Walk Day Video! Thanks for making it all possible!

Sponsors

Walk Week

Hi everyone! Wow! We are less than one week from walk day and I wanted to let everyone know all that has been going on these past few weeks! First, our t-shirts are in! Yeah! They look awesome and we are so proud to wear them with our wonderful sponsors on the back! If you ordered a t-shirt or were told you were receiving one, I am hoping to make local deliveries this week. For those not local, we will have them for you at the walk! I will probably be placing another order after the walk, so if you didn't get one and still want one, just let me know! They are $12.00 each!

As of right now, our team has raised over $4,400! You guys are awesome! We are overwhelmed with the donations and the hard work our team put in for bringing in these contributions! We have had a wonderful photographer, Chalice Leaman, donate a portion of her October proceeds. We have received United Way money from the Banner Hosptial in Page, thanks to my wonderful sister-in-law, Tracy French! My other wonderful sister-in-law Tavi held a poker night in Washington and brought in over $350.00. Michelle German rasied over $500.00 through her scrap for a cure fundraiser! And we have had a tremondous amount of support from friends who took time to read our emails and facebook posts! Honestly, I know there are so many different charities out there, and so little money in these ecomonic times! Every single dollar that was donated to our team is so so appreicated- from my family and my team!!! I have had wonderful friends beg people to be sponsors for our shirts. They took their own time to run letters around town! Thank you- you know who you are! My friends and team are wonderful! Your support means the world to me!

This week is so important to our family and those who are walking with us! JDRF does so many wonderful things for our kids with diabetes. Not only are we raising money to find a cure, but the money also goes to improving technology that takes care of people with Type 1! Improving their lives so they may live longer and healthier! I have recently learned of a 13 year old who passed away from Type 1 Diabetes this week. What a week to hear that. This is why this walk is so important to me! Many of you know Luke and how active he is! He is involved with so many things. He loves playing football, soccer and baseball. He goes to school like all other kids. You may look at him and say, "he looks just fine to me"! What you don't see is the behind the scenes. Checking his blood sugar every two hours, careful preparation of his 2 snacks for school and lunch, bags taken everywhere with meters, insulin, pump supplies, snacks ( fast and slow acting carbohydrates), careful calculations for his pump to supply just the right amount of insulin, careful calculations of all items he eats, site changes every two to three days, 2-3 times us as his parents checking his sugars in the middle of the night and correcting him if he is too high, or shoving juice and crackers down his mouth if he is too low, sleeping with one eye and one ear open to make sure he doesn't go low when he sleeps, feeling relief and joy each and every morning as he comes out of his room for breakfast knowing he made it through that night, and me having my cell phone attached to my hip waiting for an emergency call from the school!

THIS IS WHY WE WALK! THIS IS WHY WE RAISE MONEY! THIS IS WHY I APPRECIATE EACH OF YOU WHO HAS DONATED, JOINED OUR TEAM, OR PRAYED FOR OUR TEAM!

So- let's get ready to walk and have a good time! Walk team details! October 30th- Tempe Town Lakes. Please go to this post and you can get all the information on parking etc.

http://jdrfdsw.org/events_tempe_walk.html

We are hoping to meet as a team at 8:45 for a team picture. So, that would mean.. please plan to arrive early enough to find parking and to find us. We will have a sign for our team near the finish line where the teams meet. If you walked with us last year, that is where we should be again. We will take a team picture in that same spot. We are a team wearing gray shirts with navy blue writing.. and there should be a bunch of us ( around 100)! Registration begins at 7:30, but if you have registered online, or sent me your information already, than you can bypass this. If you have money to turn in, you can bring it to me or the registraiton. Just make sure it counts for our team! There should be free breakfast and lunch! Come early and enjoy all the vendors and fun kid stuff! There are two walks- a 1.5 mile and a 5K. Last year as a team we all did the 5K! This year, many of us with young kids will only be doing the 1.5. You can do either one! We will just meet as a team for pictures at 8:45 and then when the walk is over whoever wants to meet afterwards can.. at our same meeting location!

