okay...

So, we've run into a lot of snags, but I think we're finally getting things worked out. The 5K we were planning isn't going to happen because of some red tape that we have hopefully worked through. We had a golf fundraiser in Michigan that raised lots of good money. We've now raised a total of $11,154.59!! We have a long way to go, but we're very excited about the start we've gotten.
We will be planning another fundraiser coming up soon. For those of you that want to participate in the Country Music Half Marathon or Full marathon, we will be forming a "Team Charlie". Details will be coming soon.
I think we've finally gotten all our red tape figured out and we'll be getting some things going soon. Thanks for hanging with us.

changes

We have some changes, but they are all wonderful changes and we have LOTS of things in the works now.
First of all, on October 12, there is a golf marathon in Michigan. If you are interested in sponsoring a golfer or possibly golfing (not sure how many spots are available), post a comment and let us know.
The next event we have to tell you about is October 24, we are in the process of getting together a softball tournament in Tennesee. We will be looking for 16 teams. This is not set in stone yet, we are still in the preliminary stages, but if you are intested, also, please put something in the comment section.
After that on November 7 we will be having a spaghetti dinner/silent auction in Tennessee. We may be posting some of the silent auction items online so that we can have people out of state bid instead of having them at the spaghetti dinner.
Then on March 6 we will be having a 5K in Tennessee. We got the official okay on that today, so word will be going out to the public soon and we'll be looking for runners and volunteers. We'll have booths set up for local business' there. Should be a good time.
That's all for now. If you're interested in anything, let me know. We'll need participants AND volunteers for everything!!

you!

What can you do to help? The options are limitless. The easiest thing you can do is go to www.twilightbenefit.com and donate or order your super comfy t-shirt. -or- Would you be willing to host a fundraiser for us? Spaghetti dinners, ice cream socials, the options are limitless!! There has even been a wine tasting fundraiser. If you need any help please contact us and we'd be happy to help in any way possible. Remember this is a 501 (c) (3) so all donations ARE tax write offs! We are in the process of a spaghetti dinner and silent auction in Mt Juliet, but if you don't live local you could always have one at your church, MOPS group, or just group of friends. Also, we will be having a 5K coming up in Mt Juliet, but just because we are doing these things here and there are events being planned up in Michigan too that doesn't mean we don't need and want your help. We want YOU!

changes

So, we have some changes in our fundraising plan. Since November 7 was VERY quickly approaching and a lot has to go into a 5K, we have pushed our 5K back. After lots of debate, we decided we didn't want to throw something together that wasn't well planned. This is a very serious cause that will have a very real effect on the cancer community and we want to give all fundraisers all seriousness. We are waiting on a confirmation email back from the person in charge of the venue to make sure, but tenatively we are looking at March 6 for the 5k. However, on November 7 we will still be having a fundraiser. I will send more details out when they are set in stone, but we plan on having a spaghetti dinner, silent auction and carnival of sorts at our church. I hated to change from Charlie Daniels Park, but unfortunately, it's not free to use their park and since this is a fundraiser, we want to raise as much $$ as possible. We're hoping that we can use the 5K venue for free and our church will be free too. We have lots of money to raise in a short period of time, so we'll be needing your help. Does anyone have any connections with travel? (I'd like to offer a vacation package in our silent auction.) More details coming very soon.

FINALLY!!!!

We have a date and place!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Clear your calendars for November 7, 2009 and plan on coming to Charlie Daniels Park in Mt Juliet, TN. More details coming very soon, but we FINALLY are making progress!

Hoping...

Well, I was hoping to have some good news to share with you today about the date for our fundraiser, but we're still waiting. I've got a really good lead for a potential venue, but nothing is set yet. The headmaster of the school will be back in the office next week, so we're really hoping to have a date pinned down next week. I was hoping for this week, but I realize everyone is on their last summer vacations before school starts in just a few weeks. All of the "fun" things for the day are really starting to come together, but, of course, we have to have a venue before anything can happen. As soon as we know anything I promise to post here and we'll need your help to start spreading the word.
We are also talking about having a softball tournament here in Nashville to help raise money. Lots of ideas...we just need to make them all happen so that this grant can be a success! Hopefully next post will have our date and location set.

we're still here and still working.

Hello all. We are still here and we're still working on our fundraiser. I've emailed a couple different schools and we're waiting to hear back from them on a location to have the fundraiser. We're tossing around a few different ideas on what the day will include. We started with a walk in the afternoon with food, inflatables, music, etc. Now we are tossing around the idea of a walk/run in the morning. The latest thought has a 3 part option. You pay an entry fee to participate and you can either walk/run 1 mile, 2 miles or 3 miles. Your choice. The entry fee may be different per amount you walk/run. We may give everyone the option (not requirement) of in addition raising money per mile they run, or something. Then maybe after we'll have a "fun day" where people can come, eat food, play on inflatables, listen to music, face painted, bid on silent auction items, etc. (all for donations of course). Anyone out there have opinions? We want to include as many people as possible because we want this to be fun, but most importantly, this is a fundraiser and we want to raise as much money as possible. Don't forget to buy your t-shirts and remember to check the size chart while purchasing as the shirts are running small.

HELLO & WELCOME!!

We are so happy to have a way to keep you up-to-date with the progress of the Charlie Porter Research Grant. We will be using this blog to let you know what's new with the Grant and any upcoming fundraising items. It’s also great because anytime YOU have a question, comment or an idea that you'd like to share with us, you can post it here!

THE LATEST: This past weekend, Keith threw a launch party for the Grant in Michigan. Not only was it a lot of fun, we raised $620 for the Grant!! And the keg of Oberon was delicious! YAY! The best part is, two of Keith’s friends, Stan & Karen are having their own party on August 1st, and have decided that they’ll be donating all of the proceeds to the Charlie Porter Grant, too! AWESOME.

As many of you have probably heard, we’re in the process of organizing a Charlie Porter Walk to take place in the Nashville area, hopefully in September, which is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. We are shooting for Saturday the 19th. I sent an email to the principal of a local middle school here and am waiting to hear back on availability. We're hoping to use their football field and track. Lots of things are already in the works for that day... Along with the walk to raise money, we're hoping to have a Silent Auction (do you have anything we can auction off??), face painting, and I'm working on getting inflatables, food, balloon animals, etc. Hopefully we can get all these things donated to us and then charge people a small donation fee to enjoy each of these things. We're hoping people can enjoy the day and the festivities with family & friends and in the process also raise a lot of money for such a great cause! More details to follow in the next few weeks.

That’s it for now. Thanks for joining us! Oh, and if you haven’t done so already, don’t forget to BUY YOUR SUPER COMFY GRANT T-SHIRTS!!

- Kim Porter and Blerina Shaqiri