Beaux's Incredibowl

About six months ago, some of you dear readers may remember a post I wrote about a friend who had passed away a year prior. If you don't remember, it's here for your reading pleasure. Anyway, after his death, his family started a charity in his name, the Beaux Mettler Foundation. Last Saturday was the Foundation's most recent fundraising event.

The BMF is rapidly growing: each fundraiser they host seems bigger and more successful than it's prior. Saturday was the first Incredibowl, four hours of cosmic bowling and fun. Bowling has never really been my thing, so I had opted out of participating, but decided to still go to show my support and spend time with friends. My sister's team and Man Friend's teams were playing in lanes right next to each other, so I was easily able to chat and catch up with everyone I wanted to see. In addition to the bowling games, and the many raffle items and prizes (the number of prizes definitely seems to go up as well. Maybe I'm making that up, but it's what I like to think anyway), there was also a photo booth, complete with ridiculous props and costumes. It was so much fun going in the booth, making silly faces, and signing the book of prints for his parents, or for whoever the book was for. I've got a few different prints and I can't wait to frame them in my new apartment with Man Friend.

The fundraisers that the BMF are such incredible events, not just for the charity work they provide, but for the support they offer. These events are a wonderful way to get Beaux's friends and family together and seem to be such a positive outlet for everyone to cope with their loss. I don't think I've been to an event yet that was not filled with laughter and reminiscing. Not to mention, if creating a charity in honor of someone isn't the best damn way to let someone's memory and name live on, I don't know what is.

Saturday I learned more about the BMF than I had in the last year, and after hearing his sister talk about the work the organization is doing, I couldn't be more excited to be a part of it. No matter how small my part is, I know I'm contributing to a fantastic cause: one that I would willingly donate to, even if I didn't know who Beaux Mettler was. I learned that they are raising money for iPads and iPad (chargers? carts?) for children at the Milwaukee Children's Hospital, where Beaux had stayed when he first became ill. The kids can then use the iPads to Skype with friends and family at home as well as keep in contact with their teachers to avoid falling terribly behind.

This idea is so fantastic to me for a few reasons. 1) People never really think of donating iPads or technology to sick kids. The number one concern is always making sure they're well, or research, or paying bills. But making sure the children have a strong support system, can communicate with friends so they don't feel like they're missing out on their lives, and can keep up with their education carry just as much significance. 2) According to Man Friend, Skyping was one thing that Beaux loved to do with his friends while he was away in Milwaukee, and I think it's pretty damn cool that his family is carrying on his interests in such a profound manner.

I also learned how successful the charity has been. The previous fundraiser, a golf outing, raised approximately $30,000. Talk about an accomplishment! I couldn't even believe Sister when she told me that.    She also told me that she contacted an NFL player whose wife is pregnant and one of their twins is going to have the same heart condition Beaux had. The NFL player was apparently really interested, and called the organization looking for a way to become involved. Even though the NFL player is not from our home team of the Packers, I think that would be absolutely incredible to have a person of such high influence be a part of the organization.

I'm excited to see what else the BMF has in store. The fundraisers have made such an impact already, and I am eager to learn more about the difference it's making in kids' lives.

Watch for the Zumba and Tennis event on Facebook!