The Floyd Press: Sports
Roger Mannon

Family opens a new chapter
After losing their son to cancer in 2007, Brian and Desirae Harman have welcomed a new son, Chaycen Wesley Harman, into the world. Click here to see photos and video
The Roanoke Times - By Lerone Graham

FLOYD -- Brian and Desirae Harman don't get as much sleep as they'd like.

"You're going to have to get him, Brian," Desirae Harman said she told her husband at 4 a.m. two weeks ago.

And it's like deja vu for the family, which lost sleep throughout much of last year tending to their son, Chance, as he battled a rare brain tumor.

The Floyd County community rallied behind Chance as he spent seven months in and out of surgery and chemotherapy, before dying July 6, 2007, at the age of 4.

While the Harmans spent countless nights last year in the hospital, they now have a different reason for stressful, sleepless nights.

On Nov. 4, the Harman family welcomed its newest addition, a baby boy weighing 6 pounds, 5 ounces.

They named him Chaycen Wesley Harman. The family said that baby Chaycen is a part of the healing process.

Initially, they wanted another boy. But after getting pregnant two months after Chance's death, only to miscarry that November, they said the gender didn't matter as much, "as long as it was healthy," Brian Harman said.

In light of all of the tragedy in their lives -- Desirae Harman's sister was shot and killed two months after Chance's death -- they chose not to tell relatives that Harman had gotten pregnant and miscarried.

So when they learned that she was pregnant yet again, they waited a few months before breaking the news.

"We were blessed again to have another," Brian Harman said.

He said that he and Desirae were tested to see if Chance's tumor was genetic. Thankfully, they said, the tests came back negative.

"If it was [genetic], I never would have had another child," Desirae Harman said.

The family said that they prayed to God, asking for another child. And if it happened to be a boy, they would take that as a sign that it would soon be time to move on.

When Chaycen was born, his mother said that her prayers were answered, so they would mourn for two more years and then move forward.

Two more years.

In two years, the family will move Chaycen upstairs to the bedroom where Chance's presence still breathes life into every corner, and they will redecorate it to accommodate their new child.

This means painting over Chance's tiny, traced handprints on the wall that were done before his second surgery, when his time was nearly up. It also means getting rid of his favorite basketball-themed stuffed animal, which provided comfort to him every day that he fought for his life in the hospital.

Simple objects in the room are sure to conjure up memories of Chance. They would have to clean out the bottom drawer that he used as a hiding place, still full of the toys he would stash away from his younger sister, Destiny.

A glance at the DVD player might remind them of the movie "Cars," which they watched in the hospital with their son so often that the disc stopped working.

While memories such as these will always be cherished, the Harmans say they don't want to live their lives in the past or too far in the future.

When Chaycen was born, they were overjoyed, but the feeling was different than with the births of their previous two children.

"We weren't looking down the road," Brian Harman said.

The doctors told them that he was a little small, which worried them at first, but they were relieved when they were able to bring him home.

"Some people look down the road. Enjoy every day, because you might not make it to that vacation," Harman said.

As head coach of the Floyd County High School boys basketball team, a normal, enjoyable day on the job for Harman is far from serene.

At the Dec. 17 home opener against Craig County, Harman was anything but the gentle family man. He was all business.

"Attack! Attack!" he shouted from the bench. His jaw remained clenched, his eyes intensely locked on the game action.

In the end, Floyd County prevailed, 75-34. And, finally, Harman relaxed.

Family seems to be central with the Harmans, as they adjust to the beginning of another chapter in their life.

Desirae Harman said that the long nights checking on the baby might be stressful, but she wouldn't trade it for anything in the world.

"Before it was like, 'Oh, I've got to check on the baby.' Now it's a blessing," she said.

Still, the Harmans are human and can't help but wonder sometimes what could have been.

"I'll always think about what it'd be like with three," Brian Harman said.

For starters, Chance would be in school now, which would cause their schedules to be different, he said.

