I want to share this letter I received this morning...

[TennVolTony]

Dear Tony:

As a member of one of the 33 teams that participated in out 7th Annual WishBone Battle Experience, you know first hand what a tremendous success this event was for The Make-A-Wish Foundation of Central & Northern Florida! Not only did the event raise more than $82,000.00; it also filled our warehouse with toys and enough copy paper to last until the next WishBone Battle Experience.

Because of the extraordinary success of the event, nearly 20 seriously ill children will now experience the miracle of having their wish come true. However, the true miracle
came when you and the other employees of Carrier Florida worked together to make those wishes possible! We are enclosing a team photo for you as a souvenir that will
hopefully bring back some of the fun memories of your team's participation in the 2002 WishBone Battle Experience.

We'd like to personally thank you for all of your efforts in preparing for the WishBone Battle. Raising funds is not the easiest thing to do, but we hope that you will feel
Especially proud of your efforts knowing that you've given your friends, families, and co-workers the opportunity to make our world a better place by giving to seriously
Ill children!

The Make-A-Wish Foundation of Central and Northern Florida grants the wishes of children with life-threatening illness to enrich the human experience and joy.
Although we can't cure an ill child, we can provide hope and a happy diversion from a routine of treatments, doctors and hospital visits.

On behalf of the children who will benefit from your efforts, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts for all of your hard work! We hope to see you again for next year's WishBone Battle!!

Warm Wishes,

Tony Ward & Elena Norman


My thoughts......YES we'll be there next year and ANYTIME you need us! I got tears in my eyes when I opened and read this in my office this morning.
What we do is so small in comparison to what these kids have to endure everyday. We had fun........we played......we cried for these kids. I can't tell
You folks how much Make-A-Wish means to me and how much it has done for ME personally. From granting wishes at St. Jude in Memphis to meeting Wish Kids and their families on chance encounters at WDW.

To see the joy in their eyes as they approach the Magic Kingdom for the 1st time is an experience I will never forget. Talking to the parents of the Wish Kids when they find out who I am and having them be so thankful for what we have done for them. Those hugs are special.......

Over the past few days on the DiS I have noticed more than a little bickering and fighting among posters. This is just my opinion you understand, but folks we have had some good people get hurt and upset by what has gone on the past few days. And again my opinion, but the fighting is trivial. You want to see fighting? Go visit one of these kids. Watch a real fight! Watch them fight to live!

The energy spent getting mad can be used in such a better way....And I'm gonna make a suggestion on how to do it..... The Christmas Season is fast approaching.

Find out if you have a MAW Chapter in your city. Give them a call, pay them a visit, take a toy or make a donation. Or better yet. Ask "How can I help"?
I promise you won't regret it. The pure joy you feel will be like none you have ever felt before! You will see some of the brightest eyes you have ever seen.

We get so much credit for the things we give to Make-A-Wish. Our time and money, our sweat and tears are always talked about. Those things are fine. I think what we really are able to give is simple.... It's LOVE.....It's HOPE......and it's HAPPINESS......People say that WDW is the happiest place on earth. The next time you are there and you feel that special warmth inside you when you step onto Main Street, look around in the crowd. Chances are you will see a Wish Kid.....now that's HAPPINESS!!!

Sorry this was so long but I had to get these words out today. All of my feelings I have written today came from one simple letter I received this morning.
Just a simple letter to say "thanks" .......

 

[Serena]

Thank you Tony, thank you for everything you do for them and for us.

 

[honeywolf7]

Thank you, Tony. You're so right

 

[JerseyJanice]

BTW, St. Jude's hospital in Memphis is awesome. Without the work they've done, childhood leukemia would be taking the lives of so many kids. Thanks to them, most kids survive it now.

 

[PandyPaws]

Aww, now I've got tears in my eyes.

Thank you, Tony, for sharing the letter with us, sharing some good thoughts, and for all you do for those kids

 

[WillyJ]

Wonderful post all the way around Tony. .

 

[debster812]

I wish we had an "applauding wildly" smilie.

Tony, I am a more than a little misty-eyed myself.

You are one in a million!

 

[EROS]

LIFE is so unfair. There's no "divine" reason why children should have to endure such suffering. My heart goes out to them. I cry along with their parents .........

 

[mrsdon]

My son is a 2 time brain tumor survivor and a patient at St judes.
It is a totally awesome place. He is currently dealing with a slight setback(he has some bleeding in his brain) and it has caused some damage to his right side. We have to see the nuerosurgeon on Nov 18.
My son was also a guest at GKTW!!!. It is one of the most magical experiences that we have ever had.
Also if you ever have spare chang at McDonalds, drop it in the Ronald McDonald House Bucket. Families like mine really appreciate it.

 

[helenabear]

Thank you Tony... you really put tears in my eyes with this post!

 

[DopeyRN]

{{{Hugs}}} dear. Thanks for the great thoughts.

 

[JAP]

I swore I would not return here the rest of the week. I wanted a break b/c real life can be stressful enough without what I see on an internet board.

THANK YOU TONY!!! You made me remember a few things myself.

mrsdon: I will pray for your son and that his set back turns into a step forward.

THANKS TONY again your post touched me.

Jen

 

[Steve H.]

Very nice letter

 

[Kermit]

Thank you for sharing that, Tony. You do a wonderful thing by donating to MAW, but you're right that the kids are who we should really admire.

And mrsdon, {{{hugs}}} to you and your family. I don't go to McDonalds very often, but I'll remember to look for a place for donations when I do now. I had a friend in elementary school who was always going to MD Anderson for cancer treatments, and she really enjoyed staying at the Ronald McDonald House.

 

[Pooh93]

Thank you for all that you do with those kids and putting life into perspective.

{{HUGS}} and good thoughts for your son, Mrs. Don.

 

[ugadog99]

You are so right, Tony! I missed all the bickering fights but I know a lot has been going on lately. Thank you for reminding us what is most important.


AND....


on a more lighter note....




GO DAWGS!!!!!!!

 

[ead79]

Tony, thank you for all you do for Make A Wish! I volunteered for my college's Make A Wish affiliate program, and I need to get involved with the Atlanta chapter now that I've graduated. {{{HUGS}}} for you.

 

[KimRaye]

Most worthy of a {{HUG}} and, a nudge.

Thank you for sharing Tony, your letter and, yourself!!

 

[TennVolTony]

uga YOU dog99...you just had to go and mention that huh??

 

[ugadog99]

Well...of course, Tony! After 10 years of losses to the Vols, I have to say something! Now, if your Vols could only upset the Hurricanes in a few weeks, I sure would be happy!



GO DAWGS!!!!!!