Bill and I (this is Patty, BTW) were super fortunate to attend the Hope’s annual dinner/auction on Saturday night. We were blown away – by the quality of the event, the hospitality, the food, the entertainment, but most of all by the generosity of so many great people and organizations in the Seattle Area. We were moved by the story of Shawn Strickland, the son of Rob and Vanessa Strickland, who died far too early of a congenital heart condition. We were in AWE of John Curley’s auctioneering skills – I’m pretty sure that guy could talk even the most tight-fisted person out of buck with such a great cause beneath his efforts. John is a triathlete, of course – you can always expect great things out of one of our own!
We left the gala feeling energized and resolved to fight heart disease. Bill’s dad, Gene Swedberg, passed away two Christmas’s ago from a long battle against it, so it’s something we’re personally connected to – as we all are in one way or another.
All the RTB athletes will have the opportunity to make a difference in fighting this year as we strengthen our own hearts by training for and crossing finish lines. Our army could pack quite a punch in the community!
GO RTB and GO HOPE HEART INSTITUTE!
