There were no birthdays to celebrate today and, other than our speaker, there were no guests.
Our secret greeter today was Becky Chapman. Becky awarded Nick Schenkel the handshaking championship for this week.
The contest last week was presented by Stephanie Mann. Although Stephanie was not present today, she got word to us that the winner was Nick Schenkel. Nick will present a contest next week.
Michael Bucy presented a contest today on the topic of phobias.
Our drawing winners were Joe Mackey (our speaker), Nick Schenkel, and Jim Oliver.
Our speaker today had a message of monumental importance. Joe Mackey, co-founder of the Patrick G. and Claire E. Mackey Children's Cancer Foundation recounted the 30-month period in his life when he and his wife Tami experienced every parent's worst nightmare, twice. They lost two of their three children to childhood cancer.
Joe has worked all his life and had never asked for help of anyone. So what he does now came hard at first but he says he got good at asking for donations for the foundation.
Over 4 billion dollars a year are raised by cancer funds but only about 180 million go toward pediatric cancer.
The foundation helps affected families get by when there is no money left for food and rent after making the four or five weekly trips to the hospital.