Where There's A WILL, There's A Way!

Weekend Details - Updated!

2011-12-01T21:00:00.001-08:00

(Will's Sunday School class cheering him on!)

Joining us this weekend in Dallas for Where There's a WILL, There's a Way?

Some key details you need to know:

Saturday, 4:30 -5:30pm

The pre-party has been moved INSIDE! We will be in the Maple Room - just inside the Main Entrance of Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children. We'll have hot chocolate and look forward to seeing you, meeting you, & celebrating TSRHC with you! (Look for the blue signs to find us.)

Wear your blue shirts & we'll get a group picture here.

Sunday, 8am-noon

Regardless of the weather, the race will go on.

However... if the weather is too cold and wet, Will & Ellie might not make an appearance. We're playing it by ear for them. :) (Pray for a sunny day. And if you know me - you know that is a big deal for me. I love rainy days more than any other kind of weather. But a sunny race day would be preferred.)

Weather permitting, we will have a WTAWTAW tent set up - look for us just past the runner's village in the Charity Village. You won't be able to miss the blue banners!

Not able to make it this year? Wear your shirt (or any blue shirt) at home as a part of our "home team" & spread awareness about limb differences and TX Scottish Rite Hospital for Children!

Thanks so much for your support. We hope to see you at the Rock!

The four year old classes at Will's Preschool supporting Will & TSRHC!

How Can I Participate?

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Join the Team!
There are several ways you can participate!
1. Run or walk with our team. Register for the race at http://www.runtherock.com/There is a marathon (26.2 miles), a half-marathon (13.1 miles), & a 5 person relay (4-6 mile segments). (A portion of the registration fee goes to Scottish Rite.)
When you register to run, there will NOT be a place to indicate you are on Will's team. You are on Will's team if you are wearing a WTAWTAW shirt and supporting Will by running or cheering from the sidelines!

2. Be a spectator! Wear your shirt & cheer on the runners wearing WTAWTAW shirts at the race! (See http://www.runtherock.com/for course information & best cheering spots!)

3. Help us raise money for Scottish Rite by donating online in Will's honor here.

4. Be on the "Home" Team - wear your shirt at home on December 5th & help us spread awareness about Scottish Rite in your community. Your support is important to us - wherever you are!

5. Wish List - if you are interested in donating an item to the hospital (new or used but in good condition), please contact me with a comment below. We would love to be able to present some of these items to the hospital from Team "Where There's a WILL, There's a Way!"

Items on the Hospital's Wish List:

IPad

digital camera

USB Flip video recorder

PSP (portable play station)

radio/cd players

donations to the Starlight foundation in the hospital's name to purchase portable gaming systems for children who can not leave their rooms on the inpatient unit

T-Shirt Information

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Front of shirt - "Where there's a WILL, there's a way!"

Back of shirt- Psalm 139:14 & "Running the Rock, Rocking the Cause!"

We have child sizes in cotton (XS, S, M, L, XL) & adult sizes in cotton (XS, S, M, L, XL, XXL) & adult dri-fit sizes (XS, S, M, L, XL, XXL) - if you are running, we highly recommend the dri-fit!

All shirts are short- sleeved this year. The dri-fit shirts run slightly big.

Have a shirt from last year? Wear it again! No need to purchase another shirt (unless you want to start a collection of Will shirts!)

Need a shirt? Email me at www.raceforwill@gmail.com
I have several shirts remaining in stock & can send you one.
Cotton are $10 (includes shipping) & Dri-Fit are now $20 (inc shipping)

Wearing a blue "Where There's a WILL, There's a Way" shirt is how we show the other runners and spectators who is on Will's team.

There are no profits made on the shirts. We are selling the shirts at our cost and keeping a similar design every year to make it affordable.

This year, we've switched to a local t-shirt designer and artist who has slightly changed the shirts. She is also giving us a great price so we can keep costs down for you!

I do have some shirts left in my inventory to sell-
please email me at: raceforwill@gmail.com
if interested
Thanks!

Race Weekend Events - 2011

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Will's prosthetics - July 2008 - July 2011 - a huge THANK YOU to Scottish Rite for providing these at no charge!

Saturday, December 3 , 2011
Mayor's 5K - Will will be running in this race through Fair Park. Come join us for a warmup to your big run on Sunday, or maybe this is the perfect length for you! Or come spectate! Will always loves to be cheered on! :)

Pre-Party: Shivers Park - in front of Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children

Bring your kids and wear your WTAWTAW blue shirt and join us at the park from 4:30-5:30pm. We look forward to seeing you and showing off Scottish Rite!

2222 Wellborn, Dallas (From I35N, take the Oaklawn exit, the hospital will be on your right)

***In case of inclement weather, we will be just inside the main entrance of the hospital. Go in the main front doors (at the circle drive) and to the party room on the left.

Race Expo: Pick up your bib and race info as well as the latest in running gear. Located at the Dallas Convention Center

Sunday, December 4

The race begins at 8 am
Look for the blue WTAWTAW shirts near the Texas Scottish Rite Hospitality Tent
Will is expected to cross the finish line at approximately 11:15 am

See http://www.runtherock.com/ for more info!

