I must admit that I was down and disappointed when I woke up on Saturday morning. Cold and rainy. I had prayed for sunshine and when that didn’t happen I prayed for drizzle. Oh me of little faith. I should have trusted that God had something bigger & better in store for us.
Not long after we arrived at the trail head around 9:15, family & volunteers that we didn’t know started to show up. We were not finished setting up when the first wave of bikers/walkers/runners started to arrive shortly before 10:00. I have to admit that I was ashamed that I had doubted that God would add his blessing to this day as we stood and watched group after group head out the trail in a steady rain. A sea of red ponchos and umbrellas. How easy it would have been to show up and do this on a dry 60 degree fall day. It meant so much more in the rain. And not once did we hear any complaints about the weather. Quite the opposite. 4 hours of laughter and hugs. Every one of you, friends, family, & strangers (new friends) are awesome!!
A few highlights:
People traveled from as far away as Washington D.C., Virginia & Las Vegas to participate.
A couple from E-town, who didn’t know Aaron but had heard of his story decided to turn it into a friendly husband/wife competition to see who could raise the most money and raised $1000.
Several members from the E-town boys basketball team (Woody is the JV coach) participated. While most of them rode the entire 10 miles, 1 ran 6 miles and his dad ran to the event and out the trail for a total of 15 miles. One of them rode 4 of the 10 miles on a flat tire.
There were a host of volunteers, many of whom we didn’t know and who don’t know Aaron.
And of course dedicated & devoted friends & family from Middletown, E-town, and around the state & country.
While all of this was going on at a rain soaked rail trail between E-town & Middletown, back in center city Philly Jaime was keeping Aaron company and cheering him on as he logged 10 hours off of the vent for the second consecutive day! No cheering in this pic, but we just really like this one. 🙂
We couldn’t include pictures of everyone that was at the walk here, but there is a slide show of photos documenting the days events being put together for Aaron. If any of you took pictures that you would like to share, you can email them to Jackie Lerch at jlerch@comcast.net by Tuesday.
You are all AWESOME, LOVED, & GREATLY APPRECIATED!!!!!
THANK YOU!!!
Aaron it’s great to see the progress you’re making and to see how much you are loved. May you give thanks to the Lord for how He is demonstrating His grace to you! Praying for you in Pueblo, John Danese Jake and Jordan
Wish we could’ve been there! Hey, what do we have to do to get an “Aaron bracelet”?
Aaron,
What a turn out for the bike ride! You got a lot of people pulling for you, buddy. Had a great time riding in the rain with your dad. For a good laugh, check out the gloves he was wearing in the picture on the blog. Keep working hard. You are in the Baker family’s thoughts and prayers always!
Horse
Hi Aaron I’m sorry to say that we missed the opportunity to participate in Saturdays event.We think about you a lot. It’s great to see that there are so many caring people out there. Even greater, is seeing the progress that you are making! Keep fighting the good fight!
Tom L
Hey Aaron,
What a “cool” event on Saturday — figuratively and literally. You’ve got a great group of friends and it was fun meeting many of them. Hope you could feel the love on your end! Melanie, Hannah, Eric and I think of you every day and look forward to seeing you again.
Love from all of us,
Bruce
It really was a beautiful saturday in every way! I’m so glad that my sisters and I were able to be a part of this event. It was so nice to see all these people coming together for you. Neither rain nor cold was stopping anyone. We said hello to everyone that we passed along the trail, eventhough we didn’t know every single person. We knew that they were there because they love you just as much as we do.
Bill will be arriving on wednesday, see you soon.
love you <3
Aaron and Jaime…I love that picture of you guys. You two cherish each other, it shows, and it’s awesome. Pani and I hit the trail together on saturday! It rained all day, but who cares…it’s only rain. Ten feet of snow on the trail wouldn’t have stopped us from walking. Miss you and love you brother! Talk to you soon!
wow this is amazing. awesome to see so much love. thinking about you and praying for you always aaron. <3
Hi Aaron and Jaime,
Thank you Jaime for snuggling with Aaron (love your picture)while we were walking in the rain on Sat.having fun and meeting so many new people who care about Aaron and you.
Aaron Bud, you’re doing great off the ventilator. Keep it up. I got my Aaron bracelet on Sat. at the walk and wear it every where. You’re with me all the time.
Jaime, looking forward to seeing you this Saturday at 230 Cafe (fundraiser). I just happen to have a hug for you and one for Aaron. You can pass it on to Aaron for me.
Keep the faith. Good things are happening.
We Love you
Aunt Diane and Uncle Pete
DearAaron, While you were hard at work in Philly, there were many people who love you without ever having met you who were also at work–only the work at this end was more like fun. Please remember that God loves you so much and all of us plus many you will not have met yet love you and hope for you the best. Mammaw and Pappaw Wood
I felt so blessed to have been able to be part of the walk. You could just feel the love and hope that was there as people who didn’t know each other bonded together for one person. It was amazing!!
Wow… That just says it all!! You are one lucky man to have soooo many people supporting you!!
Although I could not be at the trail for the fundraiser I am making my KICK ASS 3 layer coconut cakes for 230 cafes!! Look out they are AWESOME!!
You keep up the hard work and know we are cheerin you on!! Xo
To add to the interesting “news” of the event that people may not know… there was one gentlemen who was driving by and stopped to see what was going on and made a free will offering. There was also a woman on her way home from the breast cancer walk in Harrisburg and stopped to see what was happening and made a free will offering.
I had a student who was so touched by your story Aaron, she went out and walked her Manheim Twp neighborhood and gather $25 in donations – she is 13 years old (Wow – want to talk about a student I will never forget!). How awesome were these people? Your story is touching people’s heart!
I’m so happy everything went so well…wish I could have been there! Looking forward to the Cafe next weekend.
Great news about the 10 hours! Lots of love — praying everyday 🙂
Woody,
I couldn’t have said it any better. I sometimes don’t have the strongest faith, but with Aaron’s situation,I do. I should have just remembered that on Saturday. God was taking care of each and everyone of us. He met and exceeded all of our needs. Praise God.!!!
Hey Bud!
So proud of you!!! Love you!!!
Aaron,
I really wanted to walk for you yesterday. Had my red sweatshirt all ready. But I watched little Miss Betsy instead! Both Jim and I were there in spirit. It’s wonderful to see how many people who are there for you- you are blessed. I will be at the 230 Cafe next week with Shelley and Andy and hoping to get to meet your girl Jaime.
Love and prayers always.
Hey Buddy!
I hear everything went great at the fundraiser yesterday and you had a 2nd day off the vent of 10 hours! Go you!!! I am soo proud of all that you’ve been accomplishing lately, keep working hard we all know you can do it!
Love you,
Boo