Desirae Harman said that the birth of Chaycen would have been a dream come true for their son.

"Even during the fight, he was asking when we were going to have another one. ... He wanted a little brother," she said.

Harman can picture her son, who would now be 6, playing with his little brother. She said that if Chance were here, he would constantly be in his little brother's face, trying to make him laugh.

"He'd always try to make people laugh," Harman said with a smile, as her eyes gazed into the distance.

Harman sees similar traits in Destiny, who adores her little brother and plays with him every chance she gets. Harman said that she can't wait until the two are running around, getting on each other's nerves as most siblings do, because it will remind of her of the days when Chance was alive.

Two Sundays ago, when the Harman parents were trading baby duty even up until 4 a.m., their plans constantly changed when debating whether or not they would go to church as a family for the first time in more than a month.

They finally decided to get up and go, much to the delight of their fellow members at Topeco Church of the Brethren.

It was everyone's first time seeing Chaycen, so they couldn't go very far without people wanting a peek at the baby or giving some advice.

The Harmans say that seeing Chance's faith never waiver during his sickness -- and their belief that he is in heaven -- has made their faith stronger than ever.

"Before Chance, I kind of knew where I was going [after death], but now there's no question," Brian Harman said.

Much of the service was a juggling act, with Desirae Harman tending to the baby and Brian Harman trying to get their daughter to sit still.

Brian Harman would often get distracted from the service, because Destiny seemed to get a kick out of putting her feet in her dad's face. She also provided her mother with some baby advice of her own.

"Mom, he stinks!" Destiny said in the middle of the service, cracking up. A diaper change soon followed.

As the church choir went through their Christmas selections, one song stood out more than others.

"The world has joy through a baby boy," the choir sang during "The World Has Joy Medley."

The way the Harmans live their lives on a daily basis, family seems to be their world.

"It's a circus," Desirae Harman said, referring to their new family life. "But it's the best feeling in the world."

the Floyd Press
by Wanda Combs - Editor

The first 5K Run/Walk drew 127 registrants, and the walk and dinner raised approximately $3,200 in profits. A "community pasta meal" held on Friday in conjunction with the Run/Walk had 90 diners and also contributed to the proceeds, which will be sent to Duke’s brain tumor center. 
On Saturday morning, the sun was shining down on the runners and walkers. Dawn Weeks, organizer, said 119 participants actually finished the race. She explained one walker had to return to work, and she guessed others who registered did not show up on race day or just registered to give a donation. 
Weeks added that the turnout was exceptional and "it seemed like people had a good time. A lot won medals that didn’t think they would win." 
The Run/Walk, sponsored by the Town of Floyd, took participants on a 3.1 mile loop that started and ended at the high school. 
The goal was to finish within an hour, and everyone did. 
The event also was supported by numerous volunteers, in addition to the Virginia Department of Transportation, the Floyd County Sheriff’s Office, and the Rescue Squad. 
Before Glenn Altizer, who had planned the relay route, blew the whistle at the start of the race, Janie Walters sang the national anthem. 
Lynn Baluh, one of the runners, remarked that the race course was "nice and challenging with all the hills" and very good. 
Dove Erich, the female champ, told the Press she came with a determination to win. She was also the first registrant for the 5K event. She lives in Hilliard, Ohio. 
At the medals ceremony after the race, Laura Cantrell, on behalf of all the planners – also including Leon and Annette Hubbard and Rainey and Ann Houston, thanked everyone involved with the event. She added that Duke had also relayed their appreciation. 
Overall male winners were Austin Grubb (first), Andrew Pauley (second), and Jeff Casassa (third). Overall female winners were Dove Erich (first), Lynn Baluh (second), and Rebecca Adcock (third). 


Other female winners were: 

14 years and under: first – Laurel Brooke, second – Mary Houston, third – Grace Cox. 

