Thankful Thursday

SO much to be thankful for today!!!

Let me start off by acknowledging that this has been a very trying year for so many people--people I know personally and people I don't. The economy, health, life & death, jobs, family, everyday frustrations--it's all been doled out in unusually copious amounts this year. So when people are able to come through for a cause—for a cancer that doesn't care about the economy—despite their schedule or their routine, we are stunned and the thankfulness begins to swell and overcome us.

I am thankful each donor to the 2009 Twilight Walk. Be it a gift basket to the silent auction or a $20 giftcard that allows us to buy mustard & ketchup for the concession stand, it all matters in bigger ways than you could imagine.

I am thankful to everyone who is planning to attend this Saturday. There are a million worldly ways to spend your time and your money. Simply agreeing in your mind and on your calender to come walk around a track to help children that you may or may not know is what I like to call a Mini Miracle of Motivation. I am thankful for those of you who listen to KFDI and Way-FM, and when you hear about the Twilight Walk, you connect.

I am thankful for all of our volunteers who have agreed to fulfill whatever inane request we have. Everyone matters to us. We have volunteers who register their entire family just because they want to help even more!!!! Oh, the generosity overwhelms me! I'm thankful for the volunteer board members who work together tirelessly, setting aside precious weekend afternoons, for keeping up with hundreds and hundreds of e-mails, for missing soccer games and giving up free time and for bringing their friends, family and even their children into the fold of curing pediatric brain cancer. This has been no easy call, an assignment that we agreed to take on before we even really knew what we'd be asked to do. Immensely grateful to these souls in ways I can't even begin to convey.

I'm thankful for the inspiration that you give us. One Kyrie Foundation supporter in particular is getting married on Saturday and is unable to be at the walk. She has been a devoted and enthusiastic blessing to us in many ways. She expressed regret last year when she realized that the dates were the same. I, on the other hand, thought, how truly connected she was to the spirit of the cause! Our big days are happening at the same time! We are overjoyed for her wedding day, and I will be asking for special blessings to come her way as I make my laps. Congratulations, Kim & Dan!

And to the teams who have opted to take the fundraising challenge! Your work is the sprinkles on the frosting on the cake! You have made it possible to attain our research grant goal faster. This means we get closer to a cure faster. You have courageously asked for help and created even more awareness with every request on our behalf. Thank you for believing in this cause.

I am thankful for you, dear friend. Events like the Twilight Walk are meant to bring people together for a common good. I'm thankful that we're good together.

What are you thankful for?

p.s.
There is still time to register for the 2009 Twilight Walk! This assures you of a t-shirt. We may run out if you wait to pay at the door! Online registration closes at 12:00 p.m./noon on Saturday. You can certainly come to the door, too. $5 admission, $7 for a t-shirt.