Team Walking for Nana and Nina 2010!

[AlohaBeth]

Hey everyone!  I know, I know...  It's been a long time!    All I can say is I have missed you all and mom keeps me posted on everyone!   

I am writing today because once again I am the captain for Team Walking for Nana and Nina!  This is the third year our family has banded together to show support for my mother (Paris) and to remember our friend Susie (GoofyNina)
Team Walking for Nana and Nina was formed in 2008 on the night that Susie "Goofynina" Trevino passed away.  She was such an amazingly sweet and funny woman.  It was honor to have known her. 
 
My mother, whom all of you know as Paris, but whom her grandchildren know as Nana, is incredible.  I know you all love her here, and you can see her sweet and caring personality shine through, even on your computers.  If you could amplify that kindness 1000% that would be the true nature of my mother.  She is always the first to volunteer, always the first with a hug, the one who's shoulder her 4 adult children still lean on when we they cry. 

But what is most amazing about my mother is her strength.  She is so strong and stoic in the face of her Kidney Failure.  When she is nervous, worried or scared, she turns to her other family - you.  IHD has become as much as of a home for her as our house in Raleigh.  It's a refuge in her world.
 
We have had the honor to meet so many people in Las Vegas in 2007 and again in 2008.  Amazing, silly, fun and moving moments that created lifelong friends.  One of those incredible people was Goofynina.  In 2007 at the El Cortez Hotel and Casino, my mother and I were bringing our bags to our room when we saw a woman walking through the lobby with a shiny tiara, purple boa and pink sash reading "Drama Queen".  What a character! 
 
I sat with my mother the next February when she got the call that this wonderful woman left this world.  6 weeks and $7,000 later my mother and I, as well as 30 other family and friends stood at the starting line of the Triangle Kidney Walk.  My mother and I hugged each other and said "this is for Susie."  Although there were tears, there was also triumph through the sadness.  We raised more money than any other team that year. 
 
The next year, even with the economic down turn our friends and family supported us once again by donating the little they could afford.  Even the grandchildren pitched in, saving coins all year and raising $60!  That year our team raised over $3000! 
 
 
 
This year, we know that just as last year, people are struggling.  The economy is horrible and we all are saving what little money we have.  So when I ask this of you, it's not without that in mind.  But please, if you can spare a dollar, $10, $20...  even change - it all makes a difference!  Our walk is in 6 weeks - and we want to once again show Raleigh and the NKF just how much we adore Nana (Paris!)  Follow the link to my team page to donate today!  http://donate.kidney.org/goto/BethBreakey
 
Also, if you live in our area (Eastern North Carolina) we would LOVE to see you on May 2nd!  Come, join Team Walking for Nana and Nina!
 
 
 
Thank you for all you do here - as I said, you are a haven for my mother - and I am so grateful for that!
 
 
 
Aloha,
Beth

[Sluff]

Thank you Beth for all you do for the cause. My Donation is next. 

[AlohaBeth]

Thanks Sluff -- You know how much we love you here in NC! 

[okarol]

  Good for you AlohaBeth! You really honor 2 of my favorite women!!

[kitkatz]

Hurray for the team!

[okarol]

  I tweeted and facebooked your NKF page 
 
Team "Walking For Nana and Nina" together again in #Kidney 5K in May. Please help - no amount is too small, thanks! http://bit.ly/dtqtUM

[paris]

The grandkids had a lemonade stand yesterday afternoon in their neighborhood for the Kidney Walk. They raised $42! They were so excited and pleased with themselves.  After the first $3.00, Zeke(  asked Beth "how much does a kidney cost?"    He later asked me where the kidneys were, how did they put a new one in, and was I scared. Eliza (10) said "she isn't scared. She'll be excited because she will feel so good again".   Seriously, aren't they just the most precious things ever?  ( No, I am not prejudice  LOL )    They are already planning to have two more stands.     

[Slywalker]

AlohaBeth - my gosh - haven't seen your screen name for ages.  Happy to hear all is well.  I sent you a donation.  Thanks for creating and continuing the team - especially honoring Goofynina. 

My daughter and my donor do the walk in Maine which is held in October.  Last year was our first year of a new tradition for us. 

Have a great day.

    

[paris]

Our Kidney Walk is in 3 weeks and our house if full of purple boas, tiaras, signs, shirts --- everything for our team "Nina and Nana".    Beth did a radio interview that airs tomorrow on several stations.  She talked about our team, Susie and IHATEDIALYSIS.com.  If there is a podcast, we will post a link.  The local NKF director asked Beth why she wasn't working for the Foundation. She is so impressed with Beth's knowledge. They did ask if she would like to be on the board.  Love my girl! She cares for everyone with this disease and will do anything she can to raise money and awareness.        She may not tell you what all she is doing, but I am proud of her determination to make a difference.    Thank you all for always welcoming Beth here.   

[monrein]

And Paris, please tell her how much we appreciate all her efforts...most of all her unfailing support of YOU.  I always look forward to hearing about the walk.