Thanks again for coming out and joining us! If you still have questions feel free to email me! Hopefully I answered all the last minute walk details!

God Bless,

Tara, Barry, Wyatt, Luke and Reese!

Our Wonderful Sponsors

WOW! We feel loved! We have some wonderful sponsors that have stepped up to the plate for Team Luke and the Jedi Knights! I want to take this opportunity to thank them for donating to our team. So, a big thank you is sent out to:

Taco Bell
Baker Family Electric Inc
Rodd's Auto Sales
Border States Supply Chain Solutions
Kids Incorporated Learning Centers
Weekend Warrior Landscaping
E &S Orthodontics
Sunstate Builders
NFL Youth Experience- Mesa, AZ
J&J Special Teez

We are so excited to have them on board!

We also have my wonderful photographer and friend Chalice Leaman who is donating 20% of her photo session profits to JDRF in the month of October. You can schedule an apt. with her through her website at
www.chaliceleamanphotography.blogspot.com

Please support the business listed above! Just today my Wyatt and Luke played football through the NFL Youth Experience league and then we headed to Taco Bell afterwards:) Thanks everyone!!!

Join our Team!

Okay, everyone.. We are less than 60 days away from walk day. I have been busy getting businesses to sponsor our t-shirts. With that in mind, I am needing a head count as to how many of you plan to join us for the walk this year. If you have never been, you are missing out if you don't come! There is live entertainment, free food, bouncers for the kids, contests, face painting and some good ol' fashion exercise! It is a 5k or you can just do the 1 mile run/walk. Last year, our team had over 65 walkers with an age range of 6 months to 76 years! The kids had a blast walking together and rolling down hills! Please consider joining us if you can. You can go to www.walk.jdrf.org . From there go to register for a walk, go to Arizona and choose the Tempe walk. You can then fill in your information and when it asks for a team name.. select our team ( Luke and the Jedi Knights) and register that way. Or you can just email me your name, address and how much you plan on raising so I register you myself. There is no set amount that has to be raised to participate in the walk. We just ask for you to give what you can! We would love to have your support either at the walk or through a donation! Thanks

Fundraisers

Oh My! Have we had some good fundraisers lately. We 1st had one at The Bounz House and raised over $163.00 with 59 bouncers! What a blast we had! We had such a great turnout to support Luke and JDRF. Then, my sister-in-law had a poker night in Washington and raised over $350.00. Thank you Tavi and Rod for supporting Luke from so far away. You and your friends are amazing! Lastly, my good friend Michelle German hosted a Scrap and Shop fundraiser. We had so much fun scrapbooking and buying custom watches and clothes!!! With all her support she raised over $450.00. WOW!!! Thank you everyone who came out and supported these events.

Want to advertise on our t-shirts?

Last year, we had such wonderful support for our t-shirts. We were able to provide almost all our team members (65 in all) with a t-shirt free of charge. With that help, each team member was able to provide more money to JDRF out of their own pockets! Here is a sample of our shirts from last year! We are hoping once again to have some wonderful donors contribute! Last year there were more than 20,000 participants at the JDRF walk. Can you say.. lots of exposure! If you have a business and would be willing to help, we would love your support. If you would like your business advertised on our shirt, or know someone who would, please contact me at BearTT27@cox.net. All we ask for is a donation of $50- $100. Thank you!

Luke's walk 2010

Bounz for a Cure

2010 Walk to Cure Diabetes

Well, it is that time again! It is the end of June, and we are so excited for another Walk to Cure Diabetes! This year, it will be held on October 30th, 2010 at Tempe Town Lakes. For more information, or to join our team, please go to www.walk.jdrf.org. You can find our team under Arizona- with the team name of Luke and the Jedi Knights. I will have Luke's walk video posted to youtube real soon, so please check back for that web address. Also- we have a few fundraisers coming up that we are extra excited for! On July 23rd, we will be hosting a " Bounz for a Cure" at the Bounz House in Mesa! Then on August 21st my good friend Michelle German will be hosting a "Scrap and Shop For a Cure" in Peoria! Keep posted for all the details. I will post flyers for those events as well!

