Team Norah 2018
This time last year, a little flyer for the first annual Ronald McDonald House Family Walk landed in our mailbox. After having so recently been a recipient of the incredible work that the Ronald McDonald House does (you can read about our experience here), there wasn't a single moment of hesitation — we were absolutely going to participate.
Then we noticed the date of the walk — my birthday.
Norah is many things, but subtle is not one of them.
What started as us hoping to gather a few friends and family in honor of Norah on my birthday quickly grew into something much bigger.
Team Norah at the walk last year.
I laugh now when I think back to how we had hoped to maybe raise enough money to give back the cost of our time at RMH.
We blew that goal out of the water.
Because of the incredible generosity of all of you, our 'Fierce Family', Team Norah was the #1 fundraiser for the 2017 RBC Race for the Kids (the Family Walk is one event of many at the RFTK), raising over $6,000 to support families like ours.
Even now that number brings me to tears. Knowing what that money will provide to families makes me praise God a million times over for the generosity of incredible individuals and for organizations like the Ronald McDonald House that come alongside families and carry them through some of life's toughest moments.
Because of your incredible support last year, Lane and I are the 2018 featured family for the RBC Race for the Kids! Your efforts last year are now inspiring thousands more to come together for families like ours.
So Fierce Fam – it's time for Team Norah to do it again.
There are multiple events that make up the 2018 RBC Race for the Kids including a half marathon (run, relay, or skate), a 10 mile run, a 5 mile run, a 5K, a 1K kids run and the RMH Family Walk. You can participate in any event as part of Team Norah, and everything raises money for the Ronald McDonald House.
You can join Team Norah here, and register for any of the RFTK events, or join us financially by making a donation. You can also support Team Norah and RMH by buying a shirt (scroll down to learn more!).
We'd love for you to join us in person at the RMH Family Walk on Saturday, August 4th, 2018 at 9am.
Because the number 3 carries a lot of weight in this family (Norah's birthday is 3-1, Trisomy 13 is 3 copies of Norah's 13th chromosome, my mother passed away Feb. 3) we've decided to honor that by offering 3 different shirts as part of Team Norah's fundraising efforts.
The first shirt is the bold statement, "We Will Not Be Shaken."
This statement resonates in our souls as we stand here amidst the rubble of the last two years on a foundation that has not been moved. We stand here hand in hand, broken but still alive.
When a tornado levels a house, you're often left with just the foundation. The same could be said for surviving the worst that life can throw at you. When you see a foundation exposed in that raw sort of way, it's true strength becomes undeniable.
"He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken."
— Psalm 62:6
"Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire."
— Hebrews 12:28-29
The second shirt is Norah's Fox.
A gift from her godparents, Norah's fox (or 'Foxy' as we call him) was with her almost every moment of her short life. Foxy was her comforter, her supporter, her guardian, her bestie. To us, Norah's fox represents the way we have been held and supported by friends, family, community, and God over these last two years.
The third shirt is FIERCE.
We've continually been asked when the Fierce shirts would be available for purchase again, so here ya go!
All shirts are available in multiple colors and styles and will be available to purchase until Friday, May 18th.
GO TEAM NORAH!!
