Thank you Creative Visions Photography.

We're very happy to have Creative Visions Photography with us for the Twilight Walk!

Creative Visions might be best known for their wedding photography, beautifully capturing moments from the veil to riding off into the sunset. However, Creative Visions also snaps those darling Little League photos around the area as well as traditional family portraiture. Enter the Twilight Walk.

Usually it's Mom or Dad who's taking the photos on any given day when normal & funny family moments are happening. On September 27 in our Family Photo Booth, it will be the professionals with Creative Visions, and one of the coolest things is that they'll be commemorating your family doing good for a cause. Maybe it's a sweet snap of you & the kids in your Twilight Walk tees. Maybe it's your teenage daughter and her friends hamming it up for the camera. Maybe it's your kids making funny faces at each other. Maybe it's your team of cancer fighters posing for this history-making event. For just $7, you'll get a professional 5x7 mailed to your door, a memento of the evening, a reminder of doing good together. Proceeds go to The Kyrie Foundation.

Creative Visions Photography is a gold sponsor for the Twilight Walk. An enormous thank you and an even more enormous hug for capturing the incredible people who are planning to support us!

Thank you Vickie & Steve.

The Kyrie Foundation is both professionally & personally grateful for the generous sponsorship of the Vickie & Steve Nienke family. We are honored and humbled that a family--the very thing that we're ultimately trying to preserve through curing children--is represented in such a big way.

Vickie & Steve's daughter was one of my dearest high school friends. We had so many great times in that authentic, happy, yellow Volkwagon Bug, which I still affectionatly call "The Yellow Bugmarine." She was a talented vocalist then, just as she is now. And her parents were always supporting her, her brother, the school and their friends in so many good ways.

The Nienke family has known their share of heartaches, too, which connects us in another way that neither of us would choose. However, I will forever think of their endurance and generosity as inpiration for me to do & be the same.

The Nienke family is a gold sponsor for the Twilight Walk. Words cannot accurately express how much gratitude we have for you and how honored we are to have your support. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Thank you Heritage College.

On September 27, when you're surprisingly relaxed in the "Massage for the Cause" booth and have an expert massage therapist relieving the knot in your shoulder or the tension in your neck that's been there all summer, please thank Heritage College.



Thanks to Heritage College's massage therapy program, plenty of great therapists are put into Wichita & the world each year who are trained in therapeutic massage, anatomy, physiology, sports massage, neuromuscular, musculoskeletal, Swedish massage, Asian massage and Japanese massage. Sound relaxing already, doesn't it?

And just look at all the benefits!

• Reduced physical and mental stress
• Reduced blood pressure in hypertensive people
• Reduced heart rate and slower respiration
• Relaxed muscles
• Decreased muscle tension
• Increased positive mental health
• Decreased anxiety
• Increased blood flow
• Improved sleep quality
• Increased circulation to the brain
• Increased local circulation
• Relief of headaches, tension, stiffness, and sore muscles
• Relaxation
• Pain Reduction
• Improved immune function
• Reduced adverse effects of sitting for a long period of time
• Increased joint mobility and flexibility
• Improved alertness and ability to focus
• Increased lymphatic flow
• Release of endorphins
• Stimulation of parasympathetic nervous system

And Kyrie's Auntie Amanda will be joining the college's therapists that day as she, too, is skilled massage therapist now!

Heritage College is a gold sponsor for the Twilight Walk. Our sincere gratitude to all the therapists who have set aside this day on their calendars.

Thankful Thursday.

I know I've said this before, but I'm still really thankful for all your support. I'm tremendously grateful that you came here to read a few words today. I'm thankful that so many people have stepped up to volunteer with the Twilight Walk. I'm thankful for all the exuberant excitement for the walk, too. Your enthusiasm is infectious! At Larry Bud's, it was amazing to see how just one or two people talking about the walk got everyone else around them excited.

I'm also thankful for all the new support that we've met on this journey. Today I'm especially thankful to Wichita's 90.7 Way-FM. They gave us a great deal on much-needed promotion, and if you click here, you might see something familiar ... ;)

Also, stay tuned to 90.7 this month and you're likely to hear an ad or two for the Twilight Walk! Cool, huh?

What are you thankful for today?

Thank you PepsiAmericas.

