Tuesday, May 17, 2011

$80.36...

Watching Joe clad in a "get-up" of hockey socks pulled up to his knees, short-short soccer shorts (he has grown over the winter), tubing swaying in the breeze, and his long lean legs with stained knee caps skipping through the parking lot, while a beer bottle at the bottom of the bag he was carrying clinked and clanked as it kept hitting the pavement in his wake, filled me with pride.

Yesterday, we headed into our local supermarket to recycle cans and bottles. The last "installment" from our neighborhood.

Joe had wanted to do more than "ask" for money for the Walk To Cure Diabetes. He wanted to earn it. He and Bridget decided to collect cans and bottles from our street and recycle them to raise funds to donate to JDRF.

The Drafted Letter ... that was distributed door-to-door a week before "Collection Day"



Have you ever roller-bladed? Have you ever maneuvered stairs while on roller-blades? Well Joe has. Against my better judgement, I let him distribute the CANS FOR A CURE letter door-to-door. The homes on our street are of a Colonial and Cape variety. They all have at least 3 stair steps leading up to the front door. Watching him blade, side-step up the stairs, and then sit on his bottom to inch down the stairs ... at.each.and.every.one.of.the.30.some.odd.homes.on.our.street was painful. But, he did it.

After The Letter Distribution...see the "blades"?


Collection day...Joe asked to wear roller-blades for collecting the cans as well. I put my foot down on that idea.

The Collecting...


The "Supervising"...

Joe would get somewhat discouraged if there weren't cans out on the porch. He stated "these people aren't taking me seriously." He wanted to knock on their doors to point out that we were collecting the cans at this point in time. I reminded him that we distributed the letters so that we would not need to bother people. This didn't convince him. Bother people he did. If there were not cans left out, Joe went to the door, rang the doorbell, and explained his cause. He was pleasantly surprised when one generous neighbor gave him a $10.oo bill to donate.

Elation...

Doin' the "Dirty"... The Maher Clan was cramming bottles and cans into those machines like nobody's beeswax.

The Kids Loved This Part...

Bridget and Joe saved money throughout the year. They saved coins, gift money, and allowance money. They store it in an Animas Cartridge box. This money is solely dedicated to a CURE. Their idea, not mine. They added their CAN money to their "savings" money.

Sorting And Counting...

Joe Keeping Track Of Money "Secured" To Date...






In the four years since Joe has had Type 1 I have always been very cautious in this territory. The "Cure Territory" is dangerous I think. I have always been careful in what I say around Joe during the fundraising, the letter writing, the Walk Kick-Off Luncheon, and in general about a CURE. You see, I have never wanted him to think there is anything "wrong" with him per se. I have never wanted him to think something about him must be changed or fixed to make him "right". I have never wanted him to count on a CURE in his lifetime. I don't want him to be disappointed.

Perhaps I need to follow his and Bridget's lead on this one. My hope should be more than just a flicker.

I admire my children's desire to make a difference. I admire their hope. I admire their dedication.

A day-in-the-life of pride. I am proud of Bridget and Joe.

29 comments:

Scully said...

Smart kids come from smart parents.

Love them, they are so dedicated!

Barb Wagstaff said...

Precious! What amazing children!

colleen said...

I'm impressed! Working for the donations makes it their own donation. That's pretty cool of them.
Hand on hip Bridget looks like her mom!

KerryC said...

That's awesome! Well done Joe and Bridget. Great work. You can be justly proud of them - they are indeed inspirational! And such a great idea - simple but effective, and good for the planet at the same time :) Love it!

Nicole said...

"MOM" (at the end of the last video) hahaha I love Bridget!! and of course our amazing Joe!!

Great idea guys :)

Amy@Diapeepees said...

I really enjoyed the play-by-play of the collection process...good photos!

Fae-Mom said...

Great idea, kids!

You just got me thinking, Reyna. I have never spoke to Brandan about a cure. Have never even mentioned the possiblity that diabetes could ever "go away." We've only been able to participate in one Walk and we just told him it's for his diabetes. I didn't know what else to say to a 3-year-old. :/

Penny said...

