Mission Photos

We encounter true courage in life as we wind our way through it.
Never more courage was ever exhibited than by one Isaac Wright who battled leukemia for 6 years. He was diagnosed at age 5 and passed away the first week of December at age 11.

Cheryl, Bob Walton and I had the honor of meeting Isaac in June of 2005 and I have thought of him many times in the years that followed, wondering how he was doing. I got the kick in the stomach when I was contacted through Chicago Force about doing this event. Fundraisers were being held as Isaac's parents' health insurance ran out and Isaac was needing a second bone marrow transplant. Sadly, poor Isaac's body simply could not take anymore and Isaac was sent home right before Thanksgiving to be with his family and friends for his last days.

After Isaac's passing, the focus of the event was still fundraising for Isaac's family but took on the additional focus of honoring his memory. One of Isaac's favorite things was Star Wars.

Thanks go to Mike Plesha (SL 356) for donating a huge amount of toys for the raffle/auction. Some of the toys Mike donated were separated into small bags as raffle prizes and two huge collections went into the silent auction.

Thanks also go to Jedi Assembly member Wendy Wright and Gary Fast of Mancari Chrysler Jeep for donating the robe (Wendy) and custom lightsaber (Gary) to the Child's Jedi costume that I sewed. The Jedi costume also went into the silent auction.

Most of all, my eternal thanks to our troops. So very many people came by to thank us for being there. Rob O'Dell (Isaac's neighbor and CPA who is handling all of the finances of the fundraisers) thanks us profusely and said that our presence was the delight of everyone, especially all of the children that were there who knew Isaac. I got a chance to also speak with Isaac's brother who went through Isaac's hell with him.

Our members posed for photos with a professional photograher as people got to choose what character/characters they wanted in their photos. Members Ed and Cherri Kryzowski also put together a bowling team and I am sorry that I missed Ed and Joseph Flores bowling in their complete gear (I am hoping there will be some photos). Our members also trooped through the entire complex sparking such comments as "pinch me-I think I am dreaming-there is a Stormtrooper here". I also ran some Target Shoot for the kids in the Party room until things got a bit too crowded.

Participants:

TI1296 - Joseph Flores
Alex Flores
TD1590 - Jason Sands
SL1781 - Rich Markle
TB3127 - Cheryl Whitaker - TJA member Whinter Fenlynn
TX3697 - Pat Higgins
TI4026 - Cherri Kryzowski
DZ4438 - Ed Kryzsowki
TK6442 - John Fitzsimmons
TK7230 - Rob Miller
Imperial Recruit "River"
Jedi Scum - TK1951 Phyllis Schulte - TJA member Schph Gochi

Thank you all for a job VERY well done!

Cheryl's photos:

s180.photobucket.com/albums/x273/Whinter_fenlynn/12-13-08%20Bowl-A-Thon%20for%20Isaac/

River's photos:

s436.photobucket.com/albums/qq88/River213/Bowl-A-Thon%20Troop/

My photos:

s201.photobucket.com/albums/aa304/schphgochi/Bowl-A-Thon%2012-13-08/


Peace Isaac...
and strength to your family and friends....



More on Isaac:

http://www.cotaforisaacw.com./node/59

official press release:

http://www.cotaforisaacw.com./node/226

I was in Jedi this time...lol...