Event Blog
October 25-31, 2007

October 24, 2007
Today, we checked out Gangway 1 and 2 at Battery Park, where the Kick-off Rally will take place tomorrow morning. We also stopped by DebRA of America's office to pick up our team T-shirts, the give-away T-shirts, banners and magnets. Gosh, this town is seriously overpopulated - it's no wonder most people live away from downtown! But at the same time, this place has a pulse that is absolutely tangible. We have shared about EB and this event with whoever we can - taxi drivers, waitresses, hotel staff - you just never know who might be someone who makes a difference, right?

Hollye and Missy arrived via Penn Station. Now, our group is complete, as Angi is unable to come due to work demands. We expected that might be a reality, but hoped she would be able to work around it - however, we'll be glad to see her, and so many others at Battery Park in the morning! Madeline Weiner arrived, and we visited with her and everyone joined her for supper. We always enjoy Madeline's company! Our group will post photos as soon as we get a moment to load them onto the laptop, so that YOU can share this journey inasmuch as possible.

I am so sorry that we can't be everywhere this time around; I've heard that some folks are wishing we could have come through their town. I am sure you understand, with only one week of time and so many miles to travel, we had to do what we could where we could. Maybe next year! In the interim, there is much that you can do in our absence. Requesting a local proclamation from your mayor, for instance, would be a really good thing - especially if he does a press release, or posts the proclamation on their website.

Until tomorrow night,
Gena

October 23, 2005
A truly amazing thing happened to us today when Annette and I arrived at La Guardia airport. We took the airport shuttle from the airport to get our vehicle - a great big silver Suburban!

As we pulled out of the Hertz lot, we turned on the radio... and the very FIRST song we heard on that radio station was, believe it or not - "Wonder" by Natalie Merchant!!! Our event's theme song. Now, this is not a NEW song, it was released in 1995, so one can only "wonder" at the message in this happening to us as we arrived to begin our journey across America to enlighten people about EB.

Jamie and Jenny arrived this evening, and we're all together, gearing up for Thursday's Kick-off Rally at Battery Park. Beautiful flyers are now posted on the "About Rallies" page of this website for several of the Rallies; the hospitals are sending out press releases and planning TV interviews in their area to talk about our event; and we expect the remaining three of our EB Advocacy Team and Madeline Weiner to arrive tomorrow.

I'll be seeking words of wisdom from Madeline and also from Arlene Pessar (the Founder of DebRA of America), with whom I'm having supper Wednesday evening. Arlene will attend our Kick-off Rally, too, and we'll be so glad to have her in our midst.

I thank EVERYONE for their support in this endeavor - more blogs and pix to come!!!