MCC Strawberry Festival

Just because I'm not running and training hard doesn't mean I'm not making other progress on my R4OPL causes. I spent the whole weekend at Monroe Congregational Church's Strawberry Festival (my church). It's a fabulous annual event that brings the town together on our historic town green and helps our small congregation meets its internal and community outreach budget goals.

My boy scout troop, Troop 63, camps out on the green both nights each year to make sure no one comes in during the night to create problems with the crafters' wares and we also help them set up their displays at the beginning and take them down at the end.

This year during the festival we had our own booth for the first time. The troop ran a "Timber Signing" to collect money for ScoutsCAN and I also promoted my Ultra Challenge run. The concept of a Timber Signing is that people pay $5 to write warm wishes on 2x4 lumber which will then be built into the actual homes of Habitat for Humanity in Bridgeport, CT. It was a great success, we raised approximately $285 over the course of the weekend for ScoutsCAN. Personally though many people were interested in finding out about my run, I only raised $25 for that, but I did continue to raise awareness for the underlying causes which are so important to me.

I am proud of the hard work my troop put into the weekend. Service to others is a big part of our troop and I hope that as the boys grow up, what we have accomplished as a troop will leave a lasting impression with them to continue to help others throughout their lives.

MCC and Troop 63... you all are awesome!