THE MS "JOIN THE MOVEMENT" WALK IN WALDORF WAS A HUGE SUCCESS THANKS TO ALL OF YOU !
On April 14, 2007, twenty four friends and family gathered in Waldorf to WALK with me and others in support of the annual MS Walk - Join the Movement!
Lots of others from out of town joined with friends and family locally to help out by sending in donations and raising their voices to our cause for research, treatment and finding a cure for Multiple Sclerosis. Our local team members also provided our "team" with "walkers" which gave a visible presence to our voice and credibility to our sense of commitment toward our level of support and strength toward this fight of finding a cure which we terribly need and deserve.To date our Team; "im1fightingmsru2" has raised over $2,000 toward our cause and I have all of you to THANK! 
Our team's donations heard from people from Boston, New Hampshire, Spain, Japan and of course Maryland! My Mom lead the way soliciting donations online and Pam Rollins and MaryHelen championed the Team's off-line donations and "foot-soldiers" getting everyone to show up the day of the WALK
Just this week I received a letter from the Maryland Chapter that we achieved the highest level - "Elite Fleet" Status and will lead the walk at next years WALK! Congratulations to everyone - you all deserve so much for everything you did. Of course the WALK was not about "racing" but again this year I was the last to cross the finish line. However, I do WALK across that line! And folks, that is what this WALK is for me, walking across that finish line. Although Mel did give me grief for being somewhat emotional when
I saw that you all actually waited for me to get there - I must say I was pleasantly surprised by that action. It meant very, very much to see you all there when I did finally get there. I know that everyone who gave a donation and/or who joined our team and supported us with "Walking" did so with love and kindness and for some in our family this year it came at a time of personal challenge.
I want you to know that of course I know something about personal challenge - as well does my immediate family to an extent my extended family - and I would like to say how sincerely grateful to you especially I am for your expression of support. It has not gone unnoticed by me, nor will I ever forget what you have done with what might seem a simple act of kindness. Certainly, God has bestowed extra blessings on you and your family for what you have done.
Our "get-togethers" seem to be more less frequent and our children much older (which means, gulp, we are too!) when we do see each other now. However, it is very rewarding to see that for all the "bad" in the world and what we hear going on around us and even sometimes these challenges going on in our own lives how wonderful ou
r children are doing. Every time I see the future we have "created" I am more and more pleased with what is in store for them; because of them. We have some really, really good kids and you all, we all should be very, very proud of them. I hope we are all telling them that and how much they are loved by us. Unfortunately, our world has changed and can suck but it does seem to me that we are doing something right when I look at our kids, but we really have to stick to them and keep them close while somehow letting them "feel their oats" at the same time. A very tricky prospect indeed.The Maryland Chapter has just concluded the Walks and should soon finish the final count(s) of all the donations sent in and still being sent in as of this blog's writing. Once I get the final tally I will update this blog to let us all know how we did - we did great - but what our actual final number raised is.
Also, at the WALK we took a "team" picture and were informed that it would be published sometime by the end of May or early June. Again, nothing yet, but as soon as I have it I will get it posted here and get a copy to everyone.If anyone has any additional pictures or wishes to post any comments please feel free or just let me know if you need help.
I know I have said it over and over but I really feel inadequate with just my words in saying thanks for everything that you all have done, but I will try yet again;
THANK YOU ALL AND GOD BLESS!
Rick
See you next year!
