In Memory Of My Mom

I don't know how long this link will last but it's a beautiful article about my fight in your memory for pancreatic cancer awareness & what I'll be doing this weekend in Washington DC for Advocacy Days with 700 other people with the PANCREATIC CANCER ACTION NETWORK. I have to get the reporter to correct one minor mistake she made. Lisa, Maria & I raised over $3,000 in that first walk we participated in back in 2006. It's hard to believe in total as of last year, we have raised over $10,000 that was donated to PanCAN. I'll keep fighting in your memory ma-ma as long as God allows me to. I love & miss you so much. xoxo http://www.heraldstandard.com/news/local_news/woman-honoring-late-mother-in-fight-against-pancreatic-cancer/article_38de075f-9811-53ee-a0a4-485614d6b5b8.html

Hi mom, it's been a long time since I sat down & wrote to you here.  But just so others that still read what I write here at Delphi know, I do write to you at least a couple times a month over at Facebook now.

Well, we have the date set for the 3rd Annual Fundraiser in your memory, but we had to rename it this year.  We can no longer call it "PurpleRide For A Cure" because the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network has officially trademarked that name.  So now we will call it "RIDE IN PURPLE PRIDE FOR A CURE"  in your memory.  It will be held on Saturday May 21st and I kind of think it really will be a better turnout than last year.  I just put up the announcement last night on Facebook and already 19 of the people I sent invitations to have responded.  For anyone out there in Delphi land that is also a Facebook member, if you would like to read about it, here is the link:

http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/event.php?eid=208070419208508

I better get to bed mama because I was up really late last night getting it all setup and am pretty tired.  I love you lots!!

xoxo

I laid in bed before getting ready for work thinking of the song by Celine Dion because so many of her words always make me think of you, the one called "Because You Loved Me" and even though that song is 11 years old, I couldn't believe it when that song started playing on the radio on my way to work.  I knew mom.........I just knew that somehow it was your way of letting me know you were there with me.  So I'm putting the words to the song here because they are so beautiful just like you:

For all those times you stood by me
For all the truth that you made me see
For all the joy you brought to my life
For all the wrong that you made right

For every dream you made come true
For all the love I found in you
I'll be forever thankful

You're the one who held me up
Never let me fall
You're the one who saw me through
Through it all

You were my strength when I was weak
You were my voice when I couldn't speak
You were my eyes when I couldn't see
You saw the best there was in me

You lifted me up when I couldn't reach
You gave me faith 'cause you believed
I'm everything I am
Because you loved me

You gave me wings and made me fly
You touched my hand I could touch the sky
I lost my faith, you gave it back to me
You said no star was out of reach

You stood by me and I stood tall
I had your love, I had it all
I'm grateful for each day you gave me

Maybe, I don't know that much
But I know this much is true
I was blessed because
I was loved by you

You were always there for me, the tender wind that carried me
The light in the dark shining your love into my life
You've been my inspiration through the lies you were the truth
My world is a better place because of you

I'm everything I am
Because you loved me

I can't believe it mom, 5 years today since that awful cancer took you from us.  I took the day off from work so that I could spend some time with your other two daughters and then go to the cemetary and visit with you like I do every year.  I wish so much I could feel your hugs like I used to when I first got to your home to visit you, I miss you so much ma-ma.  Nobody knows the ache my heart feels for you since you left.  xoxo

I think of you everyday, but last night I also dreamed of you. That makes two nights in a row.  I love when I do that because seeing you in my dreams seems so real to me. I miss you so much momma.  I found a card I had written to you several years ago and noticed that is how I spelled it, "momma" instead of "ma-ma" like I've been writing.  So from now on, that's how I'll type it out when I call you that. :-)

I love you and miss you very, very much. xoxo

Since my angel mom passed away April 20, 2005 from this deadly disease known as Pancreatic Cancer, for the longest time I was very, very sad.  Even though my heart carries a void that will never again be filled the way it was when she was alive, the last couple of years I became more involved in opening up awareness to this killer cancer.  After raising over $3,100 in walks that my 2 sisters and I participated in 2006 & 2007 which was donated to Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PanCAN), I decided I wanted to organize my own fund-raising event.  And so it started on Aug 3, 2008 my first annual PurpleRide For A Cure~In Memory Of Marge Kraynak.  We had a great turnout considering it was my first attempt at doing something like this.  Then I had my 2nd ride on Aug 22, 2009 which was my mom's birthday.  There weren't as many motorcycle riders as the first time, but I think it partially was due to so many other cancer runs being held the same day.  When I chose the day for my first event, I already knew that date was pretty clear and no other rides were scheduled.  But in going with the 2nd time, all I had on my mind was wanting to have it on my mom's birthday since this was all about her.  So next year, my husband and I decided to switch to the beginning of May before all the other runs get started.  Hopefully we'll get a lot of people wanting to get their iron horses out there and show their support after being cooped up during the winter months.

I'm still proud of the money we raised for PanCAN in 2008 and 2009 combined which totaled a little over $4,000. Without the love and support of many friends and relatives, we couldn't have done it. 

If you would like more insight on how to open up awareness about Pancreatic Cancer, go to this website for some ideas:
www.pancan.org/raiseyourvoice

I miss my beautiful mom everyday......but everyday I thank God for my family and my friends.

Well mom, even though we didn't get a good turnout this year, we still managed to collect $1,404 for the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network from your Aug 22nd memorial run.  I guess for having only 13 riders this year, and many wonderful donators, sponsors and volunteers, that is pretty darn good!  So as much as I would love to continue having your event during the month of your birthday, Jay & I are going to try next year having it the beginning of May.  We're thinking that since most bikers have theirs from June through August, maybe if we do ours in May, more of them will be anxious to get out and ride because of being cooped up most of the winter and spring months.  But at least between our 1st and 2nd Runs in your memory, we were able to collect over $3,500 to give PanCAN to help research for this horrible cancer that took you from us ma-ma.

We love and miss you very very much.  xoxo

Donna & Jay
http://ride4acure.net/

 

Please see what you can do to hold the rain off for us since now the weather forecast is showing 40% chance of rain for your memorial run tomorrow.  If it looks pretty likely, I know we won't get as many bikers coming out and I want so bad to have more people show up this year mom. 

Things are falling into place pretty good and I'm SO happy that Maria will be joining us this year along with Lisa and Jamie again.  And your granddaughters Ashley, Bethany and Carina will be there helping out too. :-)  Won't we all look good with our purple shirts on in your honor?  Love you & miss you ma-ma

 

Just like last year, they are very nice.  A deep purple and done exactly as I wanted them.  Hopefully we can even sell some to make a little extra money to give to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network too.