Sunday, October 5, 2014

Updates on a couple events

September was full of support and celebration!  Early September, we had a fundraiser dinner at a local restaurant - Adagio's Pizza Factory.  We had the walk for ALS and then, at the end of the month, my parents threw us a wedding reception.

One of the things that resonates with us is the support and love we feel from family and from friends - whether it's online friends, my parent's friends, my close friends - it's amazing.  We can't say it enough: thanks so much to everyone.

Fundraiser / spaghetti dinner update: 

We wanted to let everyone who came know you helped raise over $1300!!  It was an amazing night. We split the money between to our walk for ALS, the MN ALS Loan Closet and set aside just a little toward our own fund we don't think too much about right now - his end of life care.

Ed is a 20 year air force veteran. ALS is one of three diseases (Agent Orange and PTSD are the others) considered "service related" so the VA covers muchof his care. I can't imagine the financial crisis we'd be facing if it weren't.

We felt it was important to make sure some of the money you helped raise specifically goes to the local ALS Loan Closet.

They assist those who cannot afford the equipment needed to live a more comfortable and productive life.

My sister was the ring leader in getting everyone involved.  We had a bake sale; she recruited a bunch of talented folks to bake away.  A big shout out to Adagio's Pizza Factory in New Brighton, too!

ALS Walk:

Thanks to all of you, we raised $2940 for the walk!!!  

The Walk for ALS was a wonderful day.  Luther had a little emergency room scare two nights before the walk so I almost bailed... but my super-hero sister rallied us to get out and go.  And although my super-hero husband was still feeling icky the night before, on the morning of the walk, he felt better and rallied to wheel.

We met up with friends, family - it was a sunny day - and there were 1000's of other people walking who's lives have been touched by ALS.  Another heartwarming day.

Reception:

My parents have lived in the same neighborhood for 40+ years and they're still friends with their friends from high school (in a few cases, elementary school!) so I've known these people most of my life.

At first, I didn't want a reception -- our wedding was small, it wasn't our first wedding, we'd already asked for so much toward the ALS Walk -- it seemed like too much.  But mom and dad put together a fun day and it was good to see so many people I hadn't seen in a long time.  They got to meet Luther, I got to catch up and it was another day of letting in that love and support.  How can we go wrong with that!?

Below is a pretty cool link of a family who's living through ALS.  The man, a Pittsburgh firefighter, has ALS and was on the Ellen show.  One of the comments his wife makes is that they get to feel the generosity of their community on a daily basis.  I have to say we agree!!

http://www.wpxi.com/news/news/pittsburgh-firefighter-battling-als-will-be-ellen-/nhbF5/ 



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