It’s been a couple of weeks since my last blog entry and I have much to report.  First, Jessica I hope when you read this, it will stop you from threatening me with bodily harm.  I promise I will write more often if only to avoid your wrath.  Secondly, Kellie if you’re going to fly all the way from North Carolina to run in the Hugs for Brady 5k you can at least not embarrass me by finishing 16 minutes before I waddled across the finish line.  And finally, Anna even though you finished ninth in your age group, you still finished dead last in the entire race. 

Wow, what a day at the races!  The 1^st Annual Hugs for Brady Twilight 5k and Family Fun Run raised an incredible $11,330.51 with more than 300 runners and walkers participating.  When we started planning this event, we were told if we just broke-even the first year we should consider it a success.  Well, if that’s true I guess netting more than $7,000.00 has to be considered a huge accomplishment.  Our thanks to Jodi Brywka and Dave Brockman for making this possible; Tom Morris of the South Brunswick Park Commission for all your help and for the 100 or so volunteers from our community and local businesses like Best Buy and Confectionately Yours for making this fund raiser just unbelievably successful.  Next year Jodi, Dave and Tom have already promised to raise even more money for Hugs for Brady.  Thank you one and all and Kellie next year I will finish before you!

What else has been going on since my last entry?  Well, we had a terrifically successful Blood & Platelet Drive at Confectionately Yours.  The Red Cross collected more than 30 pints of blood and more than 16 units of platelets.  As a side comment, if you haven’t donated blood or platelets please do so as it is just critical in helping kids with cancer battle this horrible disease. 

We also had a very special event take place on Sunday May 22^nd  the walking path which rambles through College Woods (the small park) at the end of our street was named in honor of Brady.  Our neighbors Rich and Tracey Domotor initiated this wonderful project and we are forever thankful for your kindness and compassion.  It is really difficult for me to express just how amazingly beautiful the monument is; for Sherrie and me it is as breathtaking as Mount Rushmore.  The ceremony was attended by several of our friends and neighbors, for more details please read Davy James’ article recently published in the South Brunswick Patch: http://southbrunswick.patch.com/articles/the-memory-of-brady-wells-lives-on-video

I am also pleased to tell you the new TVs and gaming stations are finally being installed in the Pediatric/Hematology Unit in Bristol-Myers Squibb Children’s Hospital.  So far, everyone is very pleased with the results and it should make staying in that unit just a little more comfortable for both the kids and the parents.  Our special thanks to the Love for Lilly and Best Buy of South Brunswick for making this a reality.

Ryan Herits (Brittany’s brother) recently graduated from St. Johns University.  Ryan played lacrosse at St. Johns and after hearing about Brady from his sister; asked his coach (Coach Miller) if the team could do something to honor Brady.  Well, the attached video says it a lot better than I can.  Ryan & Brittany are two amazing young people and we are blessed to have you as our friends.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XlR3u3bROWM

Finally, Memorial Day the last Sunday in May, the unofficial first day of summer and the day Brady’s cancer returned.  It’s beyond irony the day is named “memorial” as it will always be a day of dreadful memories for us.  Anyone who has lost a child knows how difficult anniversary dates are and Memorial Day will never have the same meaning for Sherrie and me.  What makes the pain of our loss tolerable are the actions of our friends, family, neighbors and everyone who continues supporting our efforts of helping kids with cancer.  Some day pediatric cancer will be a forgotten nightmare; until that day, what we have is our ability to pray for all the children battling this disease, think of how we can help them and of course give someone in need of (especially Jessica) a big hug – it really makes life so much better…

Got to run, Sherrie and I are off to participate in the Central Jersey CureSearch Walk in Princeton.  If you’re in the area registration is at 9:00am and CureSearch is one of the main non-profit organizations focusing on lifesaving research for childhood cancer.  Don’t forget hugs for Jessica, it’s essential for my well being…