Day 13

    Well today is my last day on the tour. I wish I could tell you about todays events but I had to be down stairs in the lobby at 9a for my ride to the airport. These past 12 days have been some of the best days I have had in my life. The honor that was bestowed upon me to visit with so many wonderful people. I have made many friends on this tour from all over. As you have read my blog, you probably have shed some tears like I had done being here. This tour would not be possible if it wasn't for two very special people. Dave Graybill and Lisa Stevens, together they have created something out of love for people and have found a way for communities to embrace it. All of the drivers, the chapters that have been created, and all that are involved with the Tour do it out of love for all of you. I am sad to be leaving the tour but, it gives me so much strength in coming back to Memphis so that Todd, Doug, and myself can get our chapter going so that we can continue the great things that this has inspired us to do.
     For all of you that I met that are battling, those that are survivors, and those that lost someone special to them. We love you. I loved the time that we were able to share. You all are in my prayers. I hope to be a part of the tour next year and hopefully see you all again. You can also friend me on Facebook if you haven't already.
     For my fellow drivers, like I said at dinner last night, I feel we are family now for all that we have shared together on this trip. I have enjoyed being a part of this with all of you. Remember, drop me a line when you want to visit Memphis.
     And for everyone else.....remember give support to the women in your lives. It starts with taking care of them. There is so much more that I want to write and maybe I will do a follow up to fill in more of the blanks. If you would like to read more drop me a note and let me know. If not....Goodbye and I hope that I have delivered a sense of inspiration.

Day 12

This is actually from the day of Oct. 29th. My 12th day on the tour. Enjoy!

Bill

     This morning we started our day off by doing a home visit to a 42yr survivor. We were escorted to her home by our Brothers from Fire and Iron MC. They are a great group of fellow fire fighters that rode with us on and off all day. Now back to our home visit. She greeted us outside her house with her husband and family. I think she was completely surprised by the amount of people that were in her front yard. After all of the Guardians greeted her with our hugs of love, I was privileged with escorting her to Deb where she signed her name. Here she is a 42yr survivor enjoying her life because she was able to win the fight. I say God Bless her.

    I just realized that I can add photos into my blog. So please go back and check all of the other days blog to see pictures.

       After the home visit we went back to the Olathe Fire Department to regroup before heading to our first event at the Great Mall of the Great Plains. There we were set up in the parking lot where we had many visitors come by and look at the trucks. Its amazing the way a Pink Fire truck can make such an impact on people. We had a lot of people sign the trucks in honor or memory of a special person. It may be my 12th day but I am still shedding tears hearing the many stories from so many wonderful people. After we left the mall we continued to The Legends which is another mall on the other side of KC. While driving Karen it finally hit me hard. This was my last event on the Pink Heals Tour 2011. I started to get a little emotional as I was thinking everywhere I had been and all that I had met. If any of you are reading this, I want you to know it truly was my honor to be there with you. Now back to our regular programming....when we entered the mall road of The Legends we turned on all of our lights and sirens to make a grand entrance. We drove around the front of all the stores so all can see this magnificent sight. As we pulled around to the opposite side we parked the trucks so that they can be seen from the street. The crowd was awesome. We met so many people and had so many sign the trucks. We were able to share so much needed love to this community. At the end of the event it was time for me to do what I really wasn't ready for. I turned my Sharpie markers over to the next driver of Karen. My brother Antonio from Texas. I had tears again because this marked my last stop on the tour. After an exchange of hugs, Deb from Kansas asked what we just did. So we told her about our hand-off.

   

      After dinner we headed back to the hotel to close our night. We got settled in and went down to the lobby where a great couple that we had met the previous night was sitting with their family. Wendy asked us if we would sign a shirt for a good friend of hers that just had surgery to remove a tumor from her brain. In true Guardian fashion we all asked where the shirt was. And the next thing we knew she pulls the shirt out and we all took turns signing it for her. Wendy and Tim, I want you to know that your friend is in my prayers for a speedy recovery.

Day 11

This post is actually from October 28th.

   I first have to give a big Thanks to JR. Without his help, I would not have been able to finish these last days of blogs to share with all of you.

