Month: February 2016

We learned that the Greater Rockford Community is awesome! We were blown away by the outpouring of support that was shown to our local families who are battling childhood cancer. 300 people were in attendance and over $29,000.00 was contributed to the cause!

We learned that when a couple of determined ladies set their minds to it, they can accomplish just about anything! As you know, an incredible amount of work goes into putting together an event like the Gold Ribbon Gala. We couldn’t be more appreciative to the ladies on the Gala Committee who gave up their homes for the last month as they made centerpieces, guest gifts, and silent auction packages and displays!

We learned that local businesses are in business for more than just money, they care about their communities and are willing to get involved. We couldn’t have accomplished what we have in support of our childhood cancer families if it wasn’t for the contributions of local businesses getting on board and sponsoring our events. Thank you!

We learned that kids who are battling cancer want to have fun! It was awesome seeing the smiles on the faces of Tyler, Gabi, Matthew, and Sammy throughout the night. Not only were they guests of honor, they were also some of the hardest workers! Gabi helped with the event prep and Sammy worked the T-shirt tent for a good portion of the night.

We learned that Chicago Cubs “Hall Of Famer” Fergie Jenkins still has it! He was a gracious speaker and went out of his way for the kids. He even put us in touch with someone from the Cubs organization so that we can join forces with them this summer when they recognize childhood cancer patients at Wrigley Field!

We learned that we are meant to do this! You should ask yourself from time to time, “am I in the right place?” When we saw how our organization was able to provide a funnel for the Greater Rockford Community to channel its love and support through to local families who need it the most, we left even more determined to keep up the fight. Any time you attempt to address Cancer in any form, especially Childhood Cancer, you are in for a fight. The greater Rockford Area and K Cancer Baseball is ready for that fight!

 

“If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other.”

I read that quote attributed to Mother Teresa this morning and it made me think about how excited I am about tonight’s Gold Ribbon Gala benefitting local families facing childhood cancer.

One thing that has been interesting about K Cancer Baseball as an organization, and what has brought us to the event tonight, is the partnerships. We have received key mentoring and assistance from prominent people within the political, healthcare, finance, education, non-profit and business communities.

What this dynamic says to me is that the state-line area has not forgotten that we belong to one another. I can’t wait for tonight’s event!

It still goes to a good cause! Check out some more of our silent auction items that will be on display at our Gold Ribbon Gala tomorrow night!  

 

People process their battles and struggles in different ways. I try to be careful not to judge how someone is handling themselves during their valleys. Sometimes it takes miraculous courage and strength just to get through the next day, the last thing a person in this circumstance needs is me telling them how they should be acting or what they should be doing with their lives when I have no idea…

I am always amazed when I run into someone that has made it through the hardest part of their struggle and then they dive right back in to help someone else who is fighting the same monster they just left in their rear view mirror. We have gotten to know two such people here at K Cancer Baseball.

Gabi and Sammy are two young ladies that have both fought battles with Childhood Cancer. They, along with their families, have gone through incredibly challenging times. What do they do now? You guessed it, they look for opportunities to help others who are facing what they have faced.

Gabi is always up for an event that raises awareness to the particular challenges that face childhood cancer patients in the Greater Rockford Area. You will find her marching in parades, manning a booth at events, and this week she was hard at work putting together centerpieces and silent auction baskets for the Gold Ribbon Gala coming up this Thursday.

Sammy has been the face of national childhood cancer organizations that raise funds for research in an effort to find a cure so that kids in the future will not have to go through what she has. She has joined K Cancer Baseball on several occasions helping us raise money and support for local kids who find themselves in the place she was in. Make sure you keep an eye out during the WREX 6:00pm news on Thursday this week. A birdy has it that you might see a clip of Sammy being interviewed at the Gold Ribbon Gala!