Keep The Fight...

So here we are one day away from the Big Event! I took some vacation time to help with the last minute touches. But I still can't help but laugh at the vacation part. I hear vacation and I think tropical...not 38 degrees and work 18 hour days! It's not just me either; my committee has been here night after night helping as well. I have had many outsiders over the years ask why we do this. To be quite honest as I look around my messy house, the laundry piling up and my bed that hasn't been made all week, some times, for a second... I wonder the same thing. Then I remember this... About 65 Roses® "65 Roses" is what some children with cystic fibrosis (CF) call their disease because the words are much easier for them to pronounce. Mary G. Weiss became a volunteer for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation in 1965 after learning that her three little boys had CF. Her duty was to call every civic club, social and service organization seeking financial support for CF research. Mary's 4-year-old son, Richard, listened closely to his mother as she made each call. After several calls, Richard came into the room and told his Mom, "I know what you are working for." Mary was dumbstruck because Richard did not know what she was doing, nor did he know that he had cystic fibrosis. With some trepidation, Mary asked, "What am I working for, Richard?" He answered, "You are working for 65 Roses." Mary was speechless. He could not see the tears running down Mary's cheeks as she stammered, "Yes Richard, I'm working for 65 Roses." Since 1965, the term "65 Roses" has been used by children of all ages to describe their disease. But, making it easier to say does not make CF any easier to live with. The "65 Roses" story has captured the hearts and emotions of all who have heard it. The rose, appropriately the ancient symbol of love, has become a symbol of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. 65 Roses® is a registered trademark of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Last month I had the pleasure of meeting Mary. As I sat listening to a speaker at The CF Volunteer Leadership Conference I looked over and I thought I recognized the women sitting next to my husband. I scribbled on a piece of paper to my husband to not let her get up. Very puzzled, Rick nodded. After the speaker, I quickly jumped up and introduced myself to Mary. As I attempted to thank her for all she had done I completely lost it and started to sob. Poor Mary must have thought I was a mess so she leaned over and gave me a big hug and a kiss. Once I gathered myself together I began to tell her had she not have done what she did all those years ago my Son may not be alive today. Mary smiled and said, "Honey you are a mom first and you do what you can for your children and if everyone would do what you and your family does we would have this Damn think beat by now"! Her charisma and passion were contagious a truly inspiring women. Mary had no drug companies, no gene discovered but she had hope! Even more remarkable she still has hope and she still continues the fight after all these years. So if I learned anything from Mary it is, to beat this thing we need to do our part! And that means not sweating the small stuff. So for now I will make the coffee a little stronger and the laundry is gonna pile up for a few more days. We've got money to raise! Until there's a cure, Jenny