Join Join Join!!!

Hey everyone! If you haven't joined our team and would still like to.. please do so soon! We would like to have an idea of how many will join us on walk day! There is no minimum donation amount in order to walk with us! We just really would love to have a large show of support for Luke.. to show him how much he is loved and supported by his family and friends!!! Donations are GREAT as well if you can't make it! Or even come to our craft night October 10th and make a craft for yourself or a gift for someone!! Any type of support is appreciated!!! Thanks to all who have joined so far! For all the info.. just scroll down this blog! If you have any questions.. just email me and I will get back to you real soon! Thanks Tara

New walkers and Craft night!!!!

Yeah!!! We have new walkers!!! The Hill family and Sandy Pippen!!! Thanks guys for joining! We also have had some more donations come in! Thanks Pippen girls and their friends!! We now have raised $710.00 for JDRF in Luke's name!! How exciting! We are getting pumped up for Craft night on October 10th! See the information below! Thanks to Stacie Crawford for letting us steal her idea :) She holds craft nights here in Queen Creek and this was one of her projects!! She was so kind to let us reproduce it! Thanks to Curt Pippen for helping to cut all the wood. We will probably have to put a limit on the amount of people coming with all the wood that needs to be cut.. so make sure to sign up early if you want to come! Mandy has her work cut out for her too ... with all the vinyl she has to prepare. I guess I need to get busy getting paint and ribbon! If you know anyone that wants to contribute to our raffle.. please send them my way! We have some wonderful prizes but can always use more! Well, everyone take care and thanks for checking in! Here is the info on craft night!!

1st annual Luke and the Jedi Knights
Craft Night
October 10th, 2009
Two sessions- 4:00-600pm and 6:00-8:00pm
Come make a craft, snack on appetizers, mingle and chit chat!
(Castlegate subdivision)

All proceeds to benefit the
Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation and the
2009 Walk to Cure Diabetes



$20.00 minimum donation to make this wonderful family decoration above!
We will also have a raffle at the end of the night with many great prizes! ( Free photo session and CD, handmade quilt, free karate lessons for kids, a hand made glass bead jewelry set, Mary Kay gift set, gift cards and more)
Please RSVP to BearTT27@cox.net with a preferred time slot
by September 26th to ensure enough room and supplies!
You don’t need to be crafty to attend- all you need to do is have a desire to help us find a cure!

$510 raised so far

Yeah! I had a $1000.00 goal for our team and we are half way there already! I am so excited! Thank you for everyone who has sent out a fundraising letter! I am so excited! Thanks also to my good friend Jena as she has joined our team as well! Way to go people! We will for sure get more money in with Chalice's photography, Melanie's Jazzercise... and our 1st annual Craft night! ( more info to come.. but keep October 10th from 4-8 pm open in your calendar!) Lukie says thanks!!!

Melanie and Tavi!

My friend Melanie is so awesome! She is a Jazzercise instructor in Cave Creek- and her group has set up their annual Halloween Jazzercise class as a fundraiser for JDRF! Thanks Mel! Also- my wonderful sister-in-law Tavi does an annual charity poker night! Next year is dedicated the JDRF as well! I love the support! It makes me so proud of my friends and family! I am so lucky to have so many caring people in our lives! Thanks everyone!!!!

new walkers and a great fundraiser!

Yeah!! We have some new walkers!!! My neighbor Lisa and my dear old friend Melanie Pippen Benjamin!! Thanks guys! Also- please please check out the blog www.chaliceleamanphotography.blogspot.com. This is the photographer who took pictures of my kids a few months ago. Chalice is such a wonderful person who has two siblings with type 1 diabetes. She has joined our team as well. She has even listed on her website that if you book a photo session with her in October- 20% of the session fee will go directly to JDRF in Luke's name! She does the most amazing work and is so reasonably priced as it is! I know you will love the photos- so go book an apt. now!!!

Thanks everyone!!!

Our team so far!