15-19 years: first – Nicole Snead, second – Brandy Phillips, third – Tempry Goff 

20-24 years: first – Allie Mannon, second – Ann Houston, third – Katie Shryer 

25-29 years: first – Michelle Deel, second – Laura Cantrell, third – Jessi Warren 

30-34 years: first – Annette Hubbard, second – Leigh Carter, third – Ginger Taylor 

35-39 years: first – Gretchen Hitchner, second – Hannah Mann, third – Jeaneen Ingram 

40-44 years: first – Rima Forrest Sulzen, second – Vanessa Clark, third – Jennifer Brooke 
4
5-49 years: first – Judy Bell, second – Janet Harris, third – Regina Cox 

50-54 years: first – Jewel Phillips, second – Brenda Allen, third – Katherine Sowers 

55-59 years: first – Jane Cundiff, second – Wanda Blackwell, third – Anne Harman 

60 and over: first – Margaret Harris, second – Cathy Driscoll, third – Mary Hitchner 


Other male winners were: 

14 years and under: first – Riley St. Pierre, second – Bryce Altizer, third – Will Lane 

15-19 years: first – Cole Conley, second – Gabriel Whitlock, third – John William Houston
25-29 years: first – Jonathan Adcock, second – Tim Lane, third – Travis Cantrell 

30-34 years: first – Jared Gardner, second – Rob Campbell, third – Chris Hewitt 

35-39 years: first – Randy McDaniel, second – David Pluska, third – Teddy Moore 

40-44 years: first – Tom Cosgrave, second – Terry Osborne, third – Leon Hubbard 

45-49 years: first – Bill Freeman, second – John Paul Houston, third – Adolph Turner 

50-54 years: first – Paul Weeks 

55-59 years: first – Ron Rogers, second – Ken Cundiff, third – David Sulzen 

60 and over: first – Steve Huppert, second – Wayne Driscoll, third – John Harris

The Floyd County Relay for Life set another record in its local effort to help defeat cancer. The all-night walk raised over $63,549 for the American Cancer Society. 
"That was the amount the night of the race," said Relay coordinator Susan Nunn. "We’ll have at least several hundred more dollars come in." 
The event, which ran from Friday evening until dawn Saturday morning, had a state goal of $52,000. Last year’s event set a then-record $45,000. 
"We were a little concerned we wouldn’t reach our goal," Nunn said. "Last year we had the three children who died of cancer, so we had such a big response." 
The main feature of the event – teams of volunteers walking laps around the high school parking lot – is augmented by activities and entertainment. 
The top fund raising team was the Turman Group, with $7,690, followed by Rowdy Relayers with $7,528. Rounding out the top five were Topeco Travelers, $5,128.95; Willis UMC Walers, $4,727.25; and Falling Branch Morning Glories with $3,347.53. 
Josh Miller was the top individual, raising $3,506. Robert Reed had $1,690 and Margaret Harris $1,470. 
Rounding out the top seven were Kathy Dulaney, $1,475; Brenda Hylton, $1,410; Joshua Bond, $1,218; and Freda Harris $1,260.

By Lindsay Key
Courtesy of The Ronoake Times

Five high school seniors will begin college with between $750 and $3,000 more in their pockets through a scholarship that Brian and Desirae Harman of Floyd established in memory of their son, Chance Harman.

The 4-year-old, who had suffered from a brain tumor, died in July.

"After he passed away I was trying to think of some idea of how to carry his tradition on, or some way to help out the community and kids that had helped us out," Brian Harman said.

Inspiration came from friend and Radford High School basketball coach Rick Cormany, who suggested that Harman start a basketball tournament in honor of Chance, to raise money for scholarships and cancer research.

The inaugural Chance Harman Classic basketball tournament was Jan. 5, with the boys' varsity teams from Floyd County, Giles, Glenvar, Graham, Christiansburg, Blacksburg, Radford and Patrick County high schools participating.

The admission fee, $8 for adults and $5 for children, brought in about $12,000.

Touched by each school's participation, the Harmans decided to spend a portion of the proceeds on scholarships for students at the four schools that gave up regular season home games for the tournament.

