June 29 10
I think this has been the longest I’ve gone without a Journal Update. Been keeping very busy, though, following our tremendous 5k.
Since the 5k, we went to California for another high school graduation. While I’m extremely proud of my nephew Jake’s accomplishments, it was still a very hard experience to smile through yet another graduation party and another graduation ceremony. And, to make it even more challenging, the graduation party was on Father’s Day.
Being in California afforded Ali and I the opportunity to meet up with Gary Barker, father of Christian. Christian, like Andrew, went to Heaven at 14. The Barkers have a foundation called “Gold Rush Cure” and are also very involved with CureSearch lobbying efforts. It was an honor and a pleasure to have breakfast with Gary.
Getting back to Father’s Day, there’s no better Father’s Day gift, in my opinion, than the homemade cards that Ali and Andrew made for me over the years. We’ve saved them all and, periodically, I look through them. There’s no comparison between them and store-bought cards. Every night, I look at this jumbo birthday card that Andrew made for me many years ago. It’s truly priceless.
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I got a chance to see my nephew on Sunday, while he’s home on leave following his deployment to Afghanistan. While it is really, really great to see Bob, I can’t help but think of all the other families who are sweating it out waiting for their loved ones to return home safely. Please keep them all in your prayers.
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In the 12 days since our “4th Annual B+ Fighting Childhood Cancer 5k Run/Walk”, YOUR Foundation has sent out checks to 18 families of critically ill children all over the country. It’s hard to believe how many checks we send out. The applications just keep pouring in…we couldn’t help them without your support and generosity. On behalf of the kids, THANK YOU!
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I would like to introduce you to the latest B+ Program — coffee!!! That’s right, we’re partnering with the “Kind Joe” company and we’re selling coffee with a good part of the proceeds going directly to our Foundation. There are two prongs to this Program:
You can order coffee for yourself or as a gift via our website (www.BePositive.org ).
Even better, please contact me at joe@livelikeandrew.org if you are involved with with a school, sports team, social organization, charity, or any group that is interested in raising money. Kind Joe coffee, our product, is what you would sell instead of cookie dough, candles, wrapping paper, etc. It’s a much easier ’sell’, your group will make a LOT of money, and - as a bonus- you’ll be helping to cure childhood cancer…one cup at a time.
The Kind Joe website is not totally finished, but you can visit www.kindjoe.com to check it out. There will be 6 varieties and ALL are purified with a patented process to ensure that the coffee is much more gentle on your stomach. Oh, and in case you’re wondering, the “Joe” in the name is the coffee. :) If you weren’t at the 5k, we sampled the coffee there and we got great reviews.
I would love to talk to representatives of swim teams, schools, sports teams, scouts, Knights of Columbus, other charities, and any group that would like to make some money. Thanks!
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Live Like Andrew - show affection and spend time with your family!
B+
Proud Dad of Ali & Andrew
www.BePositive.org