If you've ever enjoyed a sweet, fizzy Pepsi cola or the revv of a Mountain Dew or a bottle of pure Aquafina, you might want to give a small salute to PepsiAmericas. The PepsiAmericas business is the entity that's responsible for actually making these sweet treats.


Did you know that they provide refreshment to over 250 million thirsty consumers? For all tastes, too. I really dig Propel. Good vitamins. Some flavor and low sugar. And Pepsi bottles all those little Starbuck's Frapps and Dole juices, too. Sobe? Yep, those beverages as well.

And that's just in the U.S. I really get a kick out of seeing what kinds of products families buy overseas. In Jamaica, PepsiAmericas made a soda called Ting. I think it's kind of a lemon-lime-grapefruit flavor.

So how about a Slice? Mug Root Beer, anyone?

PepsiAmericas is a gold sponsor for the Twilight Walk. A refreshing & bubbly thanks to you, Pepsi!

Thank you BWCU.

When we first announced The Kyrie Foundation Twilight Walk and began to recruit sponsors, Boeing Wichita Credit Union was one of the first to generously support the event. Being a new non-profit, this being our very first fundraiser, you have no idea how much it means to us to have them with us.



Founded in 1936, workers at the Stearman Aircraft Company opened an employees’ credit union. Each worker deposited $5.00 plus a 25 cent membership fee. Stearman and it's credit union later became Wichita Boeing Employees Credit Union then Boeing Wichita Employees Credit Union. And in 1994, they opened their membership to the public now known as Boeing Wichita Credit Union (BWCU). They are now serving a 46-county area, covering most of the eastern half of Kansas.

Another cool thing about BWCU is their Green Checking Account. No monthly charges, no minimum balance, free debit card, free online bill pay, free online banking, earns interest on balances over $1,000 and they make donations to replant trees in the tornado-ravaged Greensburg, KS. All the online options mean less paper waste, and they even offer the option of purchasing checks made from recycled paper. I really, really like this idea; it's another way to think better about everyday ways. So good, isn't it?

BWCU has 15 branches in and around Wichita, including Derby, Andover, Haysville and Lawrence, with plans to develop even more.

BWCU is a gold sponsor for the Twilight Walk. A giant thank you to a business that's truly making a difference.

A really great turn out!

So last night was our fun and casual fundraiser at Larry Bud's hosted by Splurge! magazine, and we had a really great time!

At the start, there was a little confusion with exactly what items helped the foundation but it was soon remedied, and by the time I had to leave to hit the road back to K.C., the evening was a full swing. I got to hear a couple songs of the really fun band that started up around 8 p.m. Great covers!

A hearty and sincere thank you to everyone who came specifically because of The Kyrie Foundation. It was so nice to see you, meet you and thank you in person. And from the sounds of it, you all are gung-ho! for the Twilight Walk! Can't wait for us all to rally September 27! And to those new friends we made, thank you for joining us in this journey. We need you more than you know.

I think the organizers was surprised at what a great turn out we had, which made it all the more fun. And in many ways it was a reunion of people seeing people that they hadn't see in YEARS! So fun!

This table of beauties is in the physician's assistant program at WSU, and were so sweet and so caring about the cause. Thank you!



We had family ...


and family & friends!


And even more surprise friends showed up!


And a great group of parents & kids associated with Splurge!


And a super-fun table of happy & generous friends + the Easter Bunny & Eggbert!


And who knew this group of guys would care about kids & cancer? Part of the Wichita Thunder hockey team, these guys literally opened their wallets and just started giving. Amazing.

Plus, a photographer from Splurge was there snapping away. So be sure to check out NEXT MONTH's issue to see more photos of last night's event.

Again, more thanks & more love.

Thankful Thursday

(written by Chad)
Today, as I watched the amazing Blue Angels flying team powering around the skyline of downtown Kansas City, I felt thankful for technology. In the grand scheme of things, we are not that far removed from a time when flight was not an option. It also makes me feel optimistic about the endless possibilities of accomplishments that await. Why can't we do bigger and better things? Whether it's attending a charitable event to help further research in the field of pediatric brain cancers or something else, the sky is the limit. I challenge you to post what you are thankful for today.

Housekeeping Notes.

Just a few things that are good to know about some of the upcoming events.