Okay- I am so happy to have the following families already signed up to walk with us! We are so blessed!!! So, here they are:

Grandma Judy ( Papa's got some bum knees)
The Sapps
The Germans
The Frenchs and
The Leamans

Thank you all for already supporting Luke! Feel free to send this blog to your friends for fundraising!

I would also like to thank the following people who have made contributions online for our team!
The Todd Family, The Wolff family, The Wida Family, Veronica Thompson, Robert Fallon and Lorette Matteson

Please read my first entry, Our walk letter, to learn more about how you can help too!!!

Our walk letter!

Dear Friends and Family:

As many of you know, our 5 year old son Luke was diagnosed with type 1 (juvenile) diabetes on November 24th, 2008. He will be insulin-dependent for the rest of his life. Since then, Luke’s day revolves around blood sugar tests eight to ten times a day which consists of a finger prick then multiple daily injections. His food intake is also counted each time he eats to measure the amount of insulin he receives for each meal. This has been quite a process for Luke and surely not pleasant for any 5 year old to have to endure. Luke is always a trooper and rarely complains. As you’ve seen, he is full of smiles, laughs, and five-year-old mischief, amidst his daily diabetes routine. Luke continually amazes us and is a blessing to have in our lives as a daily reminder of spirit, humility, and a positive attitude.

Type 1 Juvenile Diabetes occurs when the body’s immune system attacks and destroys certain cells in the pancreas. Insulin cannot be produced and the glucose stays in the blood instead. If insulin is not given it can cause serious damage to all the organ systems of the body. People with Type 1 Diabetes must take insulin in order to stay alive. Scientists do not yet know exactly what the causes are, but they believe that, genetic and environmental factors are involved.

There are many devastating diseases in our world right now, and that saddens us. The difference with juvenile diabetes is that wiping it out of existence is extremely attainable and within reach. Luke often asks us, “When is my diabetes going to go away?” It’s a painful question to answer looking at his beaming and hopeful eyes. We feel confident a positive answer will be available before he goes to high school.

Please understand, we are not trying to have a pity session. We truly believe that out of every difficulty comes something good. As parents, it’s our instinct from the moment our kids are born to protect them from any harm. We must do everything in our power to help find a cure for him. It’s our mission to avoid the heart and kidney disease, blindness, amputation, and early death that is a reality for many people with juvenile diabetes.

Luke will never outgrow Type 1 Diabetes; the only solution is a cure. The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) is the #1 non-profit funder of diabetes research worldwide. One of JDRF’s largest fundraising events is the “Walk to Cure Diabetes.” This year, we have formed a team named “Luke and the Jedi Knights” .This year’s walk will be held on Saturday, October 31st, 2009 at Tempe Town Lake.!

If you are interested, there are two ways you can help us make a difference for Luke:
* Make a tax deductible contribution in support of “Luke and the Jedi Knights” ( cash or checks made out to JDRF). If you want to mail them, contact me at BearTT27@cox.net for a mailing address. You can also make an online donation by visiting http://www.walk.jdrf.org/. Type in “Luke and the Jedi Knights” under team name and choose Arizona as the state. This will take you to a donation page. Any donation large or small is greatly appreciated!
*Come walk in support of Luke on October 31st and be an active participant on our team. All we request is that you register ( again at http://www.walk.jdrf.org-/ and look for our team), collect money from folks you know, including yourself, and then join us for a fun day at the Walk.

We greatly appreciate your consideration and support of this most worthy cause. We look forward to having as many people as possible join us on October 31st. Even if you can’t join us on the walk, we appreciate any and all donations made to Luke and the Jedi Knights as part of our overall fundraising.

If you have any questions or need any additional information, please don’t hesitate to call or write us. I will not put our phone or address on this blog, but you can always post with a comment and email address and we will be happy to get back to you! Again, thank you from all of us for your generous support of Luke.

The Larsons,
Barry, Tara, Wyatt, Luke and Reese.

P.S. We will be getting team t-shirts, so if you do plan on joining, please join soon, so we know how many t-shirts to order! Thank you!!

P.P. S. If you want to learn more about Luke, please check out his you tube video at
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L8Rr-_fW3FI