Hello Team and friends,
Hope your holidays were enjoyable and your new year has started off on the right foot.

I've done lots of contemplating on how to exceed last year's fundraising total for Team Mitchel of $2,270.00. Given the amount of time we had last year to fundraise and how great we did, I'd say we'll be able to far exceed that amount in '08.

I look at our Best Campsite trophy every day and it inspires me to think creatively on how to reach for the stars in 2008. I would like to organize the following events for 2008, the first of which will happen in March, then one in April or May since Relay is in June.
1) March: Can/Bottle Drive-we'll ask family, friends, co-workers and other contacts to donate their cans and bottles to our team for us to cash out and donate to ACS. We provide the large plastic bags to people we ask to donate ($.25 each at Le Mars can farm) to make it easier for them to donate. Could arrange to pick up bags from donees or if all of you are willing, have each of you take it upon yourselves to collect the full bags, cash them out then send the moneys to me to get a grand total on this fundraiser. There are details to this I need to sort out yet and I will keep you all posted as things develop and are finalized.
2) April/May: Softball game. We'll charge teams to join, will need to ask around to form teams. Will be held in Maurice across from Jed/Jeannie's house. Will also sell concessions and have a donation can. If you know of anyone that would be interested in participating and enjoys softball, man or woman, see if they'd be interested in forming a team. Would be nice to have 4-5 teams so we can do a tournament-style event. I plan to ask my co-workers, one of which used to coach softball and the other who has a very athletic family. Will need to determine how much teams will be charged yet, I'm thinking so much per team member, but these details will need to be hammered out yet.

These are my fundraising ideas. They are just in my head right now, but I hope to move forward with both ideas soon. If anyone has any ideas on fundraising opportunities, please share.

In researching Relay for Life and ACS, I have learned so much about the purpose of why we fundraise. We are raising the money to remember those we've lost, to honor and save those who fight cancer in their lives and to make cancer a disease of the past. The cause is close to our team's heart because of our loss in Mitchel, making it worth every effort we put forth to raise funds. I am so thankful for each of you on our team, thankful for your time and confidence in me.

I will be mapping out these fundraisers this weekend and will keep updating the blog so everyone can keep informed. I hope to see you all soon.

Shelly, Team Captain