Miss Becky's Blog

TOP SECRET MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!!!

Dearest Friends ...

Sorry to have been silent for so long, but I've been away from home and was unable to post things on my blog until I returned to my home in Logan, Utah.

Our TOP SECRET ADVENTURE was a great success! As I've reported, we SURPRISED Ken/Smiley the morning of September 21st at the Logan River Golf Course and about 25 people (family and friends) began our RUN together ... most finished the 7 miles that day ending at our home (Ft. Smiley) on 700 North.

All 120 students, teachers and workers at the Chinese school, which changed it's name to Gao Chun Special School, because they now have 38 mentally disabled students along with the 55 deaf students, participated in SMILEY's FUN RUN on Saturday, October 28th. A report of this event from Weina Hua, a Nanjing University professor and one of the leaders of the SUNSHINE PROJECT, who traveled to the school that day and participated in the event with the children, follows this article.

A big CONGRATULATIONS to all the participants from the Gao Chun Special School as in five weeks they have walked/jogged 2884 miles and together with their special guests jogged 150 miles during their FUN RUN!!!!

We have more than reached our GOAL of 7,000 total miles in seven weeks.

American Team: 3850 miles

Chinese Team: 4550 miles

TOTAL MILES FOR THE PROJECT = 8,400*

*We'll have more miles to add to the project when Richard and JoAn Criddle report the miles that the people in their Church were doing on their FUN RUN, October 28th. When I get that, I'll update this report.

It has been fun and heart warming to see the different ways that people got their miles: My 86 year old father contributed 7 miles by walking on a treadmill 10 minutes at a time; a friend on a cruise walked around and the deck counting the laps, which totally 24 miles; some families and couples worked as teams; one friend organized her family and friends into a team they called, "The Striders" and they did 1,465 miles for the American team; our son's dog, Pingle, walked/jogged over 60 miles with me; many of our Chinese friends "jogged" to work and others walked or climbed mountains, beaches and even ancient city walls!

Donations are still coming in from both China and America, but at this time we have almost $3000 American dollars. When the American dollars are exchanged for RMB or yuan and added to the yuan collected in China, there be more than 24,000 RMB. That amount of money is VERY, VERY SIGNIFICANT in China and will really "make a difference" in the lives of so many special Chinese students.

THANKS to all who participated --- there were over 200 people involved! ... it's always amazing to see what can happen when people work together!!! MANY, MANY THANKS!!!

It was really GREAT to surprise Ken -- he did not know a thing about the project until that morning at the golf course. Here are his feelings expressed in a letter to our family:

Dear Family,

How do I express my soul to each of you for the "Smiley Spectacular" you all pulled off last Saturday? Please know that your love touched my heart and soul more than I can express.

Becky, thank you for doing it the "right" way...If it must be done it was so gratifying to know that those daef children at Gao Chun will benefit. With that in mind it's not so bad turning SEVENTY!!

Speaking of "seventy" the only parts of me that feel like seventy are my heels!! But I can still play hoops and golf!

Amy, McKay and Kara, you are so kind to make the trip. (Amy and McKay flew in from AZ and Kara from Boston). K.C. and Holly, thank you for doing your "miles." (in Las Vegas) Brady, Jason and Missy thank you for your help. You just got caught being 'handy' for Becky's 'plans!! Scott thank you for your support in so many ways.

"A day to remember" for sure and I'm very humbled and grateful that each of you would support Becky in this celebration. I won'd mind if you do it again in TEN YEARS!!!

Sincere love to each...a lot of love was expressed and that's the important results...

Ken, Dad, Pappy, Smiley, Move It

Our challenge to all of you now is to continue to MOVE IT -- walk, jog, run, bike, swim, whatever you like to do to stay healthy, fit and active your whole life!! And with your "moving it" .... KEEP

SMILING!!!!

Sincere THANKS and LOVE,

Miss Becky