After being diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS), I knew that I wanted to do what I could to fight this disease. Not only did I want to fight what I would be battling physically and mentally, but I also wanted to fight the future of this disease. I don't want my children to have to worry the way I worried about being diagnosed with MS. Talking with Nate, we thought the best way to fight MS would be to participate in Walk MS. Nate agreed to take on the lead of coordinating our efforts of forming a team and he did a fabulous job!
First we had to decide on a team name. It took us months, but we finally decided on "hey, that's MYelin!" Why? Of all the suggestions, this one was my favorite and made me smile every time I heard it. I usually have to explain to people what the team name means, but that's ok.
Next, we had to start recruiting. We had so many friends that immediately jumped at the opportunity to walk with us and we felt so touched by their eagerness to support us. Seriously, how did we get so lucky? Once we started to recruit, we started to raise money. Honestly, we had pretty low expectations in this department. Our original goal was to raise $1500, thinking that was a stretch. However with the help of fundraising efforts from my brothers, my dad, and others, we ended up raising just over $4300 (14th out of 200 teams)! We couldn't believe it! We were (and still are) floored by the generosity of so many people.
Aside from the recruiting and fundraising, we made signs, had t-shirts made, and had a tent in the walk's Team Village so we all had a place to meet.
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| My friend helped me make this sign for our recruiting table we had at Fuqua. |
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| Our recruiting table with the most adorable recruiters in the world! |
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| Nate painting our team tent sign. He's a stud! |
Then it came for the big day we had been anticipating for months! We ended up having a huge group of walkers and Nate and I were both so touched that we had so many people there who love us and support us. We really have the greatest friends in the world! We ended up having 44 adult walkers and a whole lot of kids and strollers. It was quite the site to see!
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| Our team, "hey, that's MYelin!" minus 4 adults and 3 kids who arrived just after this picture. |
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| Those who came from Fuqua to support us. |
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| I am SO glad some of my family was able to be there: Nate, Rhett, Katie, Rachel, Westen, Lyla and Ruby. |
Right before the walkers took off, they had a balloon release. It was so cool!
And then we took off on our 1 mile walk. There were
so many people there doing that walk and it made me realize just how many people know and love someone with MS and want to help find a cure. It is good to know we are not alone. :)
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| A bunch of the Fuqua students walking. |
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| Our family, minus Lyla. |
As we reached the finish line, they handed out a bunch of orange leis. In case you didn't know, orange is the official color for Multiple Sclerosis awareness in the US. :)
After we finished walking, we mingled with our team, ate snacks and enjoyed the day. Here are some pictures of some of those who were able to make it.
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| Hanna, Necia, me and Kim |
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| me and Katie |
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| Cabrina, Luke and me |
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| Kristen, Cabrina, Luke and me |
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| Our family with the Giles family minus Garrett |
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| me and Belize. This picture would have been a little cooler if you could see our legs. Oh well. |
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| a regular pic of me and Belize |
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| Nate, me, and our neighbors/friends Jessica, Christian and Landon Ricks |
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| me and my girls |
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| our silly faces |
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| me and Becca |
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| Haley and me |
Unfortunately, Haley took off right before we decided to take an MBA wives picture, but we got the rest of the group who was able to make it to the walk. I
love these ladies so stinking much!
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Top: Laura, Belize, me, Jessica, Katie, Lis
Bottom: Becky, Jen, Becca (and Bear) |
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| haha!
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| my hott husband and beautiful girls :) |
Once almost everyone was gone, we started to pack up our things to head home. As we were packing up, they started to announce team awards. I was half paying attention and Nate wasn't listening at all. As they began the awards, they started to describe a first year team who had x amount of participants and who raised just over $4300 dollars and I thought, "it kind of sounds like they are describing our team" and they said "Our Rookie of the Year award goes to, "hey, that's Myelin!". We were like, "wait, that's us!" So, Nate ran up to the stage to collect our award. :)
(Please excuse the terrible quality and lighting of the phone pic below.)
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| yahoo! |
Overall, we had a very fun and successful day and I am so glad we did it. Go team, "hey, that's MYelin!" :)
I want to thank everyone who took the time to walk with us, who donated, and who sent their love and support to us. We are so thankful for each and every one of you and have felt your love and your support from here in Durham and from all over the country. And I am so thankful for a loving Heavenly Father who has blessed me and my family in countless ways.
I am so thankful for my amazing husband who spent hours and hours coordinating our walk for me. He had so many other responsibilities on his plate and opportunities to do other things, and yet he never once complained. Nate has been my rock, my partner, and my best friend and I have always been able to count on him from the very beginning. He makes my life so enjoyable and I am so thankful that he is mine. I love you Nate!
