IL-NORMAL-Relay for Life-JUNE 25-26, 2010

Post by **BDA TK7503** » Tue Jun 29, 2010 9:44 pm

The weather was a little hot but we had a nice breeze so it was great day/ night for trooping, the 2010 McLean County Relay for Life was a huge success. It is the largest Relay in the state of Illinois and one of the top in the nation. The McLean County Relay raised $581,390 for the American Cancer Society. The Relay starts at Noon on Friday through Noon on Saturday.

The Midwest Garrisons Imperial Walkers were able to raise $6,623.40 by the end of the Relay (final total will be available Sept 1, waiting for matching funds). Our Team had 3 "Grand Club" members this year Barry Benecke TK523, Kent Heath TS1692 & Lisa Schneider (her TB costume has been sent in for membership approval). Individual team members who raise over $1,000 for their team are recognized for their extraordinary effort.

The Imperial walkers were a huge hit as always posing for pictures with fans of all ages. We helped keep order at the closing of the silent auction & walking laps around the track.

The Luminaria ceremony had both sides of the track as well as 3 extra rows in the end filled with remembrance Luminaria's.

There were 143 teams this year and approx 1,400 registered walkers.

Our Team members consisted of
Jeremy Wilcox TK7503 ***Stormtrooper
Chip Childress TK9965 ***Vader
Barry Benecke TK523***Stormtrooper
Kent Heath TK1692***Snowtrooper
Ryan Summers TK2429*** Stormtrooper / Tuskin Raider
Tom Durbin TK-9293***Stormtrooper / Magma trooper
Kevin E Kemarly TK-3290***Stormtrooper
Mark C Berry BH4265***Boba Fett
James Noland IC7696*** Blackhole Stealth trooper / Tie Pilot

Lisa Schneider TB (pending Legion approval) *** Biker Scout
Sarah Summers *** AOTC Padme / Juno Eclipse
Rob Schneider***Imperial photographer / handler
Robin Benecke***Imperial photographer / handler
Nicole Wilcox***Imperial Photographer / handler
Anna Summers*** Imperial Photographer / handler
Liz Noland***Imperial Photographer / handler

We had a early (4:30am) wake up call to stash our stuff for the impending storm. We quickly stowed our gear and rode out the storm in our large tent.

I took care of the registration fee for next years Relay. Hope to see you there.

Thanks to everyone who donated to our team as well as those who came out.

Some pictures HERE

Post by **River** » Tue Jun 29, 2010 9:48 pm

WOW!

Nice Job Troops! And such an attractive group of troopers too!

That's just phenomenal what you guys did, you should all be proud!

-River

Post by **protoKev** » Tue Jun 29, 2010 10:18 pm

Im so glad my bouts of insomnia allowed me to hear the other campsites talking about the storm!

That could have been bad.

Post by **ThomasDurbin** » Tue Jun 29, 2010 10:29 pm

Yes, the storm threw us a curve at 4 am, but it turned out to be a great time to me. Everyone pulled together to secure the costumes, gear, and campsite and then visiting from then through daybreak after riding out the storm together was awesome.

Website · Post by **138** » Tue Jun 29, 2010 11:01 pm

i had a great time ...

i wish i could have stayed in tx longer .. and made another run in tie.

but it rocked .. just to get to see tom in his magma ..!!

yes im a big fan ..

all in all the rainstorm was crazy and fun ... but at least we had time to pack up some were not as lucky ...

Post by **bobafrettTK523** » Wed Jun 30, 2010 6:27 am

The event was awesome as usual, and unpredictable as we had to get our tents broke down, with the exception of the big changing tent, for a thunderstorm that rolled through the area. I was actually out on the track at 4 a.m. doing one of the "spirit laps". A spirit lap, is a themed lap, usually sports, where you would wear your teams jersey, or an 80's lap, where you would dress in the fashion of the 80's, etc. Somew of the teams went home, but most of our team stayed through the storm!

As Jeremy said, Team Imperial Walkers raised $6,623.40 by the end of Relay. We reached the GOLD level, for the first time. An incredible feat to say the least. I was the top fundraiser on the team by $3.02 at least when we went to get the numbers Saturday morning. Our newest member of our Team, as well as waiting to become a member of the 501st, Lisa Schneider raised $1,959.24 simpely mind blowing! And to have three Stormtroopers reach grand level, just fantastic! Of course hopefully the numbers will change, I texted a few friends after the event, and a few made promises they would kick some money in. This is good, as the McLean county Relay had a goal of $630,000 and we hit only $581,390. I think last year they made over $600,000, so it's not an unreachable goal.

Me and my step daughter Katie, as I do some fund raising in front of Wal-Mart

Team Imperial Walkers takes the opening lap!