You have raised marvelous children who are aware that a cure needs money to be had. I think that's tremendous and it's great you are following their lead. Nothing but good will come of this, nothing but good. You should be so proud of Bridget and Joe!

Unknown said...

@ Nic...I was wondering if anyone would notice that. You know me..."keeping it real" - LOL.

Jess said...

reyna- those kids are amazing! they should be so proud! give 'em some high-fives for me! and it was great seeing them on video! :)

Kelly Booth said...

You have 2 great kids there - but I don't need to tell you that! I was impressed they did plus saved their own money towards it.

Cindy said...

Reyna, your kids are awesome! They make me excited for when Lily and Leo get to be those ages. Love them!

You know what the best thing about hope for a cure is? No matter how long we wait for one, there's still always hope! Seems to me Joe has already figured out the whole "living life with diabetes and not letting it hold you back" part of diabetes!

Sysy said...

Well...this just made my day :) I love the Bridget supervising photo, hehe.

Joanne said...

Your kids are awesome and this post made me cry. Well, until I got to the end of the second video... "MOM!" Ha!

BTW, a muttonchop is a very large sideburn. Google it if you want to see an image. Don't worry. It's safe

my sweet girl said...

Awesome kids Reyna!

Liz said...

Great life lesson from your kids! They are amazing people, great job MOM!!!!

The DL said...

This is so great! Looks like they had fun too!

Michelle said...

Love this! Awesome job!!! And totally love Bridget's "MOM!!!" at the end of the 2nd video....I can totally see that being either of my girls :)

Andrea said...

You have got 2 GREAT kiddos there Mom!!! Way to go Joe and Bridget!!!

Renata said...

Awesome!

Heidi / D-Tales said...

I like their creativity. What a great way to raise funds! I enjoyed the videos at the end, too. Joe's lisp is so endearing.

We drive the same van, btw. Mine's just a different color. Parallel lives, I tell ya. :)

Side note here: Your post has me feeling wistful for the days when I lived in a neighborhood full of colonials and capes and lugged bags of empty cans and bottles to the supermarket. Now I'm in "stucco-ville" where the cans and bottles go straight into the recycle bin (that part is actually more convenient). There was a familiarity to the backgrounds in your pics that I really enjoyed.

Amy said...

Wow! ~ That's alotta dough for some aluminum and plastic. The people on your block sure must drink a lot!

And I have to say, Bridget is a hoot. Her swanky stance on the photo looks like a mini-you-hoo and her sassy intro on the vlog piece is not to be missed. Why did she call out to you when SHE dropped the chips?

Chalk another awschum idea for Joe in his quest for a cure. So stinkin' sweet. I love that guy!!!!

Denise aka Mom of Bean said...

Inspirational and you are rightfully proud of them!
I love to hear Joe talk...so stinkin' cute.
And Brig's 'mom' was priceless! My girls hate when their pirate bootie falls, too!! ;)

Kelly said...

Wow, what a fantastic idea! Love how excited and involved they are with it.

Anonymous said...

Wonderful! I love how involved your kids are in the actual raising and collecting of money for the Walk!

Hallie Addington said...

I think Aweets is a mini Bridget!! Can't wait to show her these!! Love you! We are so proud of you!!

Sarah said...

I admire them, too :)

sky0138 said...

Your family is awesome! I love that Joe still rang the doorbell of the house that had no empty bottles out front. He is a man on a mission! LOVE the "Mom!!" part at the end...lolol

Five Bears A-Blogging said...

Awesome job, kids! I wish we had recycling machines in our area...it's all picked up by the trash company.

Maybe I just wasn't paying attention before, but I noticed the JDRF Walk materials I received this year aren't emphasising only a cure, but also treatment and prevention. Sometimes a cure seems so far away, I'm pleased to see that prevention seems to be getting more attention. No more children diagnosed with Type I...wouldn't that be sweet?