[kitkatz]

I did it. I made a donation. Totally in support of the walk and your efforts! In memory of Goofynina and in honor of Paris.

[AlohaBeth]

Hey friends!  The Kidney Walk is less than a week away!!!  It's been slow going this year for donations, but we expected that with the economy.

Lauren, the new area director is looking to put a committee in place for next years walk, to make it bigger, better publicized and just overall larger - she has asked if I would Chair the committee if it's placed - so if all goes well, next year should be AWESOME!

Thanks for all your love and kindness!  We are walking for all of you too!

[paris]

Thanks to my lovely daughter for all her time and effort she puts into the Kidney Walk. Not just this month, but all through the year.  My family is good at stepping up to the plate when they are needed.  One friend told me the other day that she didn't like organizing or doing  the business part of volunteering, but she loves to support every cause our family works for.  Her son is actually collecting donations at his high school for the Kidney Walk.  He is using it as his community service project and he is walking with us Sunday.   Our house looks like party central!  Boas and tiaras everywhere.   My cat is loving all those pretty feathers floating around!     With every purple feather, I think of our Goofynina.  We walk to honor and remember her and all of our IHD family ---  those lost, those afflicted and those who care.  Each of you will be in our hearts on Sunday.   And special prayers that day for Yvonne and her sweet John.  They both fought this disease hard.     

[Sluff]

   Thank you Beth and Paris for all you are doing.

[MooseMom]

I feel pretty silly because I didn't know what this thread was about; I didn't know who Nana and Nina were.   I've made a donation, and I wish you both well...no blisters allowed!  Thank you both so much for giving your time and efforts to such a worthy cause.

[tubes]

Wow Beth, you've done such a great job honoring your mother (love you Paris) & our beloved GoofyNina  I wish I could join in yours and walk with you.
My walk is scheduled June 6 for Omaha. I've yet to get off my lazy butt and turn in my registration form.  Hopefully I'll get it done this week. Times a wastin...and I need to solicit donations from friends and family. lol

[Chris]

I can help out a little but not till payday which should be this Friday. When is the last day to donate?

[paris]

We are taking donations any time!       Donations made online go to straight to our team.

Tubes,  Turn in your registration!  Susie would be telling  you to get off your     and get it done!      When you do, give us a link so we can donate.   

My friend's son collected $61 at his high school for our team.  He baked chocolate chip cookies and gave them out as a "thank you".  It always amazes me what kids can do and that they want to help too. 

Yesterday, we received a check for $103 from a parent of one of my former students. Amazing!  Not sure why the odd amount, but it sure did get our attention!

[paris]

Today was our walk. We love all the planning and putting together the boas, tiaras and ribbons for everyone to wear.  The closer we got to the start time, the more overwhelmed I became. 20 people walking for Nana and Nina and over $1000 raised.  We sometimes feel very alone with this disease but today reminds me that people do care. We need to work on educating the public.  People asked about all the green ribbons and purple ribbons we were wearing.  We all had purple ones with names of those we have lost - I wore Bill and Susie (Epoman and Goofynina) and I wore John's (Yvonne's husband) and Inara's.   But every single name was respresented and worn to remember that this is a life threatening disease.  We wore green ribbons to honor those who give their time so generously, who struggle every day with kidney disease and for those with transplants.  I wore all the Admin teams names. (yes, I had lots of ribbons!!)  My IHD famly was well represented!  I won't even try to list names, but we had dozens and dozens of green ribbons.  And of course, purple boas and tiaras.  It was 90+ degrees and the dye in the boas turned us all purple!!    And the hard part was thinking of  Goofynina. Our "drama queen". I hope I will be missed just a fraction of how much we all miss her.  She inspires us every year, and Beth and I have tears when the walk starts.  Our family was asked to lead the start of the walk.  I am tired, sunburned but incredibly proud of everyone.   Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers today.  I love you all   

[MooseMom]

Outstanding!!  Well done you!  We are all proud of both of you...thank you so much for walking for all of us!  You both are so special.

[kitkatz]

Wonderful news of your walk. Way to go!

[Chris]

I planned to donate on Friday but had my dates screwed up when I got paid. Thought the 3rd was on Sunday and not Monday. I will do it on Monday.

[Mimi]

It sounds like a great walk.  Sorry you all turned purple.    Does anybody remember the song 'Purple People Eater"?
Thank you so much for walking for all of us.

[Sluff]

Nothing wrong with turning purple    Thank you for representing everyone and for educating others about the need for more medical breakthroughs and the need to sign those donor cards. Some people talk about it, and many think about it, but few put their life and heart into a cause as much as you and your family. Remember: " It's not what you take with you when you go, it's what you leave behind."

[okarol]

I'll bet you look great in shades of purple!  Goofinina would LOVE it!
Thanks for telling about the walk - you guys are a real inspiration!
  And thanks for all you do for other patients.