Won’t You Be Mine?

I’m not one to beg for money or sponsorship for any ol’ cause under the sun.  I’ve participated about 10 walks/races over the past 2 years and have never gone above and beyond the nominal entrance fee to make a greater impact.  Please don’t stop reading now because you think all I’ll be asking for is money…there’s a really good reason I’m asking so I hope that you bear with me over the next few minutes and hopefully by the end, you’ll understand why (and be inspired to give).

The majority of my close friends are from college.  I have 2 (3 if you count a relative) from high school that I keep in touch with but college is definitely where I built my closest relationships.  Upon graduation from Mizzou, half of the folks moved to STL and the other half moved to KC, including JPug and me.  Because our already tight-knit group was cut in half…those of us in KC became even closer.  Through the years, our friendships remained strong and most of us married our college sweethearts.  After years of marriage, the next step for most is starting a family.  Of our group, the first couple to conceive was Jimmy & Kelly.

In early 2011, the couple was filled with joy as they found out they were expecting their first baby.  Between January and the anticipated September due-date, something went wrong.  Full-term for a single-baby pregnancy is 37 weeks…although the mother’s due date is calculated to 40 weeks.  Kelly’s water broke at 26 weeks…14 weeks before she was due.  She was hospitalized and put on strict bed rest as she received medication to help their baby’s organs develop to give him the best chance at a normal life.  At 28 weeks, Kelly developed an infection in her amniotic fluid (common when the mother’s water breaks early) which caused her to go into Labor.  Their little boy, Levi, was delivered on Father’s Day, June 19^th.

Upon birth, Levi was immediately taken to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit where he would spend the next weeks (until his original due date and beyond) getting strong and healthy.  The doctors cautioned Jimmy & Kelly that the road ahead would be a difficult one…NICU time is crucial for a premature baby as their bodies continue to develop and the staff tries to prevent further complications.  On Levi’s second day in the NICU, complications began to overtake his little body; he contracted a blood infection (among other things) and couldn’t fight anymore.

I’m walking on May 6^th in Kansas City’s March for Babies to support our dear friends and remember their sweet little boy.  The money we raise in his memory will help improve the lives of other babies born prematurely and will hopefully prevent similar losses from happening to other families.

I ask that you help support Jimmy and Kelly’s team, Angels for Levi if you can.  Any amount…$1, $10, $25…is much appreciated and will make a difference.  The money TeamPug raises for the cause will help support numerous essential functions for babies…including:

Brain:  We’re fighting premature birth — baby’s brain needs 9 months to fully develop.
Eyes: We’re developing treatments to cure vision defects.
Smile: We’ve identified a gene responsible for oral cleft and are working on preventions.
Heart: New treatments mean better survival rates for the tiniest heart patients.
Spine: Folic acid education means fewer babies are born with neural tube defects.
Lungs: Surfactant and nitric oxide therapies save the lives of many premature babies.

Team Pug’s goal for the walk is $250…please help us reach this goal!  You can donate online by clicking “Donate Now” on the right side of my walker page.  TeamPug and all the Angels for Levi walkers thank you for your time and support!

Lend a Hand | Discover Something New

Over the past year or so, I’ve made an effort to volunteer more of my time.  I’ve been a committee chair for the local Mizzou business alumni chapter for years but wanted something more.  Last fall, I began mentoring a local girl once a week at an elementary school near work.  She and I eat lunch, work on academics, talk about life lessons and play games.  This spring, I’m looking forward to volunteering with a local chapter of Girls on the Run which is a program that combines self-esteem/character development with running for young girls.  I also joined the Mizzou Alumni Association’s volunteer group where I have the opportunity to meet other MU alumni while participating in various volunteer events throughout the KC metro area.

This past Monday, I participated in one of those events.  We received an e-mail blast a few weeks ago asking for volunteers for “CCVI Food Fight”.  I’m not one to have any preference when it comes to volunteer duties…I checked my calendar to confirm the date was open and signed up.  Honestly, I’m not even sure I knew what “CCVI” stood for before my shift began.

I arrived at the location, Studio Dan Meiners (not an art studio but rather an event space...who'da thought?), around 5p and checked-in for my shift.  The event started at 5:30p, so I had some time to explore.  For an amateur foodie such as myself, this place was practically heaven.  The exterior of the room was lined with banquet tables…each table was set up for 1 or 2 local restaurants…Roasterie, Rm. 39, Lidia’s, Michael Smith, The American, Blue Bird Bistro, Aces, Baby Cakes…I could go on and on but there were probably 15 different local restaurants showcasing their fare.  A handful of local bars and breweries provided an unlimited supply of specialty cocktails, craft beers, and wine.  Attendees came in waves…the first at 5:30p and the second at 6:30p (depending on ticket price) and were given a token to vote for their favorite food.  Around 7:30, the main event began…3 local, well-knows chefs squared off in a throw-down type competition complete with a judging panel and a coveted “Food Fight Champion” title.

Here's a picture of the chefs and sous-chefs from the Food Fight. 
Chef Jennifer Maloney, Chef Patrick Ryan, Chef Ryan's Sous Chef David Crum,
Chef Mahoney's Sous Chef Janet Ross, Chef Smith's Sous Chefs Jonathan Nunez and Chef Michael Smith

All proceeds from the event (ticket sales, auction items, etc.) went to benefit CCVI… Children’s Center for the Visually Impaired whose mission is “to prepare children with visual impairments, including those with multiple disabilities, to reach their highest potential in the sighted world”.

Wow, what a great event for a great cause!  I can honestly say I’d have no idea something like this even existed in KC if I hadn’t decided to lend a hand.  Check out CCVI’s website to learn more about the organization and keep tabs on when the 2013 Food Fight takes place.