Asthma and MS Walks – May 6^th and May 7^th

^{Written by Karen A. Feldeisen}

Asthma Walk:

Well the morning started out pretty early for us, but we made it to Forest Park for 7:30am on Saturday the 6^th to help with the Asthma walk. Marianne, Keith, Brian and Tanya were already in the process of setting up their tent at registration. Allison also snuck in to help them out and had to leave before we got back from our water station and had a chance to see her smiling face.

Since Richard and I were suppose to do the half way point water station, we set off following the truck that had the tables we were going to use down to the half way point. After setting up our area and decorating it to look like an Island Oasis we cranked the Buffet tunes and the Blenders.

We served the walkers water, sugar free berry and sugar free lemonade with some chips and salsa. We gave them all beads, leis and encouragement to continue on their journey letting them know that they were half way there.

Mina, who came and joined us when they delivered the water, was a great help in breaking down our area when it was over. She also had the bulk of the beads for most of the day, however, on the way back to registration she was giving Richard directions, since we had no clue how we got to where we were, lost them on a question of where we were. But alas, he did not have them that long he lost them to a very brilliant question from Brian. Then Tanya would not let him speak to anyone after that.

We received a case of apples, bananas and leis to pass out the next day for the MS Walk from Keith and Marianne and we were on our way at about 1pm.

MS Walk:

So on Sunday morning 6:00am rolled around and we are on the road again returning to Forest Park for 7:30am availability for the MS Walk. We met up with Tanya and Brian and started helping Nancy (MS Coordinator) with getting tables, chairs, t-shirts and anything else needed to be set-up done.

It wasn’t long before Richard got the beads from Brian, although there is a little confusion on how, so maybe the rules will be clarified and then moving forward the confusion amongst us will be clear. Richard did not have them for long before I got them and then I had them most of the day until it came time to count the money. Then I asked Kara (MS Coordinator) a question that I said “yes or no” in and well Allison heard it and she got the beads from me. However, I did learn that there was a conspiracy amongst Allison, Brian, Tanya and Richard on how they were going to get them away from me.

But I digress. Soon after arriving we were joined by Claire, Colleen, Eydie, Nolan, Logan and Dan. Dan was taking group pictures of the walkers for MS. Eydie, Claire and I worked the T-Shirt pick-up table while Colleen, Richard, Brian, Allison and Tanya worked registration table. Of course, Richard helped Brian out by sending groups of young ladies down to get lei’ed by him. The things that guys do for each other…J

When the registration was done and the envelopes needed to be counted, all those that worked registration were asked to do the counting and Richard asked me to join their merry group. Little did I know that it was just to get my beads, I would have gone anyways.

While counting Nancy was kind enough to take a food order for us and we ate while we worked. Inside the building certainly has changed. It’s now actually offices and very nicely set-up. A little more cramped, but hey it worked out okay in getting the job done in time. We make a great team us Parrotheads.

When we were done with all the counting we exited the building to find that most of the people had left. So we started breaking down all the tables, chairs, and cleaning up to go. Nancy from MS was kind enough to give us the leftover sandwiches, cookies, and apples to take to the Ronald McDonald house as a donation. Colleen was kind enough to drop them off for us. She also gave us the box of mustard packets that we can use for the next event at Holyoke High School, which is the feeding of the masses for Special Olympics.

So if you haven’t already come out to have fun with us, please join us at Holyoke High School on Saturday, May 12, 2006. We’ll be meeting there around 9:30am. If you have any questions, donations or other items of interest for this event, please get in touch with Claire at clairedbailey@aol.com.

May your Phins always steer you straight.

Mabeck