September 2008

2nd ANNUAL SMILEY's FUN RUN -- China Edition

On October 27th, 2007, the same day American friends were participating in SMILEY's FUN RUN, the SUNSHINE Project leaders along with the children and teachers of the Gao Chun Special School, near Nanjing, China were also completing their FUN RUN field day AND earning money for the SUNSHINE Project to support the special school. (Click on Sunshine Project -- Nanjing, China to learn more about the project.)

Note the sign on the fence . . .

Aren't those SMILES great????

Note the long shelve, white t-shirts this year. The project leaders had them done in China to save to costs of shipping them from America! They look great!

After completing the "running" and reaching their goals, everyone was set for FUN playing games and doing races with the "smiley faced" equipment sent from America.

LOVE that SMILE!!!!

Aren't those GREAT SMILES!!!!

Here's more SMILES with two project leaders in the center back. Note the "smiley faced" sticker on some of their shirts!

Here the children's DRUM band perform. It's so AWESOME to see what these deaf children can DO -- Thanks to their great teachers!

Here's the report from Weina Hua, one of the SUNSHINE Project leaders. Weina is in this picture on the back row, on the right of the only lady with blonde hair.

"We have now (come) back from the trip. It's wonderful. You will see from some of Jinghong's photos (above). It's a very fine day (we had rain yesterday). And we had a very suitable tempearture to wear the t-shirt. The kids are so happy to have the awards from American grandparents. They all reached their goals they settled. Many of them have been keeping on running since last year's Fun Run. Many kids have made progress. They are sunshine covered kids growing up healthy and happy."

For your information, Amercian Grandparents agreed to pay $10 to the SUNSHINE Project for every one of the children who reached their running goal -- 96 children did, so $960 will be transferred to the SUNSHINE Project account in Nanjing, China.

A special THANKS to all the Project leaders and supporters in China who helped make this FUN RUN there possible. It is our hope that it will be an ANNUAL event to promote HEALTH and FITNESS as we work together with American Friends to raise funds to support the SUNSHINE Project.

Keep MOVING, Keep RUNNING and most of all Keep SMILING!!

2nd Annual SMILEY's FUN RUN is a Great Success

The 2nd Annual SMILEY's FUN RUN in America was held in Logan, Utah on Saturday, October 27th, 2007 with Ken (Smiley) and Miss Becky's grand children, a niece and nephew and our dog, Pingle.

Our two oldest grandsons, Baylor (11) and McKay (10), help Miss Becky to place "smiley face" balloons" and mile signs at different location in town early that morning! We followed the same route as the year before, but the focus this year was on FUN, so we made stops along the way for FUN activities and snacks!!!

In fact the "RUN" began with FUN at the Golf Course where we all hit golf balls!

Jake (our nephew), Baylor and McKay all like to play golf!

Gavin (4) was the youngest participant in Logan this year . . . he also loves to hit golf balls!!!

It's time to start the RUN . . .

GET READY . . . GET SET . . . GO. . .

Britt (9) and Gavin slow the pace and "walk" . . .

Jack (5), Gwen (7) and Gavin enjoy the autumn leaves along the way.

At the high school field we stopped for a quick, fun soccer (football) game with "smiley faced" balls.

Here's one of the SMILEY's FUN RUN signs pointing the way to go as we walk/jog through the city of Logan, Utah.

It's a BEAUTIFUL fall day in Logan . . . great for the FUN RUN!!!

FUN stop at our favorite Bakery for a snack and a rest!

At the next corner we are met by our youngest daughter and son, Kara and Brady. Kara missed her flight the day before from Boston, so Brady had to go to the airport to get her and they joined us when they got to Logan. (Kara is sort of hidden behind the children -- she is wearing a green hat and glasses.

On we go and it LOTS more fun to "walk" in the leaves AND . . .

even MORE fun to "play" in the leaves!!!

The next FUN stop was at a playground at one of our favorite parks. Here Gavin swings as others

play on the new climbing wall . . .

Gavin gets a ride in the wagon that we pulled for our water bottles, snacks and equipment . . .

On the way back to Ft. Smiley (our home) we stopped at a neighbors garden where I had placed pumpkins

for EACH of the children to select one.

Here we are all back at Ft. Smiley . . .

We had lots of FUN and covered a distance of over four miles!!! But the FUN did not end here. Kara and Brady took the children ice skating while I made preparations for a special Cousins' Halloween Party. The children dressed up in costumes, decorated their pumpkins, played games and took went on a walk in the dark with flashlights!!!

The donations from America totaled $2,000 (about 16,000 RMB) for the SUNSHINE Project. The goals of the project had been met!!!