The 2nd Annual Hydrocephalus Association WALK!

    Another thing I had this week was the DFW Hydrocephalus Association WALK! This was our 2nd year doing it! We got to set up the night before which was a big help! That meant we only had to get up at 5:20 am! So we all climbed in the car, including Bonnie. Clyde has been getting more nervous around big crowds so we had him stay home with Dolly. Which meant not having to deal with 2 dogs and a crappy dog stroller like last year! Bonnie kept herself pretty entertained with her toy and bugs while we set up the last bit of things.

  I had to make the balloon arch this year! I had some help, and we found out we shouldn’t be the ones making the balloon arch. I also think we should probably either do something that is not a balloon arch next year, or hire a person who knows what they are doing! The walk went well from what I could tell, which is good because all of us Chairs and Co-Chairs had a lot going on this year!   The walk raised $30,000...not bad! My team raised $945! I was very happy I had a team again this year to walk with. And my brother's hockey team helped out! I’m mad though because I never thought of getting a photo of everyone! We were just so busy! Another successful year I think!

Thank you to all volunteers and people who donated to help make this possible!!

March of Dimes Signature Chef Night!

   This last week (actually, this last year) has been so crazy for me...but fun! Back in the beginning of the year March of Dimes asked me to be the Ambassador Family for their Signature Chef Event! I was thrilled! In the past the ambassador families always had young kids and the parents told "the story", but here I was 18 and I could tell my own! I was very excited -  it was a  whole new spin on the idea. 

  I went to a lot of March of Dimes events throughout the year, and had to talk at them or I helped teach new family teams how to run their team. I met a lot of great people, made a lot of new friends, and saw a lot of old friends. Over the year I also worked with March of Dimes' videographer to make a video about me for the Signature Chef event. You can watch the video here- http://bit.ly/15SCAFWVideo

  Which brings me up to last Thursday - the night of the event. I had worked the event last year handing out light up rings to those who donated, but this year I met the chefs and gave a toast to the night! Then the event started and I got to try all the amazing food that the chefs made! I think I made it around to everyone! I hope I did! I was so busy saying hello to everyone. They started the auction with items like chefs auctioning off making dinner at your house for you and your guests! Halfway through the auctions they showed my video and then afterwards I got up on stage and thanked everyone for coming. I was nervous, but I did good! It was a record breaking year...$306,000 was raised! They raised in 30 seconds what took our DFW HA WALK a year to raise! It was such a great opportunity!

Toasting the Chefs

With the Co-Chairs and Head Chefs

Our friends and guests for the evening

All of the Chefs, plus me with my mom, grandma and brother

My grandma and I before the Event!

Onstage, saying THANK YOU!