First off, I hope I'll be able to hug many of you tomorrow night at Larry Bud's in Wichita for our fundraiser hosted by Splurge! magazine. Starts at 5 p.m. and think they're open till 2 a.m.! Jordan & Lacie will be there, too, and I know they would love to thank in person the readers here for reading. Also, we'll be able to register patrons tomorrow night for the walk! But it's cash or check. If you'd like to pay with a credit card, you've got our online event registration site that you can use right now!

The Twilight Walk is picking up steam! If you checked in the Wichita Eagle this week, we're on their calendar, and I'm hearing that many of you are seeing announcements of the walk here & there. And, boy, have we have been supported by the generosity of sponsors and friends! We couldn't be doing this without you. And ... in the next week, we'll give you a list of our current Twilight Walk sponsors. I gently encourage you, that if you have a choice, please patron these businesses. These are businesses that have shown us all that they care about kids.

And ... for those of you signed up for the Kyrie Foundation Krop in October--whoa, Nellie!--do we have some fantastic goodie bags loaded with great stuff and plenty of amazing prizes! More on that soon!

It's getting more and more exciting and we gear of for a fall of fundraising! Please join us for this incredible season!

This Thursday Night!

So I'm making plans to motor south on Thursday for the fundraising event at Larry Bud's Sports Bar & Grill. Did you know that they have 3 huge projection TVs and 20 flat-screen plasmas at this place? Hello! And ... there's shuffleboard! Who doesn't love that?! Plus, free wireless interest, if you have to bring your laptop from work.

Never had fried green beans before, but they got 'em. And salads and mongo burgers and the Jive Turkey sandwich on wheatberry bread. Delish!

Hope you're planning to stop in, too. Starts at 5 p.m.!

Thursday, August 21
2120 N. Woodlawn
Wichita, KS 67208
Ph: 316.440.1069

We're also going to be able to register peeps for the Twlight Walk that night at Larry Bud's! (Thanks, Susan!) And I'm going to wear my Kyrie shirt, too. Are you?

Tip for Twilight Walkers ...

If you're interested in participating in this amazing evening and haven't registered online yet, we'd like to urge you to do so. When you register online you are assured of getting A) your t-shirt and b) your size in that t-shirt. And you'll get your illumination star. Plus online registration saves you $2.

We heartily welcome those who come the night of and pay at the door, BUT please know that you may not get the size of t-shirt that you want, or [gasp] we may run out of t-shirts altogether! This is really important especially if you'd like your kiddos to get a tee. We may not have much excess in the children's sizes.

... just a little tip for those planners out there.

And stay tuned next week as we give you the inside scoop on those already supporting the Kyrie Foundation's First-Annual Twilight Walk!

Thankful Thursday

Today I'm thankful for all the new visitors and new commentators! A big welcome & wa-hoo! We know that there are a lot of places to visit on the Web, so to be included in your daily check-in is quite incredible. We hope that you come here to check on the foundation, share a good story, offer an idea, connect with someone new and feel comfortable enough to be yourself.

I'm thankful for all the ways in which Kyrie and this work is changing hearts and motivating action. For years, I've had an over-sized postcard attached to my bulletin board. It reads: Action! for successful living. Interesting concept, huh? When we're engaged, activated and motivated, when we follow-through, when we "get out there," that's when you feel like you're living big, don't you?

So thankful for you to be engaged here ... and with the upcoming events.

What are you thankful for today?

Ponderous

Something to ponder as we gear up for this incredible evening ... and by "incredible," I mean something incredible for you. It's already going to be incredible for us. ;) What I mean is that the Twilight Walk is one of those "do good" opportunities that we've been talking about for over a year now. This is a place to come together, to get beyond the usual routines, to give simply by be being present. So if you wonder if being there will really matter, consider this:

Here's to the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels. The trouble-makers. The round heads in the square holes. The ones who see things differently. They're not fond of rules, and they have no respect for the status-quo. You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify, or vilify them. But the only thing you can't do is ignore them. Because they change things. They push the human race forward. And while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius. Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who do.

Jack Kerouac
American Novelist, Poet and Artist

ThankfulThursday

Today I'm thankful for this!!!!

Splurge! Magazine will be hosting an event at

Larry Bud's Sports Bar & Grill
21st & Woodlawn (Wichita, KS)
on Thursday, August 21, 2008

to benefit The Kyrie Foundation!

