Saturday’s Ignite Hope Walk was beyond successful!  I am not sure yet of the total number that was brought in for PCH, but I do know that our “Stronger Than Cancer” team brought in just over $6800!  We are happy to say that we were the top team and we are thrilled about it!  Thank you for taking the time to walk with us or to donate.  We have some pretty amazing people who have stood behind our mission and we can’t thank you enough.  Nikki was a great team captain and did an amazing job putting this all together.

When we arrived at the hospital, the emotions were a bit overwhelming.  We walked up as they were paying Silent Night and you could see all the little heroes inside waving their lights down to us.  Since we were at the front of the walk, we were able to see over 1,000 people with their lights file in.  This year was the first time the walk was put on and I hope it continues for years to come.

Nikki and I are headed back to PCH to present the check with the rest of the Children’s Fight for Life committee  to the center for cancer and blood disorders. How amazing that the event brought in $100,000 this year!  I really look forward to giving them that money tonight!!

Now that the walk is over, we are starting to plan our event for March, Comedians for a Cure! I am really excited about this year!  Last year was our first year and you always learn something new each time you do an event so I think that this year is going to be much larger than last.  As we get in new details, we will release them to you!  As of now, we are looking at Sunday, March 10th for the event…mark your calendars!!

Last note:  I have been getting emails asking about shirts and if we still have them and yes we do!  We have most sizes left as well as some long sleeves now!  We will be selling the long sleeves for $25 (which are unisex and super comfortable!).  If we don’t not have your size, we will order it in the next order we place!  All you have to do is donate the appropriate amount for what you want and don’t forget to note the sizes!  If you have any questions at all, contact me at lmorton@thejackmortonfoundation.org.

Thank you!!!!

Some of our “Stronger Than Cancer” Team!

Kiddos having fun before the walk began:

Tons of activities for the kiddos to do before we began…

Nikki holding the flag since our team raised the most money!

Starting off the walk!

Braden was so excited!

My mom and I!  She flew in just for the day to be here with us:

Jack and Meg holding up his light so the little heroes inside could see us:

This is what it looked like form inside the hospital looking down…pretty emotional!

Only 4 more days until Team Stronger Than Cancer walks in the Ignite Hope event that benefits Phoenix Children’s Hospital.  We are proud to say that we are the top fundraising team and we want to keep it that way!  If you cannot join us on the walk (there is still time to register!), then please consider making a donation…any amount helps!!  All money raised goes back to PCH and what a great way to support the hospital and the kids at the holidays.  Thank you for all you have done over the past 2 years and 9 months for Jack, our family, and the hospital.  We are so thankful for all of you!!

http://action.phoenixchildrens.com/site/TR/Events/igNIGHT?px=1154423&pg=personal&fr_id=1150

Today is the LAST day to help us bring some comfort to the warriors at PCH by giving them Norbert the Nightmare Nibbler!!!  If you buy 1 Norbert for a child in your life, 1 will be donated to our foundation to give back to the kids at PCH.  Norbert was given to Jack when he was spending many nights in the hospital and he loves him!  Norbert brought him comfort at night and helped eat away those nasty nightmares.

If you don’t have a child that you could give this adorable plush to, consider buying one and gifting it back!  Be sure to put “Jack” in the comments box when you order so they know where to send them to!

www.nightmarenibbler.com

Thank you!!!!

I have started and stopped many posts over the last week and really don’t know where to begin or what to even say!  Our days used to be so full of new information, test results, new medical terms, or updates on the kids in general with doctors appointments and now they are filled with the ins and outs of being 2 and 4 and that’s about it!  I am not complaining at all, I just don’t have a whole lot to fill you all in on that isn’t just our day to day lives!

One thing that is important that I do want to start off talking about is the Children’s Miracle Network and PCH.  For those of you who don’t know, the Children’s Miracle Network is a non-profit organization dedicated to saving and improving the lives of children by raising funds for children’s hospitals across North America. Each year, the 170 hospitals in the network provide the finest medical care, life-saving research and preventative education to help millions of kids overcome diseases and injuries of every kind. Since its founding in 1983, Children’s Miracle Network has raised more than $2.7 billion in support of these hospitals.

This national charitable effort is unique in that 100 percent of the money raised will stay in the community to support the local children’s hospital, which means Phoenix Children’s Hospital receives all of the funds raised in the northern two-thirds of Arizona.  One of the networks big sponsors is Wal-Mart.  PCH is having a rally for WalMart to celebrate their record breaking $1 million campaign and kick off the new campaign year. PCH is so very appreciative of Walmart as they were the valley’s first $1 million campaign!

If you missed it, Adrian Wilson was on the news last week speaking about his involvement with PCH, The Children’s Medical Network, and of course…Jack!  As most of you know, Adrian has been a strong supporter of Jack and our family from the very beginning when he first heard of Jack being diagnosed with cancer.  I am sure a lot of you were at the “shave-off” event that we had two years ago where Adrian and Steve Breston came out and shaved heads to raise money for our foundation.  Adrian is going to be speaking at this event next week and Jack and I will be going with him to show our support and give our thanks to PCH, Children’s Miracle Network, and of course the many people of WalMart who have continued to raise so much money for the hospital.  We are very excited (and a tad nervous as this event is for 1,000 people!) and honored that we would be asked to go.  If you want to help make a difference, please text HAND to 50555.  This simple text will send a $5 donation to Phoenix Children’s.  Thank you so much ahead of time for your donation as it helps support all of the families and patients at PCH!

On to home news!

Jack is doing really well in school and it is really exciting really.  He is writing really well and learning how to sound out words to spell them on his own.  He has learned 10 site words this week (he recognizes them on site and knows what they say) and that is HUGE!  He is really loving being there and I think he will be more than ready for kindergarten and that is all thanks to his amazing teacher.  She has helped to really tansition Jack in to the “normal” life of a 4 year old with such ease.  He used to be so shy at school and frankly didn’t really want to listen at all because his world for the last 2 years has been just about him and when he said jump, we asked how high.  He wasn’t used to following directions and sitting with other kids his age and now he is totally different.  He is good at school and great at learning.  He is proud of himself and all that he has accomplished and that’s amazing all in itself.

Braden is doing great…running around and talking more and more each day.  He LOVES to constantly run and kick a ball and go up and down hills while doing so.  He has great coordination and I think we will be enrolling him in his first “sports” lessons shortly!  He isn’t interested at all in getting out of a diaper so that has been a struggle, but he will do it eventually!

I have been busy being a mom and a wife and trying my hardest to learn how to run this Foundation with great success.  A thank you letter came in the mail yesterday from another special someone from PCH and it really was such a suprise to get it.  I don’t know why I would be shocked to get a thank you note from her considering she is such a caring person, but I was shocked.  It made me feel like we are doing the right thing and although I am sure we will make mistakes along the way, we will learn from them and keep fighting for Jack and all the children that have been affected by Neuroblastoma.  We believe in it and we know you do too.

Zac is busy working but he is home as often as he can be.  His relationship with the boys keeps growing deeper and deeper and it’s so great to see.  He is a great daddy and the boys know this.  They light up when they see him and so does he.  He is being very supportive with all that we are doing and he knows how crazy it can be around here.  After we left the comedy event, he told Nikki and I how proud he was of us for how we pulled it all off (with the help of so many!) and how he can’t even really begin to imagine all the work that goes in to events like this.  Just wait until next year…it will be much bigger!!  I am thankful for having him and for having his support.  I am not sure how I would do this all without him!

Ok, for not having a lot to say, I have said a lot!  Good night and please don’t forget to text HAND to 50555