Seattle Brain Cancer Walk for Team Kenny

Daughter Tina with Ken Kirkpatrick

This morning, Debi Giannola picked me up bright and early for the second year in a row for us to go to the Annual Seattle Brain Cancer Walk together.  We are supporters of Team Kenny in honor of Ken Kirkpatrick's fight with this horrible disease. 

Cathi Hatch, Ken & Sasa Kirkpatrick,
Debi Giannola, Kristie Mock

It was a cool, overcast day and raining when Debi picked me up.  I brought several layers of clothing and we stopped at Starbucks on the way for hot chocolate and a latte to warm up.  We arrived early and commented that we thought there were far fewer people this year than last probably due to the weather.  However, by the time half an hour had gone by, we agreed that there were actually twice as many people participating as last year.

Our inspiration, Ken Kirkpatrick showed up in a lime green Survivor's tee-shirt along with wife SaSa and daughter, Tina and Tina's boyfriend, Shon Atabaki.  It was so great to see that Kenny was ready and able to walk a lap this year and didn't need a wheel chair! 

Team Kenny Leader of the Pack

A band was playing high-energy music and radio personalities Ron Upshaw, Co-Host of the Ron & Don Show on KIRO-FM and Pat O'Day were busy recognizing the many teams involved this year.  To add to the level of excitement, a team of around thirty volunteers dressed in bright orange tee shirts came together for a flash mob dance shortly before the start of the walk.

Rod Hoffman, Ken Kirkpatrick, Claudia Campanile

There were different individual teams with matching kershiefs, golden gladiator helmets, purple tutus, and matching feather boas.  Team Kenny was the team with the blue balloons though a few of our balloons escaped into the sky as they were being passed out to team members.  Claudia Campanile brought balloons but said it was really hard to get helium balloons this year.  Who knew that there was a helium shortage and helium tanks are hard to come by currently?  I wonder where all the helium is being used.

I didn't count how many Team Kenny members there were this year, but I estimate that there were around forty including additional friends, Toni & Rod Hoffman, Nancy Hochman, Kristie Mock, and Debora Centioli.

The Kirkpatrick family cheers!



SaSa, Ken & Tina Kirkpatrick, Shon Atabaki

 

We were all there to cheer Kenny on and it is so heart-warming to see how his family has surrounded him with love and  rallied around him during this long and difficult battle.  And I know that they were all so happy to be there together today!

We're there with you!