WAM...Wish-A-Mile
Over the weekend I was out of town for work on the Make-A-Wish, Wish-A-Mile bike tour, otherwise known as WAM. WAM is the largest fundraising event that we do here in the state of Michigan this year raising $942,000!!! WAM is a 300 mile bike tour and this year we had over 700 riders with us ...add in all the crew, staff and volunteers and you've got a lot of people dedicated to one great organization!! Day 1, riders bike from Traverse City to Big Rapids and stay the night at Ferris State University (117 miles). Day 2 Big Rapids to St. John's - bikers and crew overnight at St. John's high school (93 miles) and Day 3 bikers ride to Chelsea (87 miles). I was at WAM for day 2 and 3. Day 2, which was at St. John's high school is commonly referred to as WAMMIES. Once the riders get to the destination - we have a dinner set up. After dinner it's time for WAMMIES. The Wammies are the awards that are given out to the top fundraising individual as well as top fundraising team. Our president Susan gives a talk and this year we had a wish family talk about their experience with Make-A-Wish. Several times throughout wammies - you won't find a dry eye in the place. It's moving, inspirational and unfortunately at times sad....but that's what keeps the riders .. riding, the volunteers .. volunteering and the staff feeling blessed to work for such an amazing cause. The final day is called Hero's Hurrah! This is a celebration to say the least. With months and months of planning - this is when the wish families and children can meet and thank the riders. You see...when the riders check in and register on day 1 they receive a bracelet with a wish child's name on it....we call these children wish hero's. On the final day of WAM at Hero's Hurrah - the riders finally get to meet their wish hero - the child that they have been riding for while on tour. Once the rider crosses the finish line, they check in and come to the Wish Hero area where they are matched up with their child and that child presents the rider with their WAM medal - like the Olympics. It's very special - many times the child will bring photos of their wish trip or cards and posters for their riders. It was amazing and I am very proud to work for an organization that does such amazing things for children and their families.
Over the weekend I was out of town for work on the Make-A-Wish, Wish-A-Mile bike tour, otherwise known as WAM. WAM is the largest fundraising event that we do here in the state of Michigan this year raising $942,000!!! WAM is a 300 mile bike tour and this year we had over 700 riders with us ...add in all the crew, staff and volunteers and you've got a lot of people dedicated to one great organization!! Day 1, riders bike from Traverse City to Big Rapids and stay the night at Ferris State University (117 miles). Day 2 Big Rapids to St. John's - bikers and crew overnight at St. John's high school (93 miles) and Day 3 bikers ride to Chelsea (87 miles). I was at WAM for day 2 and 3. Day 2, which was at St. John's high school is commonly referred to as WAMMIES. Once the riders get to the destination - we have a dinner set up. After dinner it's time for WAMMIES. The Wammies are the awards that are given out to the top fundraising individual as well as top fundraising team. Our president Susan gives a talk and this year we had a wish family talk about their experience with Make-A-Wish. Several times throughout wammies - you won't find a dry eye in the place. It's moving, inspirational and unfortunately at times sad....but that's what keeps the riders .. riding, the volunteers .. volunteering and the staff feeling blessed to work for such an amazing cause. The final day is called Hero's Hurrah! This is a celebration to say the least. With months and months of planning - this is when the wish families and children can meet and thank the riders. You see...when the riders check in and register on day 1 they receive a bracelet with a wish child's name on it....we call these children wish hero's. On the final day of WAM at Hero's Hurrah - the riders finally get to meet their wish hero - the child that they have been riding for while on tour. Once the rider crosses the finish line, they check in and come to the Wish Hero area where they are matched up with their child and that child presents the rider with their WAM medal - like the Olympics. It's very special - many times the child will bring photos of their wish trip or cards and posters for their riders. It was amazing and I am very proud to work for an organization that does such amazing things for children and their families.
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2 comments:
Wow--sounds awesome! What a truly fulfilling feeling you must have in working with this great organization. Not only does it help steer things into the right perspective, but a constant reminder of how "good" people truly are...caring, compassionate and godly.
Ok so I am getting emotional just reading your blog. Sounds like a wonderful experience and sounds like a wonderful event. You can tell how much you really love your job and that is just awesome cause there are so many people who just don't like their jobs, sounds like you have it all. Hope you are feeling well and hope Jose and the dogs are good too.
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