Weekly Reminder

I will save you from having to stare at my photoshop pictures for a day.  We take a break while I remind you that Finley's August 20th event is coming up!  We have heard from so many of you, and we thank you!  We are excited to see who is coming, and we appreciate those who cannot come who sent donations - thank you for your support.  We have amazing family and friends.

Most of you have received a flier from us and registration form.   Just a reminder first - this is a FUN run/bike/walk.  It is not competitive.  It is just for fun and is relaxing.  My mom thought that some of you might think this was a competition.  It is not.  It is FUN.  

Here is what I want you to do - go over to your table where you set the form right now.  Go ahead, I will wait.

Hmmmm, Hmmmmm, Hmmmm, la, la, la.........

Oh?  You are back?  Excellent.  I was just singing a little song while I waited for you.  Glad to see you have returned.

Now - do you have a pen?  Oh you don't?  You are going to need that - so go and get one.  I can wait.  I will just go back to my song........

Okay now?  You have a pen and your registration form?  Excellent.  Now........fill it out.  Go ahead.  right now -while you are reading the blog.  I don't mind.  Actually, I prefer it.

See - my mom is slowly having a mental breakdown about the registrations.  This is not an abnormal reaction of hers.  She likes panic.  She lives for it.  But - to save ME......I ask you to fill out your registration right now, and put it in tomorrow's mail.

For those of you who got the registration - when you are looking at the CHILD's shirt sizes - here is what the sizes mean:  Small - 2/4, Medium 6/8, Large 10/12, and XL 14/16.  Just so you know.  It is a bit confusing and I apologize.  Hopefully that will clear up some questions.

If you CANNOT come, but would like to make a donation, we really appreciate it.  We have that GREAT BIG $250,000 goal that we need to reach by March 2012.  We have raised about $90,000 toward that goal, but we need EVERYONE's help.  All donations are tax deductible - we are a non-profit and you will receive a tax receipt letter with your donation.  Please remember to make your checks out to RDH12 Fund for Sight.

Each registration form is for your WHOLE family.  Isn't that helpful?  It is $20/person for up to 2 people.  Families of 3 or more, it is $50/family - no matter what the size.  You can put all the names of your party on one paper and send one check if you would like if that helps.  Then send the form back to my mom at the address on the form.  Make all checks out to the RDH12 Fund for Sight.

Please remember to sign the back of the registration form.  If you forget - it is okay - we will have it the day of the event for you to sign.

The registration cost gets you a FREE t-shirt (watch for a picture of the shirt - it was designed by a local and it is FABULOUS), a brailled book mark, water bottle, and lunch.  For kids - we will have special bags just for them with goodies (along with the things listed above).

There will be face painting by my sister-in-law who has a degree in art and is AMAZING.  And there will be balloon animals made for any kid who wants one.  We will have a bounce house for kids as well.

For the adults - we are having a basket raffle with wonderful baskets.  Wait until I can post the pictures of them - they are going to be outstanding.  I can tell you some of the baskets are going to be:  Harry Potter (with a signed book by JK Rowling and Daniel Radcliffe Signed picture along with all the other goodies), a cooking basket (with a signed book by Guy Fieri from the Food Network); A Steelers basket (with a Steelers jersey and signed picture among the other wonderful things); A movie basket; A Smores basket; A Party Lite basket (thanks to our wonderful Aunt Geri); A Toy basket; A Tastefully Simple basket; 2 Sentsy Baskets; Pittsburgh "to do" basket (which will include tickets to the Children's Museum, Science Center, Pirates Game, and tickets to a CLO show); A Cinco de Mayo basket; Scrapbook basket; A kitchen basket (in a Longenberger basket); and a Sand Hill berries basket.  We have a few more coming, and if you want to make a basket for the event - we would love it.  Thanks to everyone who has contributed.  I can't wait to see them all.

Basket raffle tickets are $2/one, $10/10 and $20/25.  If you can't come to the event, but want to bid on some baskets, let me know - I can drop your tickets in for you.  You DON'T have to be present to win.

There will also be the Sidney Crosby jersey that is being raffled.  For $10/ticket you are taking a chance to win a SIGNED, AUTHENTIC Sidney Crosby Pittsburgh Penguins Jersey.  We still have tickets to chose from, so let us know if you want a ticket.  You DON'T have to be present to win.  This is an amazing jersey, so take a chance to win!

Every cent we make for this event will be going to our RDH12 Fund for Sight.  Every Cent. We need to get closer to our goal with this fundraiser.

I can't express enough thanks to everyone who is helping us save Finley's Sight.  It means a lot to us that you care for her so much.  This event will be out biggest this year, so we really need your help.

August 4th is the deadline for pre-registration.  That will give our shirt guy enough time to make the shirts for the event.  You can STILL register and send your form in after August 4th and we will try our VERY hardest to make sure you have a shirt for that day.  If not - we will order it and get it to you.  But please - fill out your registration form RIGHT now - and put it in the mail.  I have started making the Braille bookmarks to help me get ahead for that day so they will be ready for those who have registered!

For those who DIDN'T get a form, but would like to come or would like to donate to our event.  You can go HERE: http://www.finleyfighters.com/RunWalk.html  (just click on it and it will take you right there).  You can print out the form, fill it in, and then mail it in.  If you didn't get a registration from me in the mail it just means that I don't have your address. But we want EVERYONE to come.  And EVERYONE to help us reach that goal.

How amazing is it going to be to say that YOU had a hand in a cure for Finley?  That your support helped save her sight?  We really can't do this without you.  We need your support.  So please - help us reach our goal.

We recently talked with Dr. Bennett (our researcher working on our RDH12 gene) and she said things are going very well and she is very pleased.  So - she seems to be on course to do the safety study next March (which is where the $250,000 comes in).