Me and a young relayer, discuss our Star Wars collections (litereally)

They also around 7:00 p.m., had a survivors lap, where there were about 400 cancer survivors who took to the track, and made a lap, as those of us who walked, lined the track and applauded those who have fought and won, and those who were still fighting cancer.

Kevin was bold enough to get up during Relay Idol, dressed in his "Ghostbusters" gear, and do a wonderful version of the theme from the Ghostbuters" movie. During "Relay Idol" those who want to sing, pay $5.00 and go up onstage and do their best, and those in the audience can vote for their favorites by paying $1.00 for 1 vote, or $5.00 for 6 votes. All the money raised goes toward the American Cancer Societys efforts to find a cure. Ryan also got up onstage, but I couldn't handle some of the other singers who came onstage between Kevin and Ryan. I had to head back to our campsaite, which luckily was about the farthest point from the stage!

I'm really proud to be a member of the MWG, but even more so of team Imperial Walkers!
More pictures can be found here:
http://s66.photobucket.com/albums/h260/ ... or%20Life/

Post by **TB 0101** » Wed Jun 30, 2010 1:04 pm

Phenomenal job, guys!

Post by **TI4438** » Wed Jun 30, 2010 2:32 pm

Definately a nice haul and job well done!

Website · Post by **Rebel Doughboy** » Wed Jun 30, 2010 2:39 pm

Looked really fun! Most impressive haul, seriously! Yall are the best group of role models ever.

Post by **bobafrettTK523** » Thu Jul 15, 2010 5:44 pm

Not to make this a bummer thread, but my wife and I just found out that her father passed away shortly after finding out that he had cancer throughout his bones. He was supposed to come to our wedding in June of 2008, in fact we made our wedding date his 70th birthday. But we didn't know that he was going to have Prostrate (sp?) cancer, and was being treated for it at that time.

We were fortunate enough to be able to go visit with him about a month ago, at that time they were going to do back surgery on him. But he had lost a lot of weight and was probably to weak for the surgery, and they weren't sure what was causing him to lose the weight. Then about a week or so ago, we found that he had cancer throughout his bones, and just a few days ago he went into hospice care.

Next year, in addition to all the people Team Imperial Walkers walk for, we add another name to the growing list.

Post by **Jodo** » Thu Jul 15, 2010 10:36 pm

Very sorry to hear mate.

Website · Post by **138** » Fri Jul 16, 2010 12:17 am

our thoughts and prayers are with you ... B

Post by **bobafrettTK523** » Fri Jul 16, 2010 8:50 am

Thank you.

Post by **Schph Gochi** » Fri Jul 16, 2010 1:35 pm

AWESOME job guys! You kicked butt!

I will await your final total before posting the the Legion charity spreadsheet...

Post by **Schph Gochi** » Sun Aug 01, 2010 6:39 am

Am working on our charity totals today...
so I will post the amount in your first post Barry..

and then if there is an update later..
I will revise...

and thanks again for a REALLY STRONG effort!

Post by **bobafrettTK523** » Mon Aug 02, 2010 6:59 pm

The Relay website says it will update the totals for both teams and individuals, but each time I check, I get that we are still 21 days away from the event. I'm waiting to see as I had several individuals promise they were sending checks in after the event. I will keep you posted Phyllis

Post by **bobafrettTK523** » Wed Aug 04, 2010 10:19 pm

Okay, the Relay site has an update, and as of July 15th, *Drum Roll please*

The event has raised $600,800

Team Imperial Walkers $6,683.40

Top 3 for team Imperial Walkers

Barry Benecke II $2,012.26
Lisa Schneider $1,986.20
R. Kent Heath $1,119.55

This is according to the site, I know Kent mentioned he had another $100 come in after the event, not sure if that is reflected in the individual or team total. But I just want to say Thank You to each and every member of team Imperial Walkers! You guys make this event fun, and I enjoy it every year!

Post by **Schph Gochi** » Thu Aug 05, 2010 4:26 am

WOW!!

AWESOME job you guys!

I hope we can even scratch the surface of that achievement when we do the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk...
I think last year our team did about $4,000.00

Because you were not actually invited to attend this event (just like we are not invited to the Making Strides event)...we can not claim the event's total dollars raised as indirect donation...

The reason we could do that for the New Lenox Relay for Life walk was that we indeed were invited by the organizers of that event.

Post by **bobafrettTK523** » Thu Aug 12, 2010 10:14 pm

Stopped by a friends house tonight, and he had a check for $30 for ACS!!!!! We have until the end of august to turn in any last minute donations.

Post by **Schph Gochi** » Fri Aug 13, 2010 4:36 am

bobafrettTK523 wrote:Stopped by a friends house tonight, and he had a check for $30 for ACS!!!!! We have until the end of august to turn in any last minute donations.