We're so sorry to admit that we thought we had posted the Joshua's HOPE results online, but it did not show up!  Keeping it brief because I need to get to work, BUT...

This year's events were fantastic, raising almost $4,000 at the High Noon for HOPE Concert and over $8,000 at the Alumni Games!  We are so pleased and feel so blessed that even in a year of recession, people continue to give so generously.  Thanks to these donations, we have already cut a check for $2,000 for the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation, and we will be awarding scholarships in the amount of $3,000 to three seniors from FCHS at the annual awards banquet coming in May.

As wonderfully as everything turned out, we know that there is always room for improvement, so if anyone can offer us suggestions, they are greatly appreciated.  After all, the long-term success of these events depends on how enjoyable they are to those of you who support them.

On a final and more personal note, I'd like to share that another family member of ours has recently been discovered to have cancer.  My grandmother ("Ma," I call her), Ardena Pratt, has been in a lot of pain and will soon make some difficult decisions regarding treatment.  For those of you who may not remember Ma, she played "Wildwood Flower" at the High Noon for HOPE concert last year.  People really love to hear her play because, for one thing, nothing is cuter than a sweet little old lady playing a guitar as big as she is; but mainly because she picks really well! 

As familiar as the cancer territory is for us, it is still really difficult to reconcile what our hearts want and what our heads think might be best.  She sees the oncologist for the first time on Wednesday and I'd love nothing more than for the doctor to tell her that some non-abrasive treatments may take care of things.  It seems that may not be likely though.  I just ask that you wonderful prayer warriors send up a few for her and for our family.  I sure would appreciate it.

Thanks again for helping the events & have a great week!

Laura

We continued to be exhausted but exhiliarated last week.  What an amazing couple of weeks!  With the generous support of the volunteers, sponsors, participants, and attendees of the High Noon for HOPE Concert and the FCHS Basketball Alumni Games, we turned in over $10,000 to the Joshua Cantrell Memorial Scholarship Fund on Friday and were still able to write a $2,000 check to the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation.  We never thought we would have the privelege to be a part of such a thriving organization.

The committee for Joshua's HOPE (Helping Out by Promoting Education) plans to award three scholarships to students from FCHS for the purpose of higher education.  Because the "Education" part of the HOPE equation is applies also in a broader sense, we are happy to share a portion of the proceeds with the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation.  Wouldn't it be fantastic if one of our scholarship recipients were to one day find a cure for cancer?... or if the PBTF discovered once and for all the cause of brain tumors so that people around the globe would not have to worry about it any more?  I am so proud to be a part of a community that remains committed to making lemonade out of life's lemons.  Furthermore, I think that many people will enjoy the lemonade we make!

That said, these events are only in their first two years.  On the one hand, we feel as if this is an excellent sign of things to come.  Still, it is of utmost importance to us to continue to improve the experience for all concerned.  We welcome feedback from any of you who sponsored, volunteered, participated, or attended the events because while the revenue is certainly important to sustaining Joshua's HOPE, the future of the scholarship depends on whether folks enjoy themselves enough to continue to be a part of our fundraisers on an annual basis. 

So once again, thank you for all that you have done.  I'm sure that this year more than any will see an increased need for scholarships for students.  And though the economy has affected us all in some way, the turnout and generosity that the Floyd Community shows reflects above average even in a recession year.  Wow.  You guys are awesome!