Rained Out Walk!

We've been watching the weather forecast all week long, a single day of (much needed) storms promising to hit at the most inconvenient time. This morning we watched the radar showing the storm move slowly from the west to the east-northeast right toward T-town. JDRF Tulsa said they were prepared for Plan B, but they really were not - I think they were a little overly optimistic about it dissipating. So, most of our team arrived (some stuck in the storm itself as it moved) in time to enjoy the breeze, the games and refreshments, turn in their envelopes and collect their official JDRF 2013 t-shirts.

With the darkening cloud moving closer, we finally gathered for our team photo.  (Where is Grandpa?!)

Then, BAM - the sky opened up and the rain POURED on us!  Out came the umbrellas, and we hovered close to one another, all wondering, Now What?

Being pretty sure that the rain was not going to stop, we bolted for the parking garage (where Plan B was supposed to occur but was not really planned for).

It was CRAZY LOUD with so many screaming, cheering, WET people in there. No sound system, so the t-shirt contest was almost inaudible, even from 10' away.

We didn't win. :( We still have the cutest and most consistent shirts, though. Thanks to this year's sponsors Southwest Automated Security, CenterStage Performing Arts, Ultimate Athletics, and Alienhead Customs!

The actual Walk was called off, and we all started to go our separate ways. 

And, our last teammates finally arrived. :)

I don't have the official number just yet, but I know LilBird's Wings donated over $2500 this year - our best contribution ever! A million thanks to all of the people who donated to our team, through online donations, baked goods/salsa/paper shoe purchases, and cash!  JDRF (despite the local chapter’s hiccups in weather preparedness this year, ha!) has a wonderful track-record for improving the lives of Type 1 Diabetics through education, advocacy and research, they continue to make high-impact strides in researching better treatments, and they really are our greatest hope.

Huge props to our team of walkers - families of Elrod, Blakely, Burns, Wilson, Johnson, Jones, Gould, Ellis, DeVore and Sunderland ... you guys rocked the fundraising this year!  This event each year renews my personal hope that one day my little girl will be cured. It means more than I can begin to express to our family to have such wonderful supporters – all of you - those just joining us for the first time as well as those who have been with us before and keep sticking with us. Fingers crossed for better weather next year!