Team in Training Fundraiser-I Am Continually Amazed By The Generosity!

Team in Training Fundraiser-I Am Continually Amazed By The Generosity!

I held a fundraiser for Team in Training to benefit Leukemia and Lymphoma at Monaghan's Pub in Gwynn Oak, Maryland on Sunday.

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When I first put out the word about my fundraising goal and  fundraiser here on ActiveRain and on Facebook Friends and Family stepped up quick.  Baltimore Realtor Margaret Rome (Home Rome), Prince George's County Realtor Dr. Stacey-Ann Baugh (EOP Real Estate)and Carroll County Realtor Carol Fertitta (YWGC) quickly donated to my cause.  Mary Yonkers a Realtor from Erie, PA who I met when Margaret Rome had a Baltimore gathering of Active Rainers also donated. 

Since lots of people that couldn't make it to the fundraiser donated online, I wasn't sure how many people would actually show up.  I was a little nervous early in the day.  We had a great crowd of old friends and family.  Of course my immediate family was there, but there was lots of extended family as well.  The crowd ranged from age 1 to 91!  My nephew Ben volunteered and was a great help. He is close to another Boy scout badge.  My sister-in-law Colleen helped at the door, as did my friends Robert, Kathleen and my sister Amy.  Lee Snead came up from North Carolina and Chris, Jen and Caitlin Demchak drove up from Northern Virginia.  Even some of the regulars at Monaghan's, just there to catch the game contributed to our cause!

The minimum donation for the event was $20, I had several people contribute $100 or more!

One Third Wish was AMAZING!! They have such a great sound, and I'm not just saying that because my sister Kim is one half of the Duo, ask anyone who has heard them!  My sister Amy even stepped in to sing a few favorites.  The crowd loved them and there was even some dancing!

We had a 50/50 raffle that raised $300 that was supposed to be split between the winner and LLS.  Kim and Linda from One Third Wish won and donated their half back to the charity!  All this after donating their band fee, tips and t-shirt sales.  WOW!

My husband Billy donated two originalframed prints and a digital photo frame that were additional door prizes.  He also was the official photographer of the event, of course!  WOW!

I tried to tip Terry, a long-time Monaghan's employee who did all the set-up and clean-up of all the food. She handed it back to me, saying that she had a loved one die from Luekemia and told me to put it towards the cause. WOW!

My friend Robert wanted to be sure the bartenders were taken care of.  When I suggested we take it out of the proceeds from the door, he pulled money out of his own pocket and put it toward the tip to make sure that as much money as possible went to fight cancer. WOW!

On Monday morning I called John Griffith, one of the owner's of Monaghan's to settle up for the bountiful spread of delicious food. He told me there would be NO CHARGE.  I was to contribute everything to LLS! WOW AGAIN!

Between what has already been raised, and the proceeds from my amazing fundraiser, I have reached my minimum fundraising goal and am less than $600 away from helping my sister Amy to meet her fundraising goal which will allow her to train with me for the IRON GIRL TRIATHLON with the Team in Training.  We did the Assateague Assault Tri together last June.  It meant so much to do it together!

If you have thought about contributing, any amount will help.  The money goes to a GREAT cause, and it sure would be fun to have my sister beside me (well, she will actually be in front of me, since she is way faster than I am!) as we cross the finish line at the IRON GIRL for Leukemia and Lymphoma! Please go to my fundraising page and donate...

Thanks to all the folks who helped out, and for those who so generously donated to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.  A special thanks to Kim and Linda of One Third Wish, you are awesome and I am proud to call you both family! 

If you are ever looking for catering or just a great meal, please think of Monaghan's.  I can guarantee the food will be wonderful and they are just downright great people!  Thanks again for everything John, Jack and crew!  You did a fabulous job and it is greatly appreciated!

TEAM IN TRAINING FUNDRAISER-I AM CONTINUOUSLY AMAZED BY THE GENEROSITY!

Here is a sample of One Third Wish with guest singer Amy Schutz:  Enjoy!!