The Harmans created a $3,000 scholarship at Floyd County High School and a $1,500 scholarship at Radford, Glenvar and Giles high schools. They asked each school's administrative staff to decide how to award the money.

The only set criteria, according to Brian Harman, was that the recipient or recipients had to play a sport and be a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

"Chance was real big into God and reading the Bible, and he loved sports," he explained.

The Harmans set up a committee of family and friends to choose the recipient at Floyd County and Giles high schools at the request of their administrative staff.

The remaining money they donated to Duke University Hospital for brain tumor research.

Radford senior Michael McCown received a $1,500 scholarship at the school's sports banquet Monday night.

Glenvar High School seniors Chris Ferguson and Kaitlyn Barnett each received $750 scholarships.

Ashley Martin of Floyd County High School received a $3,000 scholarship at the school's academic awards banquet May 8. The 18-year-old is a member of the school's forensics team and plans to attend Virginia Western Community College and eventually Radford University to study psychology.

"There's so much emotion behind that scholarship. It's just overwhelming and it brought tears to my eyes when I found out I received it," she said.

Martin grew up in a single-parent home where money was tight, and she had to work two jobs during high school. Before receiving the scholarship, she anticipated working full time and attending college part time. Now she'll be able to do the opposite.

"Basically it was a huge burden off my shoulders," she said.

The name of the Giles High School student receiving the award will be announced at an awards banquet set for May 30.

The second annual Chance Harman Classic is already scheduled for Jan. 3, Harman said.

"We hope the community supports it like it has before," he said. "If it's a bigger turnout, we can do bigger scholarships everywhere and give more back to the cancer research."

Giving Back
Brian & Desirae Harman

Message from Desirae:

     Well, we are starting to give back even more now.  I have been praying for God to show me how he wants to work through me.  My prayers have been answered.  My heart has led me down to giving back to others.  Destiny and I prepared Easter baskets to take to the cancer children at Duke.  I know a lot of you guys sent Chance things and it made him so happy, even if it was just a card.  I know how the parents feel if they can’t leave the hospital to get their child something for a Holiday.  So we decided to deliver baskets to the hospital to relieve some of the stress off the parents.  Destiny and I made several baskets for the children and we delivered the baskets to the children the Friday before Easter.  Destiny loved to help put the goodies in them.  She tells everyone she giving them to sick kids like Bubba was.     

We also delivered painted wagons in memory of Chance with cartoons characters on them and donated them to the children’s wing at Duke and other hospitals.  Laura Cantrell's dad, Coach Pratt, had his classroom paint them for us.  Chance loved the wagons he got to ride in for appointments across the hospital; it was one of the highlights going to visits.  It helped make the visit all better.  We bought a few wagons and then others were donated.  We were so excited that they were finally finished and we were able to deliver them to the hospitals for the children. As you can see in the photo's, the children loved the wagons.  I have a lot planned and in the works right now, but keep checking our updates.  May God continue to bless you and enjoy each and every moment with your loved ones.

Message from Brian:

