'If we are facing in the right direction, all we have to do is keep walking.' ~ Buddhist Saying

Relay for Life 2010 has ended and the Frills for Teal team did awesome!  This year we had more team members and raised more money for cancer research.  The Frills Team met our goal of raising over $2,500 for Relay, all while educating and raising awareness of ovarian cancer.  Yay!  Each year it seems we touch just a few more people (which is exactly what we're hoping to do) - every person truly does make a difference.

The 26th Annual Relay for Life was held at East Gaston High School on May 30th, 2010.  The Frills Team prepared for a night of good friends, fun and raising awareness (and a little cash too).  Everyone got in on the act - walking, selling trinkets, modeling ribbons - you name it!  As we watched the survivors take their lap, kids (and grown ups too) line up to buy glow sticks, and shared our story with people who wanted to know why we were teal, it was inspiring to know that we are all in this together.  After all, it will take all of us to beat this disease, offer support and push in order to find answers.

 As we drug ourselves off of the field and to the car (no camping out as an early morning soccer game was upon us), I don't think any of us realized that Frills had accomplished more goals than we had thought about setting for ourselves.  And I guess meeting one goal, only leads to bigger and better things so...WE'RE READY!

We look forward to next year, raising more money for cancer research and educating more people on the importance of paying attention to the signs and symptoms of ovarian cancer.  So, as we prepare to head to the Relay Wrap Up next week we begin putting together ideas for our Third Annual Frills for Teal Fundraiser.  We are excited to make this year's event bigger and better than those in the past (if nothing else maybe a little more dry than last year)!

We don't say it enough but thanks to everyone who continue to offer their time, suggestions, encouragement and spirit to our cause.  We are truly thankful and couldn't do it without you!!  

When the world says, "Give up,"

Hope whispers, "Try it one more time."

~ Author Unknown

"Patience and perseverance have a magical effect before which difficulties disappear and obstacles vanish." ~ John Quincy Adams

HOLY MACARONI!! The huge yard sale was a huge success!  The Frills team was able to make over $1100 this Saturday at the Second Annual Relay for Life Yard Sale.  We owe a big thank you to Ebenezer United Methodist Church for the use of their parking lot as this seemed to provide the perfect opportunity for all passers by to see what we were selling and lure them in.  We are also extremely grateful for all of those who donated items to be sold and/or stopped by just to offer words of encouragement.  THANK YOU BUNCHES!  The day started out very early and was a little soggy but this didn't seem to dampen anyone's spirits.  And in the end despite the 4:30am start, aching muscles and out of control organizing it was all more than worth it.  I didn't get to take many pictures because my camera died but here are a few...

dawn breaks and Jon helps out by serving breakfast (Bojangles); Patty and Chuck getting ready to 'man the fort.'






Sheri and Jeremy finishing the organizing of it all and start the selling early...

Chuck helps this wonderful yard sale patron affix his newly purchased jeep to the back of his Saturn.  We all prayed that he and the jeep actually made it to Kings Mountain in one piece!


Thanks everyone for everything that you did to make this yard sale a huge success!!
Please join us at the 26th Annual East Gaston Relay for Life on April 30th as we walk to raise awareness of ovarian cancer and celebrate those of have fought their own battles with this disease (as well as the many other forms of cancer).

"Only as high as I reach can I grow, only as far as I seek can I go, only as deep as I look can I see, only as much as I dream can I be." ~ Karen Ravn

'The great thing in the world is not so much where we stand, as in what direction we are moving.' ~ Oliver Wendell Holmes

...and we are definately moving forward in our efforts to raise awareness and prepare for the 26th Annual Relay for Life!  On March 13th, circle #5 from First United Methodist Church in Stanley put together a quilt show and bake sale to benefit the Frills for Teal team.  These ladies worked hard to put together their annual quilt show where quilts up to 100 years old were on display (in addition to a few pretty tasty goodies).   Everyone was invited to vote on their favorites and the blue ribbon was awarded to a quilt that depicted each state as well as it's capital, bird and flower.  Wow!  What hard work!  We are extremely grateful for all of their hard work as they raised and donated close to $300 to Relay for Life.  Here are a few pics for those of you who missed it!                                                                                               

  

In addition, the Frills team would like to also thank Aubrey Quinlin for all of her hard work in putting together the Tastefully Simple fundraiser!  The Frills for Teal team is currently gathering anything and everything for our Frills Yard Sale.  This will be our last fundraiser prior to Relay for Life.  Come one, come all - we have a little bit of everything...from children's clothing and toys to anything you could possibly need for your kitchen!!  We will be excited to see you all there (and if you bring us a biscuit or a doughnut there could possibly be a discount in it for you!!).  

