Hope Renewed For Gifts Of Hope...But Not For Steve

I had an amazing weekend full of fun and excitement. Early Saturday morning I baked muffins for a benefit of which the proceeds would be donated to the Hope House in Midland, Texas. The bake sale was part of an all day event taking place in Wink, Texas at the school's fitness center. The event was spectacular and proved to be a huge success!

The KISS party wagon attended providing us with great dance music and the DJ giving updates on the tournament. We had a few young dancers that partook in the day's festive atmosphere. The DJ was also an avid supporter of the benefit and showed this by buying TONS of goodies from the bake sale.

There were nine teams that showed to play in the tournament. Some of our players had to forfeit due to being called out to work, the industry just never takes a break. Jesse, our tourney coordinator also played and has more details to come on just who won and the prizes awarded. I do know that every participant received a very nice T-shirt and gift bag.

On a more somber note, posters in dedication lined the wall of the fitness center reminding all of us that cancer doesn't affect just a few, but that everyone of us is touched by it in some way, either through a friend or relative...or perhaps being a cancer survivor.

Wink is an itty bitty town...maybe only 900 people or so. And yet, these people have the most generous caring giving spirit I've ever had the pleasure to come in contact with. The official count isn't done, but I've been told that the little benefit has raised over $5000 dollars for Hope House. Isn't that amazing?!? Which makes me even sadder when I think about the call I received from Steve Doeung this morning. I'm in a state of melancholy and outrage just thinking about the events that have unfolded...you will be too.

Anybody Ready For Some Racquetball?

Date: Saturday, 13 March 2010
Registration Fee: $50.00 Per Player
Registration deadline: 03 March 2010
Place: Frank R. Barton Physical Fitness Center, Wink, TX
Event: Double Elimination, Singles Tournament
Prizes: Prizes awarded for 1st, 2nd, & 3rd places. All participants will receive a tournament T-Shirt.
It's not too late to register for the Gifts of Hope, Inc. Racquetball Tournament to be held in Wink on 13 March 2010. If you need more information let me know. If you can't play make sure you come out and enjoy a day of food and fun. 103.3 KISS-FM will do a live-remote broadcast from the Fitness Center in Wink, the ...day of the tournament. Come out and support a great cause!

All proceeds to benefit The Hope House of Midland.

An Out Pouring Of Love For The Hope House

Even in times when it's been reported to be tough times, people surprise and amaze you. I know as of late, my little part of Texas has been getting a great deal of bad press. I just wanted to share with all of you an email I received from my very good friend, Jesse. It's an update about the upcoming tournament in March:

Family & Friends;

I am coordinating a Benefit Racquetball Tournament hosted here in Wink by the Wink-Loving ISD.

The Tournament will Benefit Gifts of Hope, Inc. "Assisting Cancer Patients' Needs". This is a local organization based right here in the Permian Basin. They provide lodging and various other services to patients who require treatment either at the Allison Cancer Center in Midland, TX or the West Texas Cancer Center in Odessa, TX.

Plans are well underway and the word is out! The following is a list of things that will be happening for the days events:

Date: Saturday, 13 March 2010
Registration Fee: $50.00 Per Player
Registration deadline: 03 March 2010
Place: Frank R. Barton Physical Fitness Center, Wink, TX
Event: Double Elimination, Singles Tournament
Prizes: Prizes awarded for 1st, 2nd, & 3rd places. All participants will receive a tournament T-Shirt.

The Moya family (Mary Ann) will be selling breakfast burritos; and, coordinating a bake-sale.

The Wink Volunteer Fire Department will be selling Hamburger and Hotdog plates.

Water, and Gatorade have been donated to sell, along with a variety of other items.

Cancer awareness wristbands will be available for purchase at $2.00 each. They are lavender in color with the saying: "Faith-Hope-Love-Courage-Strength".

We will have a Pepsi wagon for soda sales.

There is a Raffle underway at $2.00 per ticket or 3 for $5.00. The items for raffle are as follows:
2 - Blue folding canvas lawn chairs; donated by Jesse R. Moya, Wink, TX
4 - Pink folding canvas lawn chairs; donated by Jesse R. Moya, Wink, TX
2 - Portable ice chests/shoulder strap; donated by Jesse R. Moya, Wink, TX
1 - 3 Gallon water jug; donated by MG Sales & Service, Kermit, TX
1 - 5 Gallon water jug; donated by MG Sales & Service, Kermit, TX
1 - First Aid Kit; donated by MG Sales & Service, Kermit, TX
1 - Oil Change $45.00 or Less; donated by Gasoline Alley, Kermit, TX
1 - $25.00 Gift Certificate; donated by Mary's Flowers, Kermit, TX
1 - Dinner for 3 ($19.99) Pizza Hut; donated by Johnny Ramos, Kermit, TX

The following organizations have committed to donations for the event:
Wink-Loving ISD; John Benham/Deanna Titsworth; Wink, TX
Robertson's Grocery; Tamara & Kelby Robertson, Wink, TX
Liberty Pump; Robert Solis, Wink, TX
Southwest Bank; Barbara Dudley, Wink, TX
J&M Backhoe; Martin & Stacie Garcia, Wink, TX
MG Sales & Service; Mike & Pam Glander, Kermit, TX
Lowes Grocery Store; Kermit, TX
Wink Volunteer Fire Department; Robbie Wolfe, Wink, TX
Kinder-Morgan, Wink, TX
KERC 93.7FM; Janette Towne, Kermit, TX

The following individuals have donated their time for various activities for the days events:
Mary Ann Lopez
Joely Mohler
Cristi Romine
Lexi Romine
Robbie Wolfe
Deanna Titsworth
Debra Drinkard
Shelly Mayberry
Daniela Rivas
Araceli Valles

If you would like to make a contribution to the bake-sale, please let me know. We would appreciate any and all baked goods.


