Relay for Life sponsored by the American Cancer Society

Hey, everyone!

WOW!

What a fun, full weekend! And I still have one more day to go before the weekend is over! LOL :) I had SO much fun! The Hoosier Stampers, my team, raised $1,222 for the American Cancer Society Relay For Life! WOOHOO!!! Thank you to all my teammates that donated, raised money and helped with the fundraisers. I appreciate it so much! And ESPECIALLY for those teammates that came out to walk a few laps, or a WHOLE LOT of laps, helped and volunteered, gave their time and for those that took off work to be there: THANK YOU! I would like to name them, too:

Leann, my mother-in-law, who gave her time and effort, help raise and donated lots of money to make this a success!!!

Paul, my husband, who helped me pack things in the car and truck, set up the site, took off work to be with me, stayed up MOST of the entire event, walked with me and on his own, supported me, donated money and time, helped judge the Car Show!!!

Javan, my beautiful baby boy, who was wonderful!!

Kadesia, my beautiful baby girl, who is so brave, you did a wonderful job of walking, playing, helping out, participating in the events, and even GAVE THE MOST OUT OF EVERYONE ON YOUR WHOLE TEAM! It was your dream to do that for THREE YEARS and you finally did it! I am so proud of you BABY GIRL!!!

My mom, Rebekah, who came out and walked the track after working all night, 3rd shift, putting out freight and donated to ACS! My dad, Wimpy, who also came out and walked the track, to show support! My sister, Crystal, and her two children, Samuel and Cheylayna, who came and walked, donated money and supported our team! Roy, my father-in-law who also gave of his time to help get things cleaned up, donated his time and money, also, and helped out with taking care of Javan, (along with my m-i-l)! Lynnette and Andrew, my cousin and her husband, who took time off from their jobs to help out and made the whole event even more fun! Thanks for staying THE WHOLE TIME!!! Also for your donations! When you walked on the Caregiver Lap, it really got me!!! I know your daddy would have been proud, Lynne!

My aunt, Mary, and cousins, Rita and Jaiven, who came, walked the track, showed support and helped out! My brother, Arnold, and his fiance, Hannah, who came after being out of town all day long, and with MINIMAL SLEEP, came and helped walk the track, donated time and money, to make sure we could keep our commitment to the cause! She was even sick with a chest cold and could barely talk!

Thank you for showing up! It means so much that you kept your commitments! Including my team, there were 16 or 17 teams there, and several special guests! We had Elmo, Spongebob and Smokey the Bear!

We played games like Bingo, Scavenger Hunt, and lots more! I got a massage! The first time ever and it was so awesome! I won a prize! Isn't it great? I just love the button!!!

There was face painting, water balloons, tons of things to see and do, all for a really great cause! The weather was gorgeous and I thank God for that because I always remember it pouring the rain during the event in the past! I met a lot of wonderful people and one lady told me and Hannah about her 8 year battle with cancer! She is still fighting.....KEEP FIGHTING, ANGELA!!!

I've been a Chemo Card Angel since Christmas Eve 2001, just three days before my daughter was born! I also just started sending cards to the children at MAKE A CHILD SMILE around the same time. My daughter has always known about this and helped me so often in preparing packages, making notes, coloring pictures and picking out things to give to these children and the buddies I get through ChemoAngels. When she was 3 years old, she told me and my mom that she wanted to cut all her hair off and give it to a little girl that had lost hers due to cancer treatments. We didn't know what to think! I had never told her that there were programs in place for that. She just knew that sometimes their hair falls out and she knew that she wanted to take something she had, and could get more of, to give to someone else that needed it! WHAT A BIG HEART SHE HAS ALWAYS HAD! So, this was the day! A salon was there cutting hair to donate to Pantene's Beautiful Lengths program and my baby girl decided she was going to donate her hair!!! Take a look:

Look at all that long hair! It's never been cut, only trimmed!!! You squeezed the pole so hard your knuckles turned white from being so nervous and excited! You even squealed because you were so happy!

Even though this is something you wanted to do for so long, it was kinda scary and emotional and you cried! Not only you but the volunteers watching you and your mamaw, but Momma stayed strong FOR YOU!

Wow! You did it!!!

LOOK AT THAT HAIR!!! What a brave girl!

I am so proud of her!!!! WAY TO GO BABY GIRL!!! THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTRIBUTION!

Eating popcorn, relaxing in a chair, waiting to get a foot massage, you are TOO CUTE!

Here's my ribbons! I lit luminaries after I decorated them! I prayed for the ones I was walking for as I took each lap and dedicated each lap to each person! Some are gone and in my heart, never to be forgotten, others are are in my prayers that the cancer will be gone and life will be fuller, but always that God keeps you and holds you near! GOD BLESS YOU!!!

HUGS,

Bridgett