Hi all.  We are
struggling with the legalities of our ride.  In the state of Iowa, a Poker Run
is considered gambling and a license is required.  Also, in the state of Iowa, a
raffle drawing is considered gambling and a license is required.  In order to
obtain this licensing, the organization needs to be a non-profit organization,
or have sponsorship from a non-profit organization.  Obviously we a...re not a non-profit, and are having a very hard time
finding sponsorship for our event. 
When we first set out to do this
benefit for my very dear friend Tori and her daughter, we were not aware of
this.  All we are doing is trying to raise money to benefit a family in need. 
We find ourselves in a very bad position now.  We cannot find sponsorship for
our event, so we will need to do away with the raffle as well as the “poker run”
part of our trail riding event.  We are still going to have a benefit trail
ride, but on a donation only basis.  Please, by all means, come and join us for
the ride.  We do have door prizes, which everyone will get a ticket for, just
for showing up!
Some of you have already sent in money for the raffle.  I
will be sending everyone their money back today.
It saddens me that we are
not able to provide a poker run, but still hope to see you all there to support
this amazing little girl and her family.  I will be making changes to the
website very soon as well.  In the mean time, please keep Whitney and her family
in your prayers.  God bless all of you!

I want to share a story. 



Today I was on the hunt for event insurance.  I ran across the website for a company
called Cal-Nevada Insurance Agency based out of Nevada (the state, not the
city)  I called the toll free
number and the lady on the other end took my information and said someone would
be calling me back.  About an hour
ago, a gentleman by the name of Terry called me back and explained that he
writes policies for events like these all the time, but he isn’t licensed to
write them in Iowa.  He referred me
on to a company he was confident could help me.  Before we hung up, I told him what the
benefit Poker Run was for.  I heard
his breath catch on the other end. 
He told me that he lost a small child, his child, to a water related
accident. He asked me for the
website address because he wanted to make a contribution. 
I gave him the information, thanked him and hung up the phone. Approximately 15 minutes later, I
received an email notification telling me that he had, indeed, made a
contribution. A SIGNIFICANT
ONE!  I immediately emailed him and
thanked him for his generosity and told him that people like him were true
gems.


I was reminded today that there are GOOD PEOPLE in the world that
give of themselves to help in any way they can.  THANK YOU, Terry for the reminder.  I left work with a smile on my face and
in my heart today!

ok everyone...as of this last monday the 11th whitney
has had six chemo treatments..she is doing so well with them bless her heart..I
told the doctor she is slowly starting to lose her hair....This is what the
doctor told whit...this is the time where you need to get the wildest haircut
you can think of and dye it any color you want whether its hot pink, blue,
purple...he also told her that mom will say yes....She had the biggest smile on
her face when he told her that.....i hope everyone has a happy valentines
day..

here is an update about my beautiful baby girl whitney...she is doing really
well with her chemo treatments....i also want to let everyone know she is
starting to lose her hair its starting to look a little  thin...she has
noticed she has hair all over her shirt...she's not too happy but doing really
good about it..she hasnt lost alot..i think its just starting...she is such a
strong girl...thank you to everyone who is praying for whitney and all the
children who are going through something like this....love whitneys family

okay..goodmorning everyone.people are asking for an
update on whitney..sorry its taking so long..She had her fourth chemo treatment
monday she did pretty good. One of her chemos affects the nerves..which causes
pain and some weakness in her arms, legs, and feet so the doc put her on a nerve
pill to help with that...no hair loss yet. all in all i think she is doing
pretty good..she is such a strong girl...I will keep updating as much as i
can...hope everyone has a good day