Today actually started out several weeks ago, the Reis family supports in every way the Evergreen's Chapter "Tri-Cities Walk to Defeat ALS". Last year only Ron was able to join his brother Mark in memory of his wife Betty who passed away after being diagnosed and this year with Ron traveling with business and Dan and Lindsay away at college, McKenna took the lead and promoted awareness in the Moses Lake community by talking to the local paper and writer Sarah Kehoe, who did a very fine article on McKenna's efforts to raise funds for the local ALS chapter and the urgent need to find treatments and a cure.
McKenna's hard work raised $1,260 .00! She was #3 in the Top Ten list of fund raisers! Her Uncle Mark made her Co-Captain of the team and her mom and friend Jacob joined her and walked the 5 miles with her.
This is only the second year since this walk began in the Tri-Cities, the first year bringing around
200 hundred people and this year slightly more.
If you would like to see Sarah Kehoe's original article:
http://www.columbiabasinherald.com/articles/2009/09/14/basin_life/doc4aaebd2c2bb0e479645978.txt
Mark's daughter Danica and her husband Rick had their first baby (Mark & Betty's first grandbaby) 9 days ago and McKenna and I were able to finally see her! You forget how small and precious these little miracles are...Ron, Lindsay and Danny can not wait to see her and I know they are so jealous they couldn't be here! She is absolutely beautiful and has the longest eyelashes and the most perfect face.
McKenna and I got home in the afternoon to freshen up and relax a bit (and unfortunatly for me, I took an hour nap, which is why I am blogging at 2 am) and headed out to Othello to see the rodeo (which is always a good time) and cheer our good friend Audrey Ramsden on in the hopes of becoming the next Miss Othello Rodeo Queen! Audrey is a very accomplished 16 year old. She has owned and trained her own horses, mastered the violin, piano and I think a couple of other instruments, teaches kids violin and piano and keeps her grades on top of that! We've known her almost all her life and I am proud to know the award winner of Speech and 1st Runner Up! It was so fun to actually see her on her horse racing around the ring!!
Starting Line
Uncle Mark & McKenna accepting Top Fundraising Award 2008
McKenna and Jabob
Reis walkers 2009
Adria Marie Garcia
Audrey Ramsden