If you can't make it to the yard sale, be sure to stop by and visit our tent during Relay as we have a little something special planned that's sure to put everyone in the spirit for a good party!  In the meantime, if you're reading this and you haven't been personally thanked please take a moment to do something special for yourself as you and your efforts are truly appreciated!!    

'Sometimes our light goes out but is blown into flame by another human being.  Each of us owes deepest thanks to those who have rekindled this light.'  Thanks to all of you who continue to do this in the name of educating and raising awareness of ovarian cancer.

                                      

Coming Up...

Relay for Life 2010 is officially 50 days away and we are more than ready to put ovarian cancer on display in the name of awareness and raise a little cash while we're at it.   Team Frills has raised approximately $630 at this point far surpassing where we were last year at this time.  To date we have participated in the Applebee's Pancake Breakfast Fundraiser and are currently involved in a number of other fundraising opportunities.

Before we actually began our journey towards Relay, I had posted a 'blurb' on Facebook wondering aloud about potential fundraising opportunities. Jon's friend, Aubrey Quinlin, suggested using Tastefully Simple.  Tastefully Simple offers a wide selection of convenient, easy-to-prepare foods designed to help people spend less time in the kitchen and more time enjoying the rest of their lives. Aubrey agreed to donate a portion of the proceeds to the Frills Relay Team.  A simple and easy fundraiser was born.  Aubrey is still taking orders in the name of 'frills' until March 30th.  You can access the website at www.tastefullysimple.com/web/adubois.com or contact me and I'll pass your order along to Aubrey!

In addition, we will be participating in a Quilt Show and Bake Sale on Saturday, March 13th, as well as having a multi-family yard sale during April. 

We are definately on OUR way.  With that being said I just wanted to share a statistic that I found interesting considering this day and age of technological advancements and shared knowledge:

According to the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund, the five-year survival rate for ovarian cancer has increased by only 8% in the last 30 years.  With all of our accomplishments we are still so far behind.

Relay for Life here we come...

Okay, so we're off and running (I'm walking fast because if you know me, you know I don't run)...Relay for Life is April 30th and the Frills team is ready to put our best foot forward (no pun intended).  We have lots of plans for the next several months including a fishing tournament, a yard sale and maybe a Tastefully Simple get together where the proceeds will benefit the cause.  So, with that said, I found the following 'diddy' on the facebook page for the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund and thought it really spoke to our purpose (there wasn't an author listed)...thanks all for your continued beliefs, efforts and enthusiasm towards raising awareness.

Never, in totality of me, can I describe her;
Her charisma, her essence;
Even ever existing beauty in words
and expressions of great poets, fail
to hold her effervescent charm…
Stellar, she stands; against all tides and ticks;
She ...fights the odds with all her might; Even the
tragic trying times are futile to dither her smile;
Her adoration, precious than the morning dew;
To be in love and to love; She radiates.
…Living life in pain,
yet she’s blissful when in rain;
Dreading death in grief,
but she nods with her belief;
Holding hourglass in disdain,
She hopes for her suffering to end in vain…
Never, in totality of me, can I
describe how much I owe to her;
May the light shine on her
brighter than ever; And forever;
May the angels be with her; By her side… Always.

Second Annual Frills for Teal Fundraiser

The Second Annual Frills for Teal Fundraiser was held on Saturday, September 19th, 2009 at the US National Whitewater Center. Despite the weather, including torrential rain, 'Frills' family and friends enjoyed music, food and fun. A special thanks to Desmond Myers for braving the rain and possible electrocution to provide us with entertainment. Thank you as well to all of those who came out and shared a wet evening with us. You are greatly appreciated! All together we raised over $2,500 for several worthy causes, all while raising awareness of Ovarian Cancer. Please be on the lookout for more events as we are hoping to get the 'ball rolling' over the next year.

I like quotes (A LOT) so they will probably appear on this blog from time to time. Below I included a quote that I felt really spoke to the fight to raise awareness and educate people about Ovarian Cancer. With the conclusion of Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, it will be important that we continue the march towards awareness.

Hope is like a road in the country; there was never a road, but when many people walk on it, the road comes into existence. – Lin Yutang