Special
Events - Nebraska PHenomenal Hope for a Cure
By Annette Markin
Event Coordinator
The Nebraska PHenomenal Hope for a Cure Brunch featured a staggering 140 silent auction items. |
Have you ever cracked open a fortune cookie and read a message that gave you goose bumps? It happened to me during dinner on Friday, November 10, 2006. My home was filled with “Periwinkles," the name my sister gave to the “Nebraska PHenomenal Hope for a Cure” committee members. The Periwinkles were getting silent auction bid sheets organized, name tags put in plastic holders and printing up last minute addendums to the auction items for the fundraiser to be held the next day from 9:00 a.m. – noon. I randomly grabbed a fortune cookie from the pile, cracked it open and read, “YOU WILL ALWAYS BE SURROUNDED BY TRUE FRIENDS.” I was unaware of the full meaning of this fortune cookie. I knew that at that moment there a house full of people showing their friendship by working into the night preparing for the next day. What I didn’t know was that the next day there would be nearly 300 people showing their support and friendship not just for me, but for all of us that are part of the PH community.
The next morning at 6:00 a.m. committee members along with their friends and family arrived at the Happy Hollow Country Club into a spectacle of glamour, taste and beauty! With little discussion everyone sensed what needed to be done and by 9:00 a.m. 30 dining tables, more than 140 silent auction items and 10 live auction items were arranged, marked and ready for auction!
Attendees began arriving at 8:45 a.m. and the line for entrance into the First Annual PHenomenal Hope for a Cure flowed in until the actual program and brunch began at 10:00 a.m.
The Nebraska brunch also featured special limited edition PH plates commissioned by Peggy Karr Glass for sale during the event. |
My sister, Kathleen Starkweather began the festivities by thanking all in attendance and welcoming them to the days events. Mike Kelly, a prominent journalist with the Omaha World Herald introduced the Honorary Chairwoman, the First Lady of Nebraska, Sally Ganem. Ms. Ganem gave a very heartfelt and hope-filled talk about Pulmonary Hypertension and the importance of this event.
Mr. Kelly then introduced two prominent PH specialists in Omaha, Dr. Dan Schuller from Creighton University in Omaha and Dr. Austin Thompson from the Nebraska Medical Center, also located in Omaha. Each of these experienced physicians discussed the history of Pulmonary Hypertension and of the Pulmonary Hypertension Association. They each included their hopes for the future of PH patients. A continuing joke of the morning was when the First Lady, who is a retired elementary principal, told the story of “correcting” Governor Heinemann, her husband, when he said “being the governor of Nebraska was the best job in the world. She explained to him that being an educator is the best job in the world.” Dr. Thompson finished his speech with letting the room know that, “In all due respect to the Governor and First Lady, having the opportunity to work with people with PH means that I have the best job in the world!”
Mr. Kelly then introduced me. I thanked all attendees, and then asked for a moment of silence for the four members of our PH support group who had died over the last six months. At that time, I did not realize it was actually five and would soon be six. The daughter of a support member called me a few days after the fundraiser to tell me that her mother had passed away at the end of July. She had no records on whom to contact and when she saw the invitation to the event, she decided to call me. Another member passed away two days after the fundraiser. I also asked various groups of people to rise and get recognized. First, it was people with PH. Then it was family members of those people. Then I asked that anyone who was a friend of a person with PH stand. The entire room stood and applauded. I couldn’t help but think back to last night and the fortune I cracked out of the cookie, “YOU WILL ALWAYS BE SURROUNDED BY TRUE FRIENDS!” I then understood the real importance of the message.
I then had the pleasure of introducing my son, Chris Markin. He introduced and presented his documentary called “Hope." The documentary included several members of the support group and a caregiver. The documentary showed the life of a person with PH and the impact the disease has on their lives and the life of a caretaker.
Then it was time to have fun! The silent auction ended. A drawing was conducted where a lucky attendee “won” a specially commissioned hand-made copper “Angel of the Phenomenal Hope." One lucky person also won one of the specially commissioned “Peggy Karr Phenomenal Hope” plates. Following the drawing, we had a live auction which included a quilt made by a member of the PH community, a framed tatting piece also made by a PH person. In addition to those items, we also auctioned off trips, photos and jewelry!
My sister then took the podium once again to thank all who attended to show their support for the people in the PH community. She invited all to plan on returning next year.
As everyone left and collected their “won” auction items, and purchased their Phenomenal Hope Peggy Karr plates, I was once again struck with my fortune cookie fortune “YOU WILL ALWAYS BE SURROUNDED BY TRUE FRIENDS!” I realized that those of us in the PH community have so much to be thankful for. We also have so much to be hopeful for. This fight for a cure is not something that can be accomplished by individuals. This fight cannot be won alone. But, when you get family, friends and physicians working to find a cure, the only possible outcome is success. So, for all of my “PHriends," I’d like to announce that we are all one giant step closer to a life without Pulmonary Hypertension. Congratulations!
The Nebraska PHenomenal Hope for a Cure Brunch raised over $25,000 for research and services from its 150 piece auction. The group is already planning next year’s event. To learn more about how you can make your PHenomenal event a success, contact Lauren at 301-565-3004 x125 or Lauren@PHAssociation.org.
