Thank you to all who participated in TCF Wenatchee Valley Chapter’s eighth annual “Walk To Remember” our children and our loved ones who died to soon. It was held Saturday, September 14th at Walla Walla Point Park in Wenatchee. The weather was absolutely beautiful and the camaraderie positive and comforting. Overall, the day was bittersweet and the “Walk” a success.

We – parents, family members, friends and others had the opportunity to honor our children and our loved ones in several ways before the walk even began. Debborah Jay designed and hand made butterfly cards for every participant of the event – they were beautiful and everyone loved them..

Our 2^nd year for our “Wreath of Remembrance” where we placed a memory card of our loved ones – the Wreath was carried in the Walk by our Scouts and it lead the Walk – it was awesome. We also honored our loved ones by placing their names on large banners which were carried on the Walk by the Boy Scouts. Then we all wrote the names of the children and loved ones on racing bibs which we wore on our shirts, a small representation of the love we carry in our hearts. It was truly a very memorial Walk To Remember.

After everyone registered, we were honored with opening remarks from Jeff Wilson, Funeral Home Director of Heritage Memorial Chapel who encouraged us to feel our grief and give it time to heal – a little bit at a time, and let others “be there” for us. We took his advice as we headed off on the two-mile walk together.

We walked in honor of our children and our loved ones whom we love and deeply miss.

Upon our return we wrote notes to our children and loved ones on balloons. I have to say a special “Thank You” to Bob Brown for organizing our balloon release to include a special donation from Oxarc, Inc. for the helium tanks to make this possible – it was just wonderful. Together, we released them to the sky and watched the colorful bouquet of love drift toward the clouds and beyond. And there seemed to be just one blue balloon drifting behind – not lost or out of sequence – it was the “Invisible String”. It was absolutely awesome. Then we enjoyed a fantastic lunch catered by Renee Swearinger of Entiat Food Company as well as our children’s favorite desserts which we brought to share with each other.

Finally, a special name were drawn for the beautiful queen size hand-made Quilt. And, guess what, it was won by me – surprise. I asked for my ticket to be torn up and we would re-draw – this time it was won by our Chapter Treasurer who also declined. And now for the 3^rd drawing won by one of our grandmothers who had just left the shelter and was on her way home. I had the pleasure of personally delivering the Quilt to her a couple of days later – and it went to a wonderful family in honor of a grandbaby who recently died.

The Wenatchee Valley Chapter holds the annual Walk to Remember as a community event which allows grieving families to honor the memory and love they have for their children and loved ones who have died, and to experience the compassion, support and inspiration that comes from being with others who through different but similar experiences, “understand.”

“Everyone Who Needs Us Will Find Us, and Everyone Who Finds Us Will Be Helped”

Below please find a listing of our 2019 “Walk To Remember” Sponsors who supported us and made this beautiful event a success. If you see one of these sponsors or are doing business with them be sure to thank them for their support of The Compassionate Friends, Wenatchee Valley Chapter