MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

We hope everybody had a safe and fun-filled holiday week! Spending time with family is always  a great stress reliever or maybe for some, the cause of stress!  In our family we all feel the void of Ruth being gone, but we continue to celebrate the holidays as she would have wanted us too. 

It's been a while since we have updated so here are some current events through the RCRF:

-This year for Christmas Ruth's family decided to donate money to a great cause rather than give presents. We may be a little prejudice, but the great cause of course was the Ruth Cooper Research Fund! The idea was brought up by Mary Ann Budke, Ruth's mother.  She called all of her kids and the older grandkids and asked if it was okay, instead of buying gifts, she donated money to the fund and the same in return for her gifts.  Everybody agreed to it and together, we were able to make a contribution of $2705!  Thank you so much for everybody who joined in on the fun! 

-We also received the check from Thrivent Mutual Funds from the fundraiser we held last March. Thrivent matches a certain amount raised depending on the number of people who attended the event with Thrivent Insurance.  The total we received was $1500!   Thank you Thrivent!

-Speaking of fundraisers, there was a lot of going back and forth on whether or not to do another event in March of 2012.  We received so much support from the people, the local communities, and different companies, we weren't sure we could ask them to do it all again the following year.  The main reason was that two of Ruth's daughters were pregnant and had their babies in December.  Our family felt like it would have been too much for us to put on another fundraiser this year.  Having said that, we are not giving up this fight.  From the beginning we have said that we will continue until we find a treatment for this disease.  Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers. Continue to watch for updates from the Ruth Cooper Research Fund.  We don't know what the Lord has in mind for us, but we all feel we are meant to take our sadness and pain and use it towards something constructive. 

-We have kept in touch with the research being done in Texas that we donated money to.  They are hoping to have some results by the end of January. Hopfully with patience, will come good news!  As soon as we do hear anything, we will post the information!

Thank you for taking the time to check in on us and God Bless.
The Ruth Cooper Research Fund