Raising Money & Awareness for Pediatric Cancer

We were happy to help raise awareness of pediatric cancer and collect money for Kids Cancer Crusade today at Bridge's, the girls' former school. Shayla did beading with the children and we made a $1,000 donation to the school in memory of our Christi, for literacy - one of Christi's big loves. I saw the mural for the very first time. It was bittersweet and it is gorgeous! We miss her so much!

Shayla raises money for Kids Cancer Crusade (an organization started by Jennifer Lehmann in honor of Christi).

Shayla visiting with one of her former fabulous Bridges teachers.

Shayla had a wonderful morning "getting out of school" and assisting the little ones with beading, an idea suggest to us since Christi loved it so much by the awesome Deb Schaefer Kohler, one of Christi's great teachers at Bridges.

For the first time, Shayla took the microphone and said a few words after I presented our $1,000 donation to Bridges, in memory of Christi. Picture: with Dona Kauffman, principal extraordinaire

Shayla with Christi's lemonade stand, finding a cure for pediatric cancer can't come soon enough!

This was really tough! I knew one of my sister's friends is an artist and she drove to Bridges, met with Christi's friends and together they designed this gorgeous mural which is in the "Christi Thomas Student Library" at Bridges. I had seen pictures and thought they were lovely, but to see it in person was even better. The mural is absolutely gorgeous! I'm so disappointed these photos do NOT do it justice. It's really incredible, containing all of Christi's favorite things and reminds me what her life may be like in Heaven. — at Bridges Cancer Awareness Event.

We hope today's donation helps to get more literacy including technology into the school. Very best wishes, Bridges students and staff!