The 2017 Madison NEDA Walk, to raise funds in the fight against eating disorders was Saturday; and we exceeded our fund raising goal, raising over $25,000.
Mother Nature smiled on us with a gorgeous late summer day. We had great music by Beth Kille to set the tone for an energetic morning. Speakers included Dr. Brad Smith from Rogers Memorial Hospital and Flora Csontos from Senator Tammy Baldwin’s office. We had over 200 walkers in attendance and despite some troublesome runaway balloons and a few other minor glitches, everything went really well.
This year we included a silent auction, — including the sale of a football with signatures from all the Packers players and coaches! I ended up bidding on and winning a few items myself – some of which may end up as Christmas presents, since I feel a little sheepish going into a business for which I personally solicited a gift certificate, and using the gift certificate on myself. (Really – I PAID for it!)
The local news did not cover the event itself this year, but they did invite us to do an Interview live on the Friday 4:00 news. I think we got our point across, but this clip also serves as a reminder that no one will ever accuse me of being particularly photogenic.
The walk was bittersweet for me, as my youngest daughter, Guzzy, is currently experiencing a dip in her own roller coaster recovery journey, and was too ill to attend. It is a reminder that we walk not only for those that are able to be present on a beautiful September morning; but we walk for those that have lost their battles, and those that are too ill to join us.
It is not enough, but it is something.