     The Friday before Easter we had collected Easter baskets to take down to the children.  Several people in Floyd stepped up to the plate again for this.  We ended up getting 93 Easter Baskets to take down to Duke.  This was the first time we had been back since July 6, 2007.  We had so many baskets that we had to take two vehicles.  Desirae, Destiny, my mom, Desirae’s Dad, and I all went.  The car seemed to drive itself, so many memories of different locations.  From the good memories, to the gas station where we found out that the cancer had progressed, a lot of things we were glad to remember, but once again there were several we would like to forget.  We met our favorite nurse, Bridget, it was her off day, but she took time to go with us over to the hospital.  The first stop was taking the tram over to Radiation that we had done so many times, especially on weekends when no one was there.  We saw Eileen, one of his nurses and two of the radiation doctors that he loved to play jokes on.  After leaving there we took the same walk that we did twice each week back over to the tram to take it back to the clinic.  From there we went up and visited the nurses that had taken care of us day in and day out.  Let me tell you a story of how small a world this is.  I was talking to one of our nurses and she said that she was at a party with a friend a few months ago.  Her friend was friends with the person that was throwing the party.  She told me that she began speaking with a friendly random lady.  The more she talked; she found out that this lady was a nurse as well in Denver, Co.  She was at the party with her boyfriend who was with another friend.  She told her that she was a nurse at Duke; the lady said that he boyfriend had a cousin that had a son at Duke.  Come to find out, the lady was my cousin’s girlfriend and they just happen to be in that weekend from Denver and were at the same party in Raleigh, NC.  Small World!  Well after spending time with them we went over to see Dr G., Chance’s doctor, and a couple of the child specialists.  All of them were so nice, and it was really good to see them all.  They just kept saying,"I wished we could have done more," but that is one thing that no one can say they didn’t do.  Everyone did all they could do for Chance. We did everything that we could, it just wasn’t meant to be, this was God’s will.  Next we went up to the floor to hand out the baskets, we ran into several nurses that we had spent so much of our life with.  One in particular that we saw was Mrs. Charlotte, she was there for us through the rough days, and she will never know how much she meant to us.  That was probably the hardest part of the day, especially as I walked by the room which was the last one he was ever in.  That was a very tough, but still it was a very special day for us.  Like I said before, Floyd and the surrounding communities, stepped up again by making the day special for kids at Duke and making it easier for our return back.  The last stop we made was back to radiation, we had missed one nurse that we wanted to see.  As I peeked around the corner she waved, but she had no clue who I was.  It had been over a year and I had shaved my hair; but after seeing Desirae, she came over and we had a great reunion.  Everyone all day was so excited to see Destiny.  Before we left we had to see Dr. Grant (Chance called him the Pizza Doctor), he really loved this guy.  He was our surgeon and the one who had to tell us that there wasn’t anymore that they could do.  I will never forget this man as long as I live, how can we say someone that had to tell us that information would hold a special place in our heart, that is weird, but we cherish him and his friendship.   He came out of OR, just to sit down and talk to us for about twenty minutes.  As we sat there, he just kept saying how Chance had touched him and several of the nurses that he had talked to.  This made our trip easier.  Why?  Because they hadn’t forgotten him, his love and personality still lives on, not just in our lives, but in theirs.  Chance had a anesteologist that he loved, Dr. Ames.  As we sat there, he just happened to be working with Dr. Grant that day.  We had a chance to tell him how much he meant to us and to Chance.  God worked in a great way that day, the Friday before Easter.

Click here to see more photo's of the wagon delivery.

Still Fighting

Pat Vaughn

Teammate

It’s hard to believe that Floyd County’s SameFight.org charity is already one year old.  What began as a means to communicate has evolved into an organization for hope.  Since the website launch in early January 2007, more than 90 official events have been held, raising more than $150,000.  The community, friends, family and total strangers have rallied together to raise awareness and funds to support those families in need.   SameFight has one mission, “It is our goal to provide not only financial, but also emotional and spiritual support. Dollar for dollar your donations will be used by these children's families for their medical and family expenses.”  SameFight.org is an organization setup to assist families of children in the Floyd, Virginia community fighting cancer.  The qualifications are simple.  1.  Child must be a resident of Floyd County, Virginia.  2.  Child must be 17 years or younger.  And 3. Child must be fighting some form of cancer.   

The costs to families during and after a cancer fight are astronomical.  Not only do parents have to leave work, they often relocate their families to be near the treatment centers and have to financially support two households.  Medical expenses are often covered by insurance, but there are many treatments and expenses that are outside the coverage and families must pay those costs out of pocket.   These costs are what SameFight can assist in support.  We are totally volunteer and non-profit.  That allows us to keep overhead down to nearly zero so that all funds raised are used to support families in need.  If you, or someone you know, may need assistance during a cancer fight, please contact us at www.samefight.org.

