Thank you! Our Fundraising Total is...

Michelle, Me, Melissa, Noelle and Sarah @the fundraiser

Wow! I am so thrilled, thankful and humbled to announce that our combined American and Canadian fundraising efforts raised just over $12,000 dollars for Multiple Sclerosis Research! Because of each and every person who showed up at our To the Roof of Africa and the Bottom of the Barrel fundraiser in Coronado, donated online, or sent a check into our fund, we blew our goal out of the water! 

I need to give special recognition to the incredible woman that inspired these efforts--my Mom. She helped keep track of all the donations, setup the fund through the MS Society in Canada and then link the fund to the American MS Society's page. She's an incredible woman, mother and friend and we're hopeful that this money will help find a cure for the disease she's battled half her life. We love you, Mom!

Busy street in front of WineStyles...good news!

 Secondly, I need to give a HUGE thank you to all the fabulous ladies who helped me plan, organize and setup the even on Coronado. To my board members: Michelle Amthor, Sarah Garza, Laura Lopez, Noelle Salucci, and Melissa Trombetti--Thank you so much and I love you all dearly. This event would not have gone even half as well as it did without your help.

I would also like to recognize WineStyles Coronado for allowing us to host our fundraiser at their wine bar and providing such a fun environment for the party. They were incredibly easy to work with, extremely helpful and also provided some excellent wines to taste!

Mom drawing the raffle winners as everyone awaits

I would also like to thank each of our raffle donors. Michelle Amthor provided a Pampered Chef basket as a business donation. Be sure to check out her business page here. Sarah Garza generously donated two flower arrangements to raffle off in honor of my Mom (since she loves flowers!). My Dad, Paul Bennett, donated a fantastic gift basket with reserve wines and cheeses included. And WineStyles provided one wine and italian fare basket to include. THANK YOU!

And last, but certainly not least, I would just like to thank any and everyone who came out to the event. It was such a fun way to raise money and I appreciate the support from each and every one of you. God bless.

A Dream Come True!

Wow. Is today really here?! I've literally been dreaming about this day since I was seven years old. The weeks leading up to today have been so busy that they haven't really allowed Rich and I time to think about the trip. But here we are, sitting at the San Diego airport at 5:30 a.m. waiting for our flight. I finished my MBA program just two days ago, Rich wrapped up learning to fly a new aircraft on Thursday, the movers picked up all of our belongings on Friday and now we are leaving for Africa for three weeks. No wonder these last few days in San Diego seem to have flown by! That's a lot going on in a short time.

Our journey today will take us from San Diego to Detroit, Detroit to Amsterdam where we'll meet up with my Dad, and then Amsterdam to Kilimanjaro International Airport in Tanzania, Africa. Who knew there was an international airport just for Mount Kilimanjaro?

As I reflect on the last twenty years it took to get me to this point, I can't do anything but thank God for all the blessings He has bestowed. My life has changed a lot over the last two decades! I've taken on new adventures and challenges, seen the priorities in my life shift from soccer to school to marriage...and I've even taken up citizenship in a new country! Throughout everything, things have always just seemed to work out. This trip is no exception. The timing, the finances, the opportunity. There's no way it could have happened without help from above.

So, as we depart this morning, I am just filled with gratefulness and thanks...thanks for all the blessings I've been given, including this one. Thanks for the amazing family and friends we have praying for us along this journey. And thanks for this precious time with my Daddy and husband as we undertake the adventure of a lifetime! We'll see you after the summit :-)

Getting Goofy/Delirious at the San Diego Airport