     This morning we started out with Big Breakfast Friday. In fire station speak, that means lots of bacon, eggs, biscuits and gravy. The PCFD fed us well, it reminded me of being in my home station. After breakfast we split up and Dave, Jeff, Tony, and myself went to Fire Marshall Dave's shop and installed the Bench of Love on the trailer next to the Ribbon of Hope. The rest of the crew went on home visits through Ponca City. JR shared with me a home visit that he had gone on and it goes like this.... Her name is Tracy and I remember her from the prior day while at the mansion. While at the mansion she mentioned to me that she was going home to do some baking. Well baking is what she did, she filled a full table of cookies and cakes. Her husband said it was the first time in 5 years that she was so excited because of our visit, that she went into the kitchen and baked.
     I had mentioned this before, and just felt I needed to share it again. Its really hard to put into words the feeling that we, as Guardians feel when we can share our time like this. I was told many times on this trip that I didn't know what it meant to the person that I was speaking with what it meant to them for us to be there. Well I may not truly know what they are feeling but if its anything like what we feel, its awesome.
    After installing the bench we met up with the crew again to do a couple of more home visits before getting on the road. After filling the trucks up we headed to Joplin, MO. Yes, I know what your thinking....what happened to going to Kansas City? Well let me tell you...one of the best things about being on tour is that even though we have scheduled cities that have events set up, if we can make a stop in between while on the way we do. So off to Joplin. We did a brief stop there just to refuel but then we headed up the road a few minutes to Carthage, MO where we stopped and met the guys from the fire department. There I met Ms. Patsy a survivor of 1 yr. The tears of joy we both shared was a great feeling. She was amazed that not 1 but 3 pink fire trucks were in her city. She received a call from her mom telling her that we were in the Walmart parking lot and she needed to get over here. Once she got there you could just see the excitement. She signed Nikki as a survivor. After a brief stay we continued our journey north to Kansas City arriving around 10p.
    At this time it is starting to hit me that I will be leaving in a few short days. On the tour they say you get the deer in the headlights look. I personally thought it was the look of exhaustion but, I like there's better. I can't believe that my journey is already coming to a close. It almost seems like it was yesterday that we were leaving Memphis. But the memories of all the great people that I was honored to be with will always stay in my heart.

Day 10

This is actually from Day 10, October 27th. The last 4 days of the tour was really busy and I was able to write down notes of the days so I could come back and finish this.

Bill

  Is everyone still with me after Day 9's post? I am kidding, I wanted to make sure I haven't started boring any of you yet. Today we had a little extra time in our start. We had to meet our police and fire escort for a parade here in Ponca City, OK. Well leave it to Movie Star to be in his hometown and still have us make a wrong turn getting to our destination. We got there and met the guys from PCFD as well as PCPD for our parade through the city. Oh and another thing, you know your in a small town when you can have a parade in the morning and be on the front page of the news paper by 430pm. Well that happened to movie star. By the way rent Twister or buy it to own. Movie star will be needing that royalty check soon since he has decided to stay on the tour until it ends next week. So back to our day. We did our tour through the city and as we drove by the schools all the kids were outside lined up down both sides of the street. As we came into downtown people from the businesses came outside to show their support also. Our parade took us to the Harland Mansion. The mansion was built for Mr. Harland who founded the oil company that we know as Conoco. The place was beautiful. As you see in the photo, we parked the trucks in the rear of the house on what was the olympic size pool. Ponca City did an awesome job. The marching band played, cheerleaders cheered, all around everyone was excited and showed true pride in their community.
       I need to add some more names to our cast. First lets start with the crew from the Wichita, KS chapter. She's Pink and she has lots of drive its Nikki the Pink fire truck. She is named after Nikki J. who arrived on her and is also a survivor of 1yr 10 months. Then you have the man behind the wheel, Don. Don is rejoining the tour, he left us in Memphis.
      Tonight we went to another event where the members of the community were doing a fundraiser. A citizen of Ponca City built a beautiful Pink Heals bench for the auction that night. Well the great people in attendance felt that the bench would be served best by being placed on the trailer next to the Ribbon of Hope. So they raised over $3000 just for the bench to be shared with everyone. Is that not just the greatest? The overall fundraiser was a success raising much more for their community. Well we have an early day tomorrow, good night.