Annual events are being scheduled for 2008, including the 2^nd Annual SameFight.org Golf Tournament set for May 3^rd.  Another event being planned is the 2^nd Annual SameFight.org Benefit Concert for sometime in July.  It is sad to acknowledge, but we know that there will be another child who will need our support.  Please help us to be prepared when the need arises. If you have sponsored an event in the past, we ask that you consider holding that event again in 2008.  We need your support! Many of our events in 2007 were quite successful with donations ranging from $300 to $30,000.  Every dollar counts.  To submit an event, please go to our website at www.samefight.org or email us at events@samefight.org to begin.  We can provide advertisement on our website and can even help you design your brochure.

Thank you for your support in 2007 and in advance for 2008.

Great Success
Brian Harman
Chance's Dad

We are pleased to announce that the First Annual Chance Harman Classic raised $10,721.77.  

The Chance Harman Classic was a huge success; we are hoping for bigger and better next year.  Hopefully the weather will be a little better next year.   As of right now the plan is to give a scholarship in Chance’s name to a student at Floyd County High School in the amount of $3,000 dollars.  Any student that has played a sport at Floyd County High School and has participated in Fellowship of Christian Athletes will be eligible for the scholarship.  All they have to do is pick up the application at the guidance office and fill it out then a Board will decide on the recipitant.  If something happens and we have two qualified students we may end up dividing the scholarship and giving $1,500 dollars to each.  We will also be sending Giles County High School, Radford High School, and Glenvar High School $1,500 dollars for a scholarship in memory of Chance at their school.  What is left over will go the The American Cancer Society in the department of pediatric brain cancer, that should be somewhere around $5,000.00 dollars.   Our family has been invited to attend Radford High Schools awards ceremony when the scholarship will be presented. 

The games were four very good games to watch.  One of the coolest things of the Classic was when Giles came out to warm up they had Chance’s name on the back of their shoes, then Graham came out, followed by all of the other teams.  Coach Rick Cormany from Radford said he wanted to come up with something special so he got with a company in Roanoke Dixie Sporting Goods and they donated the name tags for the tournament.  It was a really neat idea and meant a lot to me that the coaches and kids showed the respect to wear them that day.  Most every team warmed up with their Classic T-Shirts on and Giles’s coaching staff wore them during the game.  All of these things are small ideas and small things, but to me they meant more than those guys will ever know.  The first on matched up Graham and Giles, in that Graham beat Giles in overtime.  The second game Glenvar got a big win against Christiansburg with a single digit victory.  The third game had Blacksburg, one of the best teams in Double AA in the state playing Radford, one of the best single A teams in this area.  This was a very good game, two teams that really went after it, with Blacksburg pulling away at the end.  The last game was Patrick County and us, where it was close till about 4 minutes to go and Patrick pulling away for the win. 

Travis, Laura and A.J. Cantrell welcomed Isaiah George into their family Nov. 20th around 3:00p.m.  He weighed 7 lbs. 7 oz.   Mom, Dad, brother & baby are fine.

The Harman's: A Family On The Mend
Pat Vaughn, Teammate

As we can only imagine, the families of SameFight.org are going through a part of life that only they can understand.  With the loss of Joshua, then Chance and Kassidy, we have all been in mourning.   Yet, each day we celebrate their lives.

Jared is working on a followup article detailing the journey and every day life of the Harman's.  The article is tenatively set to print the Sunday following the Chance Harman Classic on December 15th.  In researching and preparing for the article, several photo's have been taken.  The photo's shown are featured this week on the Roanoke.com website this week as part of this week in photo's.  (See photo's #5 and #7.) 

We hope you enjoy them!

On Time Again
Bridget (Thompson) Lucas, Teammate

The 3rd SameFight.org enewsletter was sent out today! In this quarter's edition you will find a lot of good information, including messages from our three special families, news on the future of SameFight.org, events in the community and our regular message from the teammates. For those of you who have not yet signed up for our newsletter you are missing out. Be sure to sign up today to receive our next newsletter.

