February 14th marked the 8th annual Cure Finders Valentine's Dinner and Dance to help fund research for Cystic Fibrosis. The past few years, Brooke and I have been volunteers to the dance and charity event located at the Convention Center next to the Music Road Hotel in Pigeon Forge. Each year it has been a positive experience seeing our local community get together and help donate funds for the research of Cystic Fibrosis. It is dear to our hearts as Brooke's boss at the City of Sevierville, Jim Deanda, has two kids (Callie and Cale) with Cystic Fibrosis.
This year, I had two clients to work with on Valentine's Day and the day of the event, so I was a bit worried how I was going to fit it all into my schedule. I met with one client at 8:00 am which is pretty early to show property around here - the rental office at Sherwood Forest Resort where I was to show him a couple cabins was closed, but luckily there was someone there early that gave us access to the gated community. Once I had finished with the first client at around 11:00 I had another couple to show cabins. After looking at several cabins in various communities I was then able to head over and change into my suit to attend the dinner/dance. Brooke had been there since noon help setting up for the event, so I felt bad not being able to assist with setup, but glad to make it nonetheless.
The event was attended by several groups, businesses, and individuals in our area - including our local US Congressman, Phil Roe as well as local Senators. I distinctly remember meeting Congressman David Davis in previous years of the event, so apparently it has become a tradition of our representatives to attend the function.
Being Valentine's Day, Brooke and I had decided our exchange of gifts this year would be to bid on a silent auction item that we thought each other would like. We ended up winning a couple auction items that went to help fund additional research to Cystic Fibrosis. She ended up getting a pair of sterling silver black onyx earrings and she won a Robert Tino painting of Lady Vols coach Pat Summitt autographed by both for me! I tried to make up for me arriving late by helping disassemble things for the event - we ended up leaving at about 1:30 am!
Gary Woods Photography is a regular at the event and is kind enough to donate his time and skill to taking photos of people at the event and mailing them to the attendees. Last year the photo of Brooke and I turned out great and we look forward to ours again this year!
It was great to see even in these difficult economic times people extending a hand to help such an important cause! We will definitely be back next year for the 9th annual event and I encourage anyone else able to make it to attend as well! The Cure Finders Cystic Fibrosis Foundation also holds a sporting clays tournament along with a motorcycle ride sponsored by Harley-Davidson each year as well, so make sure not to miss those events either!
About Cure Finders
View the Cure Finders Website
View the Cure Finders Cystis Fibrosis Rhythm and Roll Sponsors & Details
Comments(0)