Runway to Healing 2010

My Grandma was a HUGE part of my life right up until her death last year and continues to be an inspiration to me even after she's gone. On the one year anniversary of her death I made a promise to myself that I was going to do something extra special for someone else since that's what Grandma's life was all about. At the time, I didn't know what that "something" was going to be, but I knew when I came across it I would just know. That something was the 4th Annual Runway to Healing event put on by my employer, Valley Bank. Don't ask me why I never volunteered my time before, I guess life just got in the way. But I knew this was my "something" and so I volunteered for last nights event. http://www.runwaytohealing.com/

My job was to be one of two Backstage Coordinators. We were in charge of 28 models that consisted of a wide variety of ages. We saw that hair and make up were done (professional hairstylists were on hand), they were in their outfits with the proper accessories (there were 5 different clothing stores) and each one rehearsed what they were to do as they went down the runway. My models were some people I didn't know, Valley Bank employees, Miss Henry County 2010 (Kiley White), Miss Iowa 2010 (Pauli Mayfield) and some of the children directly effected by cancer. And yes I got an autograph from Miss Iowa for both of my girls.... :-) Seeing and working with those awesome kids made it even more gratifying.

If Gram taught me anything over the years it's that it is always better to give than to receive and last night was such a true testimate of that! Two things happened that made me feel as though she was there right along with me the whole night. The first, one of the models after she got done dressing said, "I feel as though I'm dressed to the 9's". This is a saying I had never heard before until the funeral director (about Grandma) said, "She'll be dressed to the 9's". It sent goosebumps up my arms when she said it. Secondly, a mother of one of the families/models came up to me and said she felt as though she knew me. I asked her if she was from around here. She said, "No, we're from Clarence, Iowa". OMG!!! I asked her if she knew any Syring's or Wenndt's. She ended up knowing Aunt Jo, Uncle Cliff, Kirk and Janel. She said they have a family dairy farm (Hansen's Dairy Farm) in Clarence. HOLY CRAP!!!

All in all, last night was a huge success! I felt such an overwhelming feeling accomplishment and satisfaction for doing my small part in helping raise (hopefully) lots of money for some very sick children. I can now appreciate, more than ever, what it must have felt like for Grandma when she did her "therapy runs" to friends in need of her kind words (and bread or cookies or course). Thanks Gram for teaching me to be a better, more giving, person...I hope I did you proud.