Light the Night

Our family had the priviledge of participating in the Shoals area's Light the Night Walk on Saturday evening.  Every year the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society has Light the Night walks all over the US as a way to raise money for those fighting blood cancer and to help fund research for these forms of cancer.  My dad has Multiple Myeloma which is a form of blood cancer so we formed TEAM POWELL to raise money in his honor.  It was very personal to me because I felt like it was my way of showing my dad how much his fight this past year has meant to me.  His strength, determination and positive attitude has been an inspiration.  We got a very late start in our fundraising efforts and signed up just 1 month prior to the walk, but still managed to raise a grand total of $2,515.  I ended up raising the most money online ($1,196) so I won a Scentsy candle warmer as well as a couple of other prizes. Overall, the Shoals' Light the Night raised over $67,000 and exceeded their goal!  I am completely overwhelmed and so incredibly grateful to all of those that were able to give to this cause in dad's honor.  Their support means so much to me.  I also appreciate the prayers that have been said for my dad during the past year.  Our God has been so good to us throughout these past 9 months.

The walk was such a powerful and emotional event to witness and I am so glad we were able to be there and participate.  The park was filled with hundreds and hundreds of people all there in support of those friends and family members that are battling or have battled blood cancers. Once we arrived and got registered, we were given balloons that have a flickering light inside of them (hence the name, Light the Night).  Red ballons indicated you were a supporter, white balloons were for survivors and gold balloons were in memory of those that have passed from one of these forms of cancer. One of the honored patients, John Ritter spoke about his battle with Hodgkin's Lymphoma this past year.  He's a 27 year old football coach at MSHS (my alma mater) that just found out he was in remission this past summer. Once the sun finally set, all of the colorful, glowing balloons lit up the evening sky ... it was an amazing sight to see.  Shortly afterwards, they had the Survivors walk, where those who have or have had cancer all took a walk around the fountain in the center of the park, while the rest of us applauded them.  One thing I can tell you is cancer doesn't discriminate.  There were children, teens, adults, elderly, men and women of all races.  Halfway around the fountain, my mom went out to join my dad as he finished his walk, and threw her arms around him.  That got me.  Definitely the most emotional part of the evening for me.  But that's what that Survivors Walk was all about.  My dad is surviving cancer with my mom there to help hold him up during the times when he needs it most.  I was so glad that we were able to do this for dad and for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.  He's had a tough year and we were able to show him that we recognize what he's been through and will support and honor him through it all.  We ended the evening with a 2 mile walk through downtown Florence.  Majority of my dad's brother and sister's, some of their spouses, and 1 of my cousins also attended the walk so we had a big crew representing Team Powell.  Their presence was greatly appreciated.  I'm so grateful and humbled by everyone that came together in support of my dad. 

Team Powell getting ready

{Terry, Courtney, Sheila, Tammy, Ricky, Tambra, Lindsay, Noah, Mom,

Derrick w/ Collier, and Aunt Lyn}

{Lindsay, Collier, Noah, Tambra, and Mom}

{a view of part of the park}

{Terry, Linda, Dad, Tammy and Ricky (in back)}

{Courtney and Tammy} 

{Team Powell}

Mom joining Dad during the Survivor's Walk

{It was also my parents' 34th Anniversary!} 

 {My family of boys}

 {The beginning of our 2 mile walk}

 

{Downtown Strolling}

 (Aunt Sheila, Jamie, Me, Collier, Uncle Terry and Aunt Lyn}

 {Mom, Noah, Derrick, Lindsay and Dad bringing up the rear}

 {Mom, Dad and Lindsay}

{Hundreds of walkers in front of us} 

{The back of dad's shirt says it all}



{These two sure do love one another}