Lemonade from Lemons

Have you ever made plans for a big event only to have them crash around you due to inclement weather? It's likely that you have. It could have been a wedding. A picnic. Or just about anything that involves sunshine.

We got a taste of that at the Indiana Chapter, Arthritis Foundation, recently when thunder, lightening, and pouring rain put an end to the Indianapolis Arthritis Walk. We had planned for 500 walkers and nearly 100 dogs to walk along the downtown canal in the dog walk's inaugural year.

We also were depending on reaching our goal of $60,000 to help find a cure for arthritis and to provide services to those with the disease.

We planned to have most of our activities outside with NCAA Headquarters hosting only the packet pick up area. We had a few tents, but nothing that would have protected us in a storm of the magnitude that hit Indy that morning. Needless to say, walkers would have been at the mercy of the elements during the three-mile stroll.

Things looked bleak, then good things began to happen.

First, our friends at the NCAA invited us to move inside. With the building's accommodating staff lending a helping hand, we quickly had tables, chairs, and everything inside the spacious headquarters. Thanks Kim, Candace, Nathan, and Anthony.

Then, people started to show up: volunteers and walkers.

Surely, they had seen the weather forecast and experienced first-hand the pouring rain and lightening. Still, they came down just in case the walk would get going. Much to our surprise, about 200 folks--and a handful of dog owners with their dogs-- showed up.

Then, the fun broke out. People began talking to each other. They picked up their t-shirts and goodie bags. They had team pictures taken. They visited the health fair and talked to chiropractors, shoe companies, orthopedic practices, and the others. They heard Winnie Ballard, wife of Indy Mayor Greg Ballard, talk about her successful fight with arthritis. And special thanks to Walk Chair Pat Milner, who could be seen mixing, mingling, and sharing a smile with everyone.

And about that all important $60,000 goal. Well, looks like we'll hit it. The rains just slowed us down, it didn't stop us. At last count, we had collected $57,861 and that total will increase Wednesday (June 25) when we have our walk celebration at Milano Inn, 2315 S. College at 6 p.m. Join us, if you're up for some fun.

We'll enjoy a festive meal, share stories, and those who could not come that rainy morning will turn in the money the collected for that day when we made lemons into lemonade.