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I recently attended a fundraising event for the son of a friend of ours, Aidan Stotz; Aidan is an extraordinary 4-year-old who was diagnosed in January 2007 with stage 4 neuroblastoma, a rare form of cancer. He immediately began an aggressive series of treatments, including chemotherapy, major surgery, and a stem cell transplant, to reduce the large tumor in his abdomen and eradicate the cancer.
While I have been involved with events, mostly to the point of donating five bucks here or ten bucks there, this one was for someone a little closer to me and for someone I have grown to respect even though time has passed between Randy Stotz and me. Randy and Carrie are wonderful caring parents not only to their own son and daughter, but also to the community they live in. I have admired Randy from a distance, they way he handles himself and the help he provides to others … it makes me strive to be a better person.
After finding out about this event, a Charity Fundraising Auction, I knew I wanted to do something to help out where I could, and not by just giving five bucks and moving on… and with that I donated my time and shot photos of the event for Randy, Carrie and the Stotz Family. I can only hope that soon, Aidan will be able to see the photos and all the people that were there for him and how many hearts he has touched.
Wow, what an event it was too. The ladies at the front door that greeted and signed al the participants were fantastic, and a few drove all the way up from southern Illinois to help out… and for me it was almost like stepping back in time as this was held at Buffalo Grove High School, the High School I went to many years ago. The event was held in the three section cafeteria and when you walked in you were greeted by hundreds of wonderful people all there to help and be part of Aidan's, Randy, Carrie and Chloe's Lives.
As you walked in there was a fantastic artist that donated time and airbrushed t-shirts for all the kids and the kids absolutely loved it, check out Maddy before … praying like an Aidan Angel would, for a cool shirt… And after … you just can't beat a smile like that.
There was also face painting and of course the kids loved that too! I'm sure that Aidan would have loved to see this Lion work; again how can you beat that smile? And there was more for the kids, craft tables where they can make craft items, color and draw. There was also a sing along corner with a guitarist that kept the kids amused and enlightened with song.
And you just can't have this kind of fun without some clowning around… The kids stood in line to receive balloon animals and have some fun – and they were all wishing Aidan was there too…
While the night was filled with family and fun we were there for a reason, and of course none of us got lost in the fun enough to forget what that reason was. Aidan Stotz, look at his face and the love between father and son… simply awesome. While we all wished Aidan was there with us enjoying the night that was all for him, after treatments this past week, Aidan's Doctors made it clear that he would have to watch us from a distance and remain safe. For more information about Aidan's road to recovery, please visit http://www.aidansjourney.com . It is a heartwarming journey written by loved ones who are near to Aidan.
Being there for a reason, and to the event of the night hosted by Josh and Kelly Paul, Josh is currently playing baseball for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, and after enjoying the food provided by local restaurants and other extraordinary chefs, Aidan's favorite was even there, Mac and Cheese, and Lou Malnati's Pizzeria was generous enough to donate pizza for all the attendees.
Aunts and Friends worked the Aidan's Angels T-Shirt and Hat table as modeled by Kelly and Josh Paul and their son… as well as the raffle ticket sales table and the other t-shirt table. Even Grand-Ma's volunteered and helped out. Brenda Warden and her Husband pitched in and took over the raffle ticket table right before the auction started so others could take a break and eat.
Friends and Family were buying raffle tickets 50 at a time due to "Unc" Bob Stotz's fantastic salesmanship!
The event of the night was split up into three "arenas", a raffle for over a hundred donated items, from sports memorabilia, tickets to sporting events, baseball games, football games, walk out and practice on the field with the Chicago Cubs and White Sox, to resort spa retreats and week long get-aways. There was trees donated by local landscapers and Nintendo DS games, even a 32" LCD Flat Screen TV… the list was huge for the raffle item, the second "arena" was the blind auction, where you openly bid on items, but no one knows who bid what. And again, the list of items donated by friends and family as well as local artists and musicians and sports personalities was extensive, the support given to the Stotz family was huge and I am sure Aidan appreciates it and Randy and Carrie will never forget the love.