Hotel Information - New for 2011

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The Omni Hotel - this is the host hotel for the race and there is a race special if you book through www.runtherock.com.
The Melrose - this hotel is in historic Turtle Creek and is about a block from the race course - a great place to stay for spectators. Will will be staying here (along with his entourage.)

Homewood Suites - good for families with kitchenettes

You can also check www.runtherock.com for more hotel information.

WISH LIST!

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I recently spoke to some of my contacts and friends at Scottish Rite Hospital for Children and we have put together a wish list of items needed by some of the departments specifically used by Will & Ellie. If you are interested in donating an item (new or used but in good condition), please contact me with a comment below. We would love to be able to present some of these items to the hospital from Team "Where There's a WILL, There's a Way!"
Thank you for all you do to give back!

Wish List Items:

IPad
digital camera
USB Flip video recorder
PSP (portable play station)
radio/cd players
donations to the Starlight foundation in the hospital's name to purchase portable gaming systems for children who can not leave their rooms on the inpatient unit

Where in the World is WTAWTAW?

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Have you climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro in your WTAWTAW shirt?

Have you run another race in your WTAWTAW shirt?

Perhaps you've been on a ship in a WTAWTAW shirt or maybe you live on a farm and wear your WTAWTAW shirt to work in?

Perhaps you've sent your shirt to friends in Paris to wear?

Have you biked across Washington State in a WTAWTAW shirt or traveled to Canada in it?

Maybe you made snowmen and dressed them in WTAWTAW shirts?

Perhaps your WTAWTAW shirt has explored exotic islands?

If so, we want pictures!

(Or even if you just wear it to mow your yard - we want pictures!)

We call it "Where in the World is 'Where There's a WILL, There's a Way?!?'"

By wearing your WTAWTAW shirt, you are helping to spread awareness about limb differences and Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children. Thank you for sharing Will's story wherever you go!

Check out our slideshow on the right hand side of this site to see WTAWTAW pictures from all over earth!

Have one to add? Send me a picture at raceforwill@gmail.com

Team Stats

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Where There's A WILL, There's A Way!!!

A portion of our team:

Where There's A WILL, There's A Way!!!

Together, we have raised nearly $100,000 in 3 years for Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children!

We've had runners/walkers participate from the following states & countries:

USA: TX, TN, IN, MO, NC, SC, CA, KS, VA, & MN

& Canada too!

You are making a huge impact in our lives & the lives of so many Texas children and their families! Thank you!!!

Contact Info.

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Need more information or have questions? E-mail Katie at raceforwill@gmail.com

Want to keep up with Will & his story? We have a blog: www.baseballsbutterflies.blessings.blogspot.com

WE HOPE YOU CAN JOIN US AT THE ROCK THIS YEAR!!!

Why We Run

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We run because we can. We run because we dream of the day our son will be able to run with us. We run because there are people working hard to make that dream a reality & we want to show them our support. We run to make others aware of what an incredible facility we have in Scottish Rite to provide excellent care for Texas children and families. We run to educate others about people with differences. We run because we know that with each step we take, we are making it possible for a child to take a step. We run to teach our children about giving to a cause and about volunteering our gifts. We run so we feel a little less alone; we are surrounded by a community of support. We run so we can find some alone time to think and pray and plan. We run because it enables to do something proactive when we find ourselves in a situation we can't fix.

In June of 2007, our son was diagnosed with a rare syndrome affecting his hands & feet. July 5, 2007, we were offered immense hope lifting us out of our despair as we first visited Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children. We learned that day that the White Rock Marathon benefits the hospital & we vowed to give back by participating annually in the marathon.

Our son, William David, was born in August of 2007. He has hand and feet differences. He is a total blessing & brings us indescribable joy! We are honored to be his parents - it is our privilege & our pleasure.

Scottish Rite continues to offer us great hope for Will's life. This summer, he was fitted for his second set of prosthetics for his feet (these cost approx $8000/leg!) We are grateful for a state of the art children's orthopedic hospital in Texas. Astoundingly, the hospital provides free care to their patients. This means, not only do we not pay to take Will to see the top pediatric orthopedic doctors in the country, but we don't pay for therapies he receives there, counseling he will receive there, "hand camp," "Out on a Limb" camp, & "prosthetic ski trips" he will attend growing up, and even the prosthetics are free! Wow! Imagine what a blessing this is to young families who are often bombarded with medical bills for their children!

We are so grateful to Scottish Rite & to you for joining us in giving back. Your support (both emotionally & financially) means so much to us! Our goal in raising a team is threefold.
1. We want to raise money to support Scottish Rite as they provide free care to all Texas children. (Click here to learn all about what an incredible place they are!)
2. We want to raise awareness about Scottish Rite and to edcuate others about people with differences.
3. We want Will to know he is loved & supported & cheered for!

In 2007 our team consisted of nearly 300 people from Texas, Missouri, Virginia, Tennessee, Minnesota, California, Nevada, Colorado, & even Canada. We had approximately 150 runners. Our fundraising goal was $5,139... we raised over $32,600!!! Thank you so much to those of you who joined us for the past two years! We are so excited to see what 2009 will bring!

Will was pushed across the finish line in 2007 in his stroller as a "patient champion." In 2008, he walked with our help across the finish line. This year, he will run across the line! We can't wait to cheer him on!

This is why we run. Why do you run?