Friday, June 22, 2012Tonight's picture was taken in June of 2005. As you can see Mattie was standing on top of a step stool that looked like a John Deere Tractor. We did not buy this stool, instead, Peter and Mattie built it together. Peter cut the wood, Mattie supervised, and then they painted it together. They even signed their initials on the under side of the tractor. Mattie needed a step stool in the bathroom to reach the sink, and I knew he wanted a certain themed stool. I tried looking around in different stores for a tractor, but I couldn't find one. So with Peter's skills, he and Mattie set out on a mission to design the exact kind of stool Mattie was hoping for. This stool remains in Mattie's room today.
Quote of the day: All truly great thoughts are conceived by walking. ~ Friedrich Nietzsche
I truly believe in the sentiments expressed in this quote. Movement is such an important part of a person's day and without it, one can feel listless and mentally foggy. I learned this week that my zumba teacher takes the month of July off to spend time with her family. That naturally makes sense, but it wasn't something I accounted for. So I let that news sink in for a day or so, and now I realize I will need to get back into my walking routine for the month of July. A routine that went right out the window while planning the Foundation's symposium and walk.
I spent a good portion of the day working on Foundation items and tonight I am sharing the last set of photos I will be posting to the blog of the Walk. It is my hope that you enjoyed seeing them and for those of you who weren't able to attend the Walk, you got a feeling for what the event was like.
After our walk ceremony, the actual Walk began. With each lap around the track that a participant completed, an awareness bead was earned. We distributed 6 beads in total, two red beads, and then 4 letter beads which spelled out the word LOVE. Remember our theme was, Love of Family. 
I entitled this picture..... "Beading with friends!" At our registration tables, each participant received an orange flashlight key chain with our logo on it. So literally the beads got strung onto the flashlight cord. 
Beads are appreciated by participants of all ages. This is a photo of Taylor (in red, and a senior at St. Stephen's and St. Agnes School) who volunteered at the walk and distributed beads for Mattie Miracle. 
Our bead distribution volunteers were comprised of students from Mattie's school as well as students from TC Williams High School. Having many students distributing beads helps, because as participants rounded the corner and completed a lap, they had easy access to an earned bead. Many walkers grabbed a bead and then kept on walking without breaking stride. 
This is a close up of the beading process. One of our photographers captured a child doing his laps, and in hand were his awareness beads. It is clear that this walker completed 4 laps, and also had his own design in mind.... With a red bead between each of the letter beads! I like his creativity. 
The event also welcomes our furry friends. There were several dogs at the Walk. Dogs were even doing laps!!! 
This foursome of girls were walking on the track with their furry friend. Two of these girls went to kindergarten with Mattie.
Lastly, I introduce you to our newest mascot, the Mattie Miracle Dog! The lady with the black shorts is Celina. Celina is the co-owner of Molecule Salon, the salon who was a Platinum Sponsor of our Walk. If you look closely at her dog, you will see that the dog was wearing an orange and red ribbon around her neck. This ribbon represents Mattie's colors!
This is what a completed Walk key chain actually looked like! For those of you who attended our event or contributed to it in some way (whether by volunteering and/or financially) WE THANK YOU! We could never have achieved our goal without you!!!
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