Every dark cloud has a silver lining. Today was a reminder of that.
We attended the 2009 JDRF Walk to Cure Diabetes awards ceremony. There, we were presented with a few awards, like the above Gold Fundraising Award, which we received for raising over $18,000 for JDRF.
While the recognition for our efforts was nice (as we poured our hearts and souls into our Walk campaign!), the ceremony wasn't really about receiving accolades. To us, it was about friends, family and support. Our awards are merely symbols of the donations that came from people who care about a cure, who care about us, and who were willing to help us help Jack.
To all who donated, walked with us, and raised funds for JDRF on behalf of Jack's Pack, thank you from the bottoms of our hearts! Your support means the world to us!
We sat through today's event surrounded by friends, truly wonderful people whom we never would have met, if it hadn't been for diabetes.
If there is anything positive about Jack's disease, it is that we've made these special friends.
To all we saw today--the Roses, the Birminghams, the McGraws, the Coveys, the Gabbays and the Baxleys--and to all of our other D friends (including those of you we've never met in person), we treasure your friendship!
Diabetes may be our darkest cloud, but it does have its silver lining!
P.S. Please excuse this post's horrendous photography! I had to use my cell phone camera, as the card reader I use to download pics from my camera to my computer are victims of last week's water heater catastrophe. My office was hit hard with water damage, and I currently can't access my desk drawer, where I keep my card reader. I can't wait to have my house back!
WOW $18,000! That is fabulous Heidi! Our WALK isn't that big up in VT yet. My husband has chaired it the last 2 years and I have ran the kick-off luncheon with another D-mom for 2 years and will be doing so again this year. I think our local walk usually raises about $90 to $100,000.
ReplyDeleteAnd...of course you are right. The silver lining truly is the wonderful people we have met. Knowing we are all going through this together, are not alone, and the special bond that comes with that is a HUGE comfort.
Are you getting in the relaxing that you needed this weekend?
Yay!!! Go Jack's Pack!!! Thank you so much for all your hard work raising money! Every penny gets us closer to a cure! You guys are awesome!!!
ReplyDeleteThank you for you efforts! You are an inspiration to us all!
ReplyDelete(And I thought the last pic especially was very well done!!)
Thanks so much!!! Gregg and I worked long days and late nights to raise as much money as we possibly could for JDRF. We want that cure! We are inspired by Jack!
ReplyDeleteReyna, I'd love to know more about chairing the Walk. Last year, our local chapter of JDRF asked us to chair the Walk. We debated what to do. It was a tough decision, and we ended up declining the offer. We'd definitely reconsider in the future, though.
Every time you mention VT, I feel a twinge of homesickness. :) I grew up in Albany, NY and we went to VT all the time.
We have made some great friends through D. And I love getting to know all of you D moms online! D isn't ALL bad! :)
And, thanks for asking about the weekend. It's been a nice change of pace from last week! After the Walk awards, we went out of lunch with some D friends, which was really fun. Then we took Miss Madeline for some necessary shoe shopping. My girl picked out neon pink Converse sneakers. Love her sense of style! Later on, we went out for a relaxed dinner with my parents, and today, we're going to the Arizona Science Center. So much better than dealing with dueling kids and home repairs and hassles! :)
AMAZING! Great job, thanks for all your hard work and dedication. Hooray for Jack's Pack!
ReplyDeleteHeidi,
ReplyDeleteI just tried to send you a message re: the walk...let me know if you got it or not...it said some kind of error occurred, so I am not sure if it went through.
Reyna, I didn't get it. Thanks for trying!
ReplyDeleteheidi@jacks-pack.com
Heidi,
ReplyDeleteThank you for visiting my blog and introducing yourself. We also attended the award ceremony yesterday and Jack's Pack was definately an inspiration. Both of my daughters got in the car and asked what we could do to raise more money. Thank you for all your hard work and for motivating our little family.
Hope to meet you someday.
Heather