Before the "live" Auction started, Kelly Paul read some words of encouragement, hope, prayer and love and as emotion ran high in the room, a short inspiriting video of photos, and thanks from Aidan was played. The video showed family photos from Randy and Carrie, Aidan and Chloe, with the delicate yet powerful words from Aidan, simply saying thanks for being at "my Auction"
Now while we all know Josh Paul is a great and legendary catcher, we probably never thought we would see the day he might become an auctioneer, Josh fell right into place and made the auction fun with antic dotes and fun blurbs about former teammates and teams, as well as others from around major league baseball to get the crowd pumped and excited to bid on items like a team signed basketball from the Lakers.
Signed jersey's from the Red Sox, player jerseys from the Chicago White Sox… She said it was for her Husband and a very hot item the Nintendo Wii.
Two of the highlights of the auction had to be the Red Sox Jersey, and while the auction started out at $250. It quickly rose to $800. with a bidding war and some prodding from our auctioneer Josh; And just when you thought it was over a new bidder joined the war and started the crowd up again… and Josh made it a little more fun. If I remember this item was one of the highest paid of the night.
One of the other exciting bidding wars was on the Nintendo Wii, a very hot item and while Josh talked about how they use one of these on the players bus and during "down" time on the road… and just as he was saying "we will start the bidding at…" someone from the crowd yelled "$500." And started a war between him and Aidan's Uncle Rob Stotz, the fantastic artist from Living Stone Arts, (www.livingstonearts.com ). As you could imagine, being the Wii and one of the hottest video games out there Rob wouldn't stand for that and bid $550. and then $650., $675. , $700. , $725. (See if you go back and forth Rob was bidding in $25 to $50 dollar increments and the other bidder was bidding in $75 to $150 dollar increments) the crowd looked as if they were watching a tennis match as Rob was in the front of the room and the other bidder was in the back. Well this kept going for a while and at $1,300. the bidder in the back asked Rob about his low bids and how bad he wanted the Wii, Rob replied with (and after receiving some coaching from Carrie) Rob replied with " If you bid $1,500. it is all yours… AND to that point, and being the fantastic Auctioneer Josh is, he jumped on the fact and threw out the question back to Rob… "that means you are bidding $1,499. then Rob?" the crowd went wild and well that's how I lost out on a Nintendo Wii for $1,499. Rob, thanks for the fun, Aidan loves you for the auction won! You are awesome! And I respect the fact that you will enjoy the Wii with your family, and I can't wait for the invite. And sorry no pics, I was too excited to be bidding up against Rob.
After the auction was over and as the night rolled to a close Josh stuck around and signed autographs for the kids, friends and family of all ages.
From the hotdogs, popcorn, pizza and mac and cheese, to the t-shirt sales, wrist band sales and raffle, to the awesome job by Kelly and Josh Paul before and during the auction, I'd like to thank Randy and Carrie for allowing me to be part of this awesome event for one of the coolest kids I have heard and read about and can't wait to meet in person. Bev and "Unc" thanks for all your support, Mark, great job with the set up and thanks for the rope. Rob and Jennifer, you guys are off the hook and did a great job with all the set up and hard work you put into this successful event. To all the family and friends of Aidan Stotz, thank you for showing what people are truly about and what can happen when people can get together out of hope, love and prayer… your help and support are legendary.
Aidan, get better soon, I make great pizza and my door is always open for you and your family to come over and enjoy. Randy, Carrie let me know if there is anything I can ever do.
While Aidan has shown a tremendous amount of courage and strength in his fight against the disease, he still has a difficult road ahead of him. Please join in supporting the Stotz family.
Aidan Thanks You!
If you want to help out Randy and Carrie please let me know, they would appreciate any help they can receive so Aidan can be a kid one of these days. If you would like a printed version of any of the photographs, I will print and send to you for five dollars, with all proceeds going to Aidan's Angels Fundraiser, please email me at jarophotoman@aol.com and please visit www.aidansjourney.com to keep informed of the progress this beautiful family is making
To view these photos and all the photos please visit my space at
www.myspace.com/jaro_photoman
I have over 50 "friends" let's see... 1. How many of you really read blogs and 2. How much can we raise to help out Aidan Stotz get through this thing and help him become a kid again!
Also, I will post this as a blog or a bulletin for the next month in honor of the Stotz family!