God Provides for "Team Maddie!"

I know I've said it recently, but I really feel like I'm living in the sweet spot of life! Here is another FANTASTIC example of this!

Since Maddie was diagnosed with kidney disease, we have been particpating in the National Kidney Foundation's Kidney Walk. This year, the walk is on April 6th, a Sunday, and that is a hard morning to get our family and friends together to go to something out of town. We had resigned ourselves with having a small team and just enjoying the morning.

Then I got an email from the walk organizer from the NKF that a group from our local college, Tarleton State University, had been in contact with her as they needed a project for their event management class and they had decided to do something for kidney awareness. She asked me if the group could contact us. I said YES! Two students came over to our house one afternoon and asked lots of questions and were super nice. They said that they would have a walk sign up drive on campus a couple of afternoons and maybe they could get some people to join our team.

I knew that their group would join, so that would be five students and I figured we'd get a few more, but as of this morning, we have a team of 50!!! Yes, that is FIFTY! They had over fourty students sign up to be on Team Maddie! How cool is that!!!

So we have a large group... now we just have to raise some money!  And guess what, to help us do that every campus is Stephenville ISD is hosting "Hats for Kidneys" on Friday! Every student is invited to bring $1 to school and pay to wear a hat all day! Every $1 bill goes to the National Kidney Foundation! And for student's that want to help, but don't like to wear hats, we have cool bracelets to wear! Over the years student's have started collecting the Team Maddie bracelets! It's incredible to live in a community that loves and supports each other the way this community does! We should bring in at least $1000 with this fundraiser.

But don't be left out! If you want your Team Maddie bracelet, let us know and we will save you one! Just $1 a piece and ALL funds raised go to the National Kidney Foundation!

Want to join our team? Click on the link below! ALL walkers are welcome! EVERYONE can be a ONLINE WALKER!

http://donate.kidney.org/site/TR/Walk/NorthTexas?pg=team&fr_id=6460&team_id=172251

 

 

Another Banner Year for Maddie's Team!

The 2012 Fort Worth Kidney Walk is in the books!

 Maddie and Jerry!
This is Jerry's 5th anniversary of his kidney transplant!!
So thankful that he is healthy and that we have him to look to as Maddie grows up with kidney disease.

One of the really cool things that they did this year was to give the top teams signs along the path and a big tent to hang out at!! Our team as of yesterday had raised almost $3000 with Maddie having $2300 in her name. That put her as the single largest fundraiser two years in a row!! So yeah, she got a sign :)

Since we have a lot of little ones and lots of stollers, it was really nice to have a designated spot.

And here we are at the beginning of the walk.

While the NKF Kidney Walk's purpose is to raise funds for research, one of the things that I appreciate the most about the walk is that one day a year, we don't feel alone. That there are people out there that understand what we are going through and that they have been there before us and will help us walk down this difficult road. 

 At the finish line! No, Maddie didn't complete the entire walk. But she was able to walk for 45 minutes. That's longer than we had thought she would!

 After the walk we had a picnic and enjoyed some family time.

Here Kylie is with my cousin Jennifer and her husband Jerry.



And it wouldn't be a family day without a picture of Maddie and her cousin Abby!

Finally, I love this picture my dad took!!Thanks Dad!!

Thank you for supporting Maddie's Team 2012!

Maddie's Team 2012 Bracelets rival Christmas Morning!

You would have thought it was Christmas morning here tonight!
 Maddie's Team 2012 bracelets arrived!!

 Everyone got in to the fun and had to wear lots of bracelets. 

The bracelets will be given to students when they pay their $1 to wear their hats in support of Maddie's Team on March 9th at all of the schools in our community!!

What's interesting, for a lot of my high school students, they just want the bracelets. So we ordered plenty to sell!!

If you would like to support Maddie's Team, for just $1 you can have your very own bracelet! email me for details.

And here is our poster girl in all her finery!

 Team colors this year, in case you didn't see.. are lime green and purple!

 Purple tshirts for the walkers.

                              

Isn't she beautiful!

Kidney Walk 2012!

It's that time... Kidney Walk time!

The Fort Worth kidney walk is on March 24th. We invite all of our friends and family to come out to the Trinity Park on Saturday morning, March 24th and support Maddie in raising funds for kidney research.

Our team goals this year are: 75 team members and $5,000.

Colors: Purple T-shirts. (we will order tshirts on March 1st. They will be purple with lime green Maddie's Team)

Click on the link below to join our team today!!

http://donate.kidney.org/site/TR/Walk/NorthTexas?px=1768506&pg=personal&fr_id=4300


The kidney walk is such an important day for Maddie. It's the one day of the year that she is truly celebrated and supported for who she is.


If you can join us on the 24th, but are not up to walking, we will have a tent set up for the non-walkers!


Any questions? Send me an email!

Maddie's Team Picture

Cool huh.  Not everyone is pictured, but it's an awesome feeling!

Now that I have the group picture, I have to get busy on the thank you notes.

Oh my!