A Truly Amazing Event
The High 5 For Ben events were a huge success by not only raising a significant amount of money for Ben’s medical expenses, but by also bringing our amazing community of supporters together. The success isn’t too surprising when you consider the quality of the people who volunteered to organize the events and help out. We had teachers, co-workers, friends, family members, classmates, police officers, fire fighters, ambulance drivers, church groups, local business owners and doctors standing with us to support Ben in his fight against cancer. Some highlights of the dinner were:
- Walking into the gym filled with people. It was hard getting an accurate head count, but it had to be at least two hundred people. The extra tables and chairs from the Saddleback Golf Course were put to good use.
- Having my head explode as I gazed upon the mountains of spaghetti and stacks of pizza boxes donated by Pizza Plus and Dominos. And many thanks to the wonderful folks who served food.
- Getting trampled by the hordes of kids making a rush for the ice-cream donated by The Jazzy Bean - my official life-giving caffeinated hot beverage distributor.
- Having Rhonda get Ben out of his shell by having him sit with her on stage as she introduced the evening. Ben has always been a bit shy in crowds and is easily disturbed by loud noises, but he had a great time from that point forward.
- Seeing the look of amazement and then disappointment on Ben’s face as he was made an honorary police officer. He was amazed with how cool the framed badge looked and being saluted by the police department. And then he was disappointed as he realized that he couldn’t get the badge out to wear and play with. He wore his police cap for the remainder of the evening and started forming a plan to get the badge out of the frame (we may need a 24-hour guard placed on it).
- Realizing that neither Melinda or I brought Kleenex with us as we listened to Ben’s Song (lyrics posted below) written by The Sleepness Knights - a rock-n-roll band made up of police officers. We treasure the framed copy of the lyrics that they gave us and can only hope that the song changes your lives as much as it has changed ours. Ben is inspired to become a drummer since being given a set of sticks after the performance. I can only hope that they make quite drums.
Thank you to everyone who volunteered and donated. This was truly an amazing event and we feel blessed to have your support. May you each find the support, peace and love in your own life that you have shared with us.
Ben’s Song
I think I met my hero,
he said, “I’m only six years old.”
I saw in him great courage,
he said his body’s feelin’ old.
He said he likes football
and I watched his mother cry.
He said, “Don’t worry, Momma,
I dreamt I saw an angel fly.
She watches over me
every single night.
She says,
‘You’ll run and play again,
and everything’s alright.’
I hope that summer
never has to end.”
Oh how I envy a child
with angels as his friends.
I asked him what he wished for,
he said, “I want a new squirt gun,
so I can chase my sister
outside in the sun.”
Isn’t it amazing
the innocence of youth.
Did you hear he told his momma
he dreamt he saw an angel fly?
“He watches over me
every single day.
He says, ‘I’ll run and play again,
and that everything’s okay,’
I hope that summer never has to end.”
Oh, how I envy a child
who has angels as his friends.
“I dream of being a pirate,
sailing out to sea.
Clear blue water
between God and me.
I’ll sail towards adventure,
My guinea pig and me.
Oh, Moonlight.
Don’t worry Momma
I dreamt I saw an angel fly.
They stand right by my side
when I am feeling weak.
They help me find the courage
to fight the challenge every week.
They rock me in their arms
when I can’t fall asleep.
My family are my angels
and angels are my friends;”
Oh, how I envy a child
with angels as his friends.
- The Sleepness Knight
I think I met my hero,
he said, “I’m only six years old.”
I saw in him great courage,
he said his body’s feelin’ old.
He said he likes football
and I watched his mother cry.
He said, “Don’t worry, Momma,
I dreamt I saw an angel fly.
She watches over me
every single night.
She says,
‘You’ll run and play again,
and everything’s alright.’
I hope that summer
never has to end.”
Oh how I envy a child
with angels as his friends.
I asked him what he wished for,
he said, “I want a new squirt gun,
so I can chase my sister
outside in the sun.”
Isn’t it amazing
the innocence of youth.
Did you hear he told his momma
he dreamt he saw an angel fly?
“He watches over me
every single day.
He says, ‘I’ll run and play again,
and that everything’s okay,’
I hope that summer never has to end.”
Oh, how I envy a child
who has angels as his friends.
“I dream of being a pirate,
sailing out to sea.
Clear blue water
between God and me.
I’ll sail towards adventure,
My guinea pig and me.
Oh, Moonlight.
Don’t worry Momma
I dreamt I saw an angel fly.
They stand right by my side
when I am feeling weak.
They help me find the courage
to fight the challenge every week.
They rock me in their arms
when I can’t fall asleep.
My family are my angels
and angels are my friends;”
Oh, how I envy a child
with angels as his friends.
- The Sleepness Knight