As always, thank you all for supporting SameFight.org!

What to do?
Pat Vaughn, Teammate

I was asked this week if I thought the families would appreciate it if we all continued to wear our SameFight bracelets.  The answer is a resounding YES!  I have to admit that after Chance was healed, it was very hard for me to wear mine.  Then I noticed that the families continue to wear theirs in memory of their fight.  Just last night I spoke with Chance's dad, Brian, about his bracelet.  He pulled a broken, torn bracelet from his pocket.  He told me, "This is the bracelet I wore all during his fight.  It finally ripped apart after so much wear.  I carry it now in my pocket instead."  That told me all I needed to know.  So, please put those bracelets back on in memory and to show our angels in heaven that we love and miss them.

If you don't have a bracelet, click here to purchase.

*Originally published on website homepage, 9/18/07

SameFight.org Benefit Concert
Pat Vaughn
Teammate

The evening was warm and so were our spirits.  On Saturday night, August 25th, the first Annual SameFight.org benefit concert was held at Turman's Sports Complex in Willis, Virginia.  Original plans were for the concert to be the final event of a day of softball, but the tournament was postponed.  We've learned that there were several major factors for the lack of teams willing to play in our tournament.  First, there were two other sanctioned tournaments the same day and secondly, the Nascar race in Bristol.  (Even my own husband, who loves to play, went to the race!  Can't say as I blame him though.) 

Our crowd was small, but the fun was huge.  We raised more than $500.  Special thanks to Statement and Tara Hall for donating their time to our cause.  The hotdogs, drinks and ice were donated by Roger Hollandsworth of Floyd Express.  We can always count on Rodger Dodger, as Chance called him.  Wonderful homemade chili and sweets were donated by Shirley Phillips.   Dollar General donated bottled water and paper products.  The Miller's, (Tracey and Nathan) donated ice and Nathan was our chef.  He brought his grill and cooked the hotdogs.  Jason and Carrie Dalton donated chips.  Jason even updated the sign on Rt. 221 for us as well.  I made chili and provided the slaw and condiments.  I'd like to say my chili was half as good as Shirley's, but whew, what a whopper that would be.  I did receive a copy of Shirley's recipe book, which includes her recipe for chili.  I'll be ready next time.

For those of you that didn't make it to the concert, we will have a table at the Topeco Fall Bazaar on Saturday, September 1st from 7am - 2pm.  Please stop by for lunch and to buy from our yard sale table.  As always, your donations will benefit SameFight.org.

Thank you and GOD bless.

Roundup For A Cure
Pat Vaughn, Teammate

Hundreds of Relay for Life supporters came to the Floyd County High School on Friday, July 20th for Floyd County's annual event.  With special guest speakers and performers, the night was jam packed and full of laughter and tears.  Desirae Harman, Chance's mom, spoke of the significance of little red wagon and stressed the importance of funds for research.  While at Duke University Hospital, families are provided with little red wagons in order to transport the children from room to room.  Both Chance and Joshua had wagons and their younger siblings were pulled around the track in their big brothers wagons.  Desirae said, "It's important to continue to raise money for research.  The protocol Chance underwent was experimental at one time.  Had it not been for research to create the protocol, we would not have been given 7 more months with Chance."  Laura Cantrell also spoke of Joshua's fight and how the cause had affected their lives as well as the Foster's. 

Topeco Church of the Brethren's team was named the Topeco Travelers.  Their team supported the Relay for Life and also collected money for Chance's Angel Fund.  This fund was established after Chance's healing and will provide support to other families traveling similar journeys.  Around 9:30pm, the Topeco Travelers were honored with the lighting of the Hope Luminary ceremony.  The Harman family lit the candles that spelled out H-O-P-E. 

Other fun activites included the 'Womanless Beauty Contest" and the "Crazy Hat Contest."  Click here to view photo's of the event.