but this year we had extra tickets and we wanted to try and thank one of you a little extra. Hopefully we will continue to raise enough to be invited to this event and we can make this a tradition. I don’t want o share details as to not embarrass them but sufficed to say, they do way more then they should in support of Arden’s walk and we are grateful.
Best to all of you in this new year, hope to see you next fall for our fifth walk! Let’s end this with a cool picture of Alex kicking a huge snow ball, shall we??
2010 JDRF Walk Wrap Up
Our fifth walk is in the books and it was a great success!There were fifteen of us that walked together on Sunday, the weather was great and the company sublime. I want to take this moment to thank everyone that supported Arden’s walk.
As a team we’ve raised over $5,500! Friends like Tami, Aly and Megan went to work asking their friends and family for support while Dan took to FaceBook to collect over $1,400 which he added to the $1,700 that his JDRF bowling fundraiser brought in last year. Add that to the $2,000+ you all kicked in... just fantastic!
I spoke to many walk teams yesterday and they almost all reported a drastic decline in donations over the last few years with this year being the worst. I am so proud to say that while we experienced a decline, I was told that we were one of only a few teams at the Bucks County site to raise over $5,000. I’m very, very proud of that and of all of you. You are all to be commended.
I was asked to make a small announcement before the walk began and as I was sharing my story about the support that is available to the parents of type I kids online via Twitter, I found myself getting a bit choked up. To be fair the entire event is an exercise in not feeling alone and quite emotional if you are effected by type I. I looked around at the brothers, aunts, mothers and sons in the faceless crowd and was calmed by the knowledge that they all understand what Arden’s Day is like. I spoke to a man whose son was diagnosed just a month before the walk, the little boy was just three years old. I could see myself in his face as he described what the last month had been like. I saw his fear and sadness but worse I saw that he doesn’t yet understand what’s about to happen to his family. I smiled, wished him well and told him that everything was going to be fine. What I didn’t tell him is that everything was going to be ‘diabetes fine’, not fine like he was accustomed to in the past.
So that’s it. Another walk in the books... I hope it’s the last one they ever have to have. I have to go check Arden’s BG now... good night!
You know what? I should say that it’s not too late to make a donation... You can do it at the link. Thanks again!
http://walk.jdrf.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=extranet.personalpage&confirmid=87699113
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maggie and rhianna
Sunday, November 21, 2010 - 09:32 AM
2008 JDRF Walk
We’ve raised $10k so far this year! The walk was yesterday, the weather was great and the company was fantastic! Thanks to our supports, donors and walker a like! Enjoy the video.