ALS/Diabetes Walk in Chico, CA

[Valya]

I’ve finally accepted that as parents to two children with different, life threatening illnesses, my husband and I are in an undesirable, yet unique position. The emotional shock, anger and denial over Johnny’s ALS diagnosis at the tender age of 18 remains (probably forever) but has evolved to ‘What can I do?’

Well, I guess I’ll just organize something...

I have reserved an area of our local park October 24th, 2009for a combination ALS/Diabetes Run/Walk. I’ve organized countless large events but never one this large and so deeply personal to our family. To be perfectly honest, I have no idea really how to do this. I’ve been accumulating information off the internet and have observed several similar events recently. If anyone has knowledge of this type of event or where I can find information, please let me know. I'll post this also on ALSmatter. org

Thanks! :-P

[crystalkk]

Valya,

I don't have any ideas myself, but wanted to say good luck with it.

[Maverick]

I assume you're going to donate to some sort of diabetes and ALS charities. I would figure out who those are and ask them.

[sharonca]

Great idea! If you are interested in donating to research you could contact ALS-TDI (als.net).
Let me know when you get something set - I have friends in Chico I would like to notify.

Sharonca

[Valya]

Thanks for the replies and ideas. :-P

I'm leaning towards the Juvenile Diabetes Association and the Forbes Norris ALS Research Center in San Francisco. Forbes Norris is dependent totally on donations. Forbes Norris (as they said at Johnny's last visit) is considered to be on of the top 5 ALS Research Clinics in the nation and they are accredited by the ALSA. They will also be one of the few (again, as they said) to be working with any new stem cell procedures.

The date is reserved for 10/24/09 with the city. I'll turn in the application and fees this week to finalize it.

Hope everyone is having a great weekend :-P

[runningbear]

Hi,
I am a new member. I have a cousin who has been battling ALS for three years now. I also have a former employee who is at advanced stages of ALS. I would like to register for the walk in Chico, is this still in the works?
thanks,
runningbear

[Valya]

Hello Runningbear. Yes the walk is still in the works, so put that day in your calendar :razz:. I have the One Mile area of Bidwell Park reserved. I'll get you more information as it's available.

[sharonca]

Valya - are you on Facebook? Good place to advertise. Also advertise on ALS Matters.

Sharon

[runningbear]

Hi Valya,
Thanks for replying. When was the date of the walk again? October? I want to tell my aunt about this. Has there been many people interested? Keep me posted!

runningbear

[Valya]

Hello Runningbear. The date is October 24th from 9am to noon at the One Mile Pool in Bidwell Park, Chico. So far, there has been interest in town but it hasn't yet been advertised via flyers, posters, etc. It's a bit too soon for that. I'll get into that after we return from vacation in a couple weeks. I'll keep you posted on progress :-D

Sharonca: Good idea on the facebook. I have a face book but don't relly use it-mostly for posting on my brothers site. I'll look into it though. It was posted on the old site but I guess I need to repost it there? Thanks for the idea. :-D

[Valya]

Here is a link to a web site a friend made for the 'Watson Walk 4 a Cure' I'm organizing for October 24th, 2009, here in Chico, CA. The site is still under construction but the flyer, registration form and pledge sheet are available.

There is a planning meeting scheduled for this Thursday and I've had a good response from the 125 donation req letters. The tshirt order will go to screen printers this week. It's coming together but I've never done a walk event before so it's a learn by the seat of my pants thing :shock:

Watsonwalk4aCure.com

[hopingforcure]

Valya,
I think that is awesome, I would love to buy a couple of t-shirts, bless your heart. My mom suffered from Diabetes, and I mnd, you are a inspiration.

[Valya]

Thanks hoping :-P. I"ll let you know as soon as I have them available.

Our planning meeting went well. We had the boys come in for a quick hello prior to the meeting. Many of the people there had never met them and they both just look so darn handsome and well, healthy. I managed to get through the meeting only crying just once. I"m so grateful to everyone who came out. Its overwhelming to see how many people really do care.

[sharonca]

Valya - Do you mind if I post site on my FaceBook page and on patients like me?

[Valya]

Sharonca and anyone else who would be interested, pls feel free to post the 'watsonwalk4acure.com' site anywhere and everywhere. On the site, you can down load a pdf file of the flyer, the registration and pledge forms and receipts. Or you can email a registration form (which goes directly to me) right off the web site.

For those not in the area but who would like to contribute a donation, this can also be done on the site with Paypal.

About the Facebook..My entire family seems to be on facebook. I don't care of it tbh, but I signed up for an acct and posted the event on my page. Tried to do an 'ad' for the walk, but couldn't figure out the billing and finally gave up. I dont' mind paying as much as I mind not knowing what I"ll be paying ahead of time lol.

I'm on another als support group, but have never posted there..well once, but no one saw it haha. Idk if I can say the name here? Anyways, they are all networked on facebook. I plan on tracking them down and joining. I've found this other site to be as wonderful as this site.

Anyways, the plans for the walk are going well. I wish we had more registrants but it's still early. About 15 local businesses have contributed. The art work is done at the screen printers, just waiting for the number of shirts to print up. He's giving us a deal, two colors on a white shirt for $4.oo ea. There is a ton of community interest,the ball seems to be rolling faster and faster with contributions and people emailing, etc.

[sharonca]

I have a friend in Chico who is going to sign up. I'll post on FB as well as PLM. Hopefully the walk will be a huge success and an annual event in Chico.

[Valya]

We are planning on this event being the 1st annual Watson Walk. With luck it will be huge, we'll see. It's now less than a month and I'm already getting nervous.

[Valya]

My husband and I were just interviewed by the local TV station about the boys and the walk. The segment should air Tuesday. I'll post the segment on my Youtube, then the link to that on this thread so anyone here can see it.

The walk is now a week away and plans are going well. Busy busy. Lots of community support coming out of the woodwork, which is so moving.

It's amazing how many people had no clue what ALS is. Well, now they do.

[mare]

Good Luck tomorrow, Valya!

Hope you have a very successful fundraiser, and a great time just meeting people and taking in all the support!

[Blackpool]

Good luck from me also. Hope it is a great day for you all and Thank you.

[Valya]

Hello. Unless additional donations roll in this late after our walk, here are the final figures..

$12,618 to MDA/ALS Division
$ 1,631 to Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation
$ 600 to Forbes Norris ALS Research (From quilt Raffle)
$14,849 Total Funds Raised

Here is the Youtube link to the local news segment prior to the walk:

YouTube- WW4aCure on KNVN News

The week following the walk was very difficult emotionally. Of course, my husband and I knew the funds from this event would not cure either of our sons, so we were both unprepared for the emotional upheaval after the walk. The well wishers and supporters had gone back to their lives, all the excitment and hype was over. We were left with event letdown, and the latest thing Johnny can no longer do, (this list is getting quite long now, btw) which is to be able to cut butter which hard and cold out of the refrigerator.

That entire week after the walk, I kept having the same dream. Johnny had passed from ALS and we were at the grave site. I was sobbing, holding onto the coffin as it was lowed, screaming 'But we raised thousands of dollars for a cure!' The depression was so deep, so immense, it was truly horrible.

But we're past that. Now that this walk is wrapped up, it's time to start thinking about next year lol.

[indigosd]

Valya, You and your Family are a true shining INSPIRATION! My Momma heart feels your anquish...sending you hugs from the Prairie.