If you would like to make a monetary contribution, please make checks or money orders payable to: Gifts of Hope, Inc.

The fitness center will be open for public use from Noon to 4pm the day of the tournament. Please come out and join us! Bring your swim suit and have a great time, and support Gifts of Hope, Inc.

We want the community to be involved! We would like everyone to make a poster for the day of the tournament. These posters should be the size of a regular poster board. They should contain cancer awareness information. If you have been touched by cancer in your life, through family, friend, co-worker, etc., please make the poster in memory of that person or if they are a survivor, please make the poster dedicated to that person. You can use the ribbon and color designated for their type of cancer, or you can make a generic poster for all cancer awareness. The posters will be hung on the walls of the fitness center the day of the tournament. This will help us raise awareness in the community. You can make one poster or many posters. The more posters we have, the better we will be able to raise awareness.


I hope to hear form all of you and would love to see as many of you there as possible! Lets make this day a tremendous success and support Gifts of Hope, Inc. in their mission!

Love to you all;

Jesse R. Moya
PO Box 124
404 SE Thirds Street
Wink, TX 79789

rballgifstofhope@att.net

Home: 432-527-3536
Mobile: 432-352-5322

Hope House Benefit

A Sunrise Walk and A Hope For A Cure

Early this morning I was about a mile from home without a vehicle, yes, this was on purpose. I had decided that since the warmer weather found its way to Wink that I would take advantage and go for a sunrise walk, I wasn't disappointed. I love the calm and serene feeling that hovers around me like a warm snuggly blanket as I walk alone, with most of the world still asleep and quiet.

My life is at the crossroads again. Unemployment looming near, steady expenses increasing, surplus of stress mounting...these things have entered my mind and linger. I always find that getting out and doing something for someone else is a fantastic mood enhancer, so when Jesse called me this morning around 9AM asking for some assistance...I quickly said, yes!

Jesse, Annie and myself went canvasing the area; Kermit, Monahans, Wickett & Pyote, with flyers in hand, smiles on faces to spread the word about the upcoming Racquet Ball Tournament for Hope House. We have a Hope House in Midland, our very own oasis for cancer patients and their families.

While in Monahans putting flyers on vehicles at the local grocery, a sweet looking lady, with white hair asked for me to hand her the flyer instead of putting it under her windshield wiper. As I handed her the flyer, I introduced myself and explained my purpose for trying to clutter up her windshield. She smiled deeply and asked if she could just give me a donation for Hope House and apologized to me for not having a lot to give. Graciously, I accepted her donation as she told me about her late husband, Raymond Fletcher.

Joy, the sweet lady's name, and Raymond were married for 52 years. He succumbed to thyroid cancer quite unexpectedly. It was a very rare kind, only 5 cases of it in Midland and when they transferred out to the Mayo Clinic, only 15 cases of it there. She said she was thankful for all the support she and Raymond received and that cancer is close to her heart. I could tell it was, as her eyes teared up and a slight quiver over took her lips. I inquired of Ms Fletcher when her husband died, he lost his battle in 2002...the same year that Jesse lost his mom to cancer.

I asked Ms Fletcher if I could put Raymond's name on my poster in memory of my friends and family that have been affected by cancer, she smiled and nodded her head. I thought about all the posters that are being made right now, listing moms, dads, husbands, brothers, sisters, sons, daughters...all of our loved ones. I visualized an entire wall covered in these memorial posters sharing with the community our hope for a cure. You know, it's time for a cure.

Hope House A Supportive Home For Victims of Cancer

Jesse, my work out buddy and best friend, is a true cancer warrior. Not only did Jesse beat a brain tumor, but he has been vigilant in aiding his sister, Ramona, battle Melanoma. They left for a new cancer study down in San Antonio this morning and they won't be back until Saturday of next week. Luckily for Jesse and Ramona, they have family that will board them for the duration.

Others are not so fortunate and besides having to deal with cancer they come up against room and board expenses that sometimes forces the families to be left behind and unable to be nearby to support their loved one. Imagine if you will having to leave your child in the hospital to endure the pain of chemo therapy and radiation alone, just because you no longer have the funds to stay in a hotel nearby.

That's where places like Hope House have become synonomous with safe havens for families dealing with the treatment of cancer. Ruth Ann Wilkinson set about on a mission to provide hope for cancer patients by establishing a fund.

This fund was meant to create a place where patients and their families could stay and live during their treatment plan/process. Ruth Ann, a cancer patient herself, died in 1996 and never saw her dream become a reality, but those left behind carried on and opened the Hope House on Febrary 16, 2006.

We have our very own Hope House out here in West Texas. You can find the home on 2100 West Tennessee in Midland. This little spring of hope in the hostile environment of cancer needs all of our support to continue to provide lodging and medical expenses for cancer patients and their families. You can always donate on line at: http://www.hopehousetexas.org/.

It is our pleasure to announce that on March 13th a racquetball tournament to benefit Gifts of Hope, Inc. will be held at the Frank R. Barton Physical Fitness Center in Wink, TX. Entry fee for the tournament is $50 per person with registration deadline being March 3rd.

For tournament and registration information please contact: Jesse R. Moya at 432-527-3536 or 432-352-5322. For information regarding Gifts of Hope, Inc. please contact: Mary Collier, Patient Counselor, Hope House 432-687-1949 or 432-335-8275.

All monies paid for registration, concession items and tee shirt sales will be donated to Gifts of Hope, Inc.