Beginning at 5:00 p.m., $1 from each sale of a specially designated DRINK & APPETIZER menu item will be donated back to the foundation. So mark your calendar and come join the fun at Splurge! Night to benefit The Kyrie Foundation!

What are you thankful for today?

And the good stuff just keeps on comin'!

So ... if you happen to be in the Wichita area, say at your stylist's salon or the dentist's office, you may see a local & super-chic publication called Splurge!. And let's say you opened the August 2008 issue. If you turned to page 18, you might just find something like this! Thank you, Amy Pracht!




p.s.
For those of you who read the article, there's a special surprise if you read the Upcoming Event column--our next fundraiser in Kansas City!!

Hey, Friends!

With preparations for the Twilight Walk in full swing, the foundation needs all the help we can get. So those of you dear & faithful readers who are scratching your heads wondering what you can do to help (aside from attending this fantastic event!), I have just the thing!

Right now, spreading the word about the event and Kyrie's story is supremely important, so:

if you would like a poster to put up in your office or your breakroom or your church, please e-mail me.

if you would like a PDF attachment to e-mail everyone in your address book about the event, please e-mail me.

if you would like me to submit an announcement to your church, your company's newsletter, your online group or if you would like to submit on our behalf, please e-mail me.

megan@kyriefoundation.org

Go, Kyrie, Go!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

...

Bought brand new walking shoes this weekend for the walk, and they feature Clearwater blue accenting. How befitting! Hope you are just as excited as we are about this event. We know that there are plenty of other ways to spend your time, but for one evening, for one fledgling cause, we'd certainly appreciate your support.

Can't wait to tell you about some of the details as the next few weeks unfold!

Announcing The Kyrie Foundation Twilight Walk!

We wanted our first fundraiser on Kyrie's home turf to be something that celebrated being a family. We wanted moms, dads, kids, grandparents, aunties, uncles, cousins and dear friends to come together for a unifying event, something enjoyable together and something that allowed us all to do good.

In addition to raising those precious research dollars, we decided that it was just as important, if not moreso, to plant the seeds of longterm care for this cause with our faithful and loyal readers as well as newbies. We want The Kyrie Foundation's mission to hold a permanent place in your heart, one that is top-of-mind when you feel the urge to volunteer or donate. We want you to know that you matter to us; you make a true & significant difference with this organization because YOU are a part of it, too.

Thus, the Twilight Walk—a two-mile evening stroll and live concert event to benefit The Kyrie Foundation!

Saturday, September 27, 2008
Clearwater Middle School Track
140 South 4th Street
Clearwater, Kansas

4:00 p.m. Food & Festivities Begin
7:15 p.m. Twilight Walk Begins
8:15 p.m. Kurt Layton and Against the Grain Concert Begins


Work out some of that summer stress by visiting the Massage Therapy Booth sponsored by the Heritage School!

Capture the moment in the Family Photo Booth sponsored by Creative Visions Photography!

Fun kids' games like the fishing pond, ring toss, football throw, faux tattoos and a coloring station! And ... there will be a special guest appearance by Dorothy & Toto!

From 4:00-7:00 p.m., be sure to check out the silent auction! The perfect way to do some early Christmas shopping and help the cause! (We'll be letting you in on some of the great items already donated. Stay tuned!)

And we'll have our Kyrie Foundation Style Shop, where you can purchase our chocolate brown tees, bracelets and ... cookbooks!

Fews things are more beautiful to me than one of Kansas's stunning sunsets. And that will be the divine backdrop to our commemorative Twilight Walk that begins around 7:15 p.m. We'll walk nine quarter-mile laps, one lap for each child diagnosed that day with a brain tumor. Every participant will also receive an illumination star to represent the eternal light that children fighting cancer bestow on us all.

Immediately following the walk, we welcome Clearwater's own Kurt Layton and the Against the Grain band to the stage for a live, homegrown concert event!

Lots more fun surprises to share in the next few weeks, too!

$10 per person in advance, includes t-shirt & illumination star
($12 at the door)
$35 for group or family of four
Children 2 years old & under free!

REGISTER NOW!
www.kyriefoundationtwilightwalk.eventbrite.com
Can't wait to see you there!

For more info or if you would like to be a volunteer or sponsor, visit http://www.kyriefoundation.org/Site/TW_sponsors_volunteers.html.