Our first annual walk was held at the Bow Lake Baptist Church in Strafford, NH on Saturday, August 23rd, 2008 and was a HUGE success!!! It was a very hot and humid day (90°+), yet we had over 200 walkers join us along with other family members, friends and sleepwalkers.
FLING was our live entertainment and they rocked the church grounds. Our angel remembrance ceremony was beautiful in every way. There were approximately 35 names read out loud with a rose placed in a garden for each angel’s name. Poems were read by Toni and Shannon (“Joy & Pain & Lack of Same” by Mary Klomps), while songs were sung by Jody Gourlay (“You Are My Sunshine” and “This Little Light of Mine”). Not a dry eye in the house…
Some fun facts include our most popular raffle basket with PATRIOTS TICKETS and signed memorabilia, Toni and Lindsay were both waddling and pregnant (due in early to mid October), while Shannon waddled a little less and was due in mid-January. This would be the first and last year we would send someone out on a peddle bike to help walkers or answer any questions (thanks Sarah for your exhausting efforts)!!!
Thanks to our sponsors, donors, walkers and volunteers, our first annual Angels Walk for Wishes raised over $38,000 for the Make-A-Wish Foundation of NH®. This was a NH MAWF record holder for a first-time event. The funds we raised helped to make the following 5 local wishes come true:
ZACHARY, age 14, went to the Hawaii Zoo
GABE, age 6, went to Walt Disney World
SAM, age 9, met Harry Potter
SPENCER, age 10, received a handicap accessible tree fort
ROSIE, age 10, created and directed her own film
PICTURES OF THAT DAY ARE COMING SOON!
