Why We Fundraise? (Up Close & Personal)

My Mother's Reason
My name is Shirley Relien and I lost my 26 year old son Jeff in the fall of 2000 to Cystic Fibrosis. You may or may not be familiar with this dreadful childhood disease but Jeff was diagnosed at the age of 6 weeks with CF. I was a 20 year old girl that could barely say Cystic Fibrosis much less know what all it involved. So, as you can imagine our world seemed to fall apart for quite sometime. In 1974 the life expectancy was 12 years and we were told to take him home and love him as we had no guarantees as to how long he would survive.

Through the years with new drugs, research and the possibility of a transplant, things seemed to look up. But once again our world fell apart on September 22, 2000.

I made a commitment to myself and my son that I will continue as long as I am physically and mentally able or until a cure is found to raise money for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. It is my hope that one day no family will have to endure losing a son, brother and husband with so much life ahead of him.

Jeffory, as we get ready to start our intense effort to raise money for CF this year please know it is all for you.


My Sister's Reason
It has been almost 10 years since we lost my Bubba to his long battle with CF, and it still kills me to talk about him in the past tense. If I would have realized what was REALLY going on the weeks/days prior to his passing I would have shared many of my fears, jokes, and stories with him. I would have loved to hear his laugh one more time. He had an electric laugh that was ‘one of a kind’. That is one of the many reasons why I fundraise towards a cure for this nasty disease. So that another mother, wife, sister, daughter doesn’t have to lose a loved one that still had so much life to live. So that a mom can see her son smile with his one chipped tooth - So that a husband can tell his wife his endless collection of jokes - So that a brother can protect his sisters. I feel my brother’s presence here on earth; I see his smiles in my children’s eyes. I know he is with me, and that comforts me and encourages me towards my goals every year that I set in my Great Strides endeavors. He is my Hero; my Guardian Angel and I love him more than any words could ever describe. He was a true gem!!! This is why I fight…so that CF stands for a “Cure Found”!!!


My Reason
My brother, Jeffory “Bubba” Duane Smith touched anyone who ever came in contact with him, and he continues to touch people with his spirit. This year marks the 10th year of his passing, and I will tell you that it still feels like yesterday we were saying good-bye to him in the hospital. It was a very surreal moment in life, which no one can understand until they experience it themselves. Watching someone you love so dearly slip away right before your eyes is one of the most painful experiences I've ever been through. Then the aftermath...well, it was hard. But, we picked ourselves up for him...and started honoring his memory, because that is what he would want us to do.

Another reason I fight for this cause is because I know that I'm a carrier of the CF gene...when my identical twin sister got pregnant with her first child, she immediately knew that she should get tested, and that's when we found out that we also carried the gene that our mother does. Fortunately my brother in law doesn't...so...long story short, it was a relief to us all. But, I now know that in the future I too will have to go through the same trials and tribulation to find out if my future husband carries the gene. I have thought about it long and hard, being 27 and always knowing that I would want to be a mother, if there were a chance that my child would have CF, would I proceed with getting pregnant? The question is still unanswered, it was hard watching my mom go through what she did, but I know her love for him could conquer all, and that's the main reason I think I would still take a chance. Motherhood seems to be the most rewarding career anyone could ever have, and to have a bond with my children like my mom has with us, well I guess you could say that it’s pretty rare and really unique. So a cure for Cystic Fibrosis is very important to me, and that’s why I fight to raise the money for the best research to help find it.

In 2009, I decided that I was ready to take the plunge for our team and head up the first benefit concert in memory of my brother, and it was a success. We raised $5,000on April 17th, 2009 on a Friday evening with 3 bands, silent auction, and raffle. Thanks to Randy Ford, owner of J.Gilligan’s and Beverly James, with the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, I gained the confidence I needed to make this an Annual Event. So in 2010, our goal is to raise $10,000 with the concert event to benefit the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Great Strides, and Jeff’s Entourage. To make CF stand for Cure Found!

Mark the Calendar...

I'm an Organ Donor...and Damn Proud of It!

One of the most important things to CFers and their families...are viable/available LUNGS...when my brother was placed on the transplant list in 1999 it gave us HOPE...I became a donor and from then on I have realized the importance of HOPE and FAITH, Bubba didn't make it to transplant, but he believed in the process, and held on as long as he could...

Organ Donors, are few and far between and these are just a few questions I have for you?

Did you know that more than 96,000 men, women and children currently need life-saving organ transplants? and 7,000 of them live in the state of Texas?

That every 11-13 minutes another name is added to the national organ transplant waiting list?

That an average of 18 people die each day from the lack of available organs for transplant?

That in 2008, there were 7,984 deceased organ donors and 6,218 living organ donors resulting in 27,961 organ transplants?

That in 2007, approximately 30,000 grafts were made available for transplant by eye banks within the United States?

Sad Statistics...

According to research, 98% of all adults have heard about organ donation and 86% have heard of tissue donation.

90% of Americans say they support donation, but only 30% know the essential steps to take to be a donor.

There is an an estimated 24.8 million citizens in the state of Texas, and only 653,940 registered donors, which is about 38% of the population.

My Chanllege to all my readers is to become a donor today...and know that if in the event you could have the ability to give the "Gift of Life" and save or improve the lives of as many as 50 people. Please visit Donate Life Texas, and become a donor today!

A Sad Day...

thinking of you all at this time...with deepest and most sincere sympathy...thank you Eva for sharing your life with us all...your story has impacted the world...your legacy will continue, and you will never be forgotten...with a heavy heart...from, your friend in TX...Samantha Relien (www.jeffsentourage.blogspot.com)

A Night to Remember...

Jam Session
Michael Thomson of Michael's Restaurant, Ft.Worth.
With Pat and Patrick Davis
Meeting Pat for the 1st time...after being a fan for a good 10 years +!

John Mayer Review

The highlight of last nights show for me was hearing John sing Fleetwood Mac...this is from a previous concert, that I found on YouTube...wish my camera quality would have been better b/c I would have used my video. John Mayer...WoW...what a musician...what a great show...what great friends...a night I will never forget! His rendition of "Dreams" left all speechless and longing for more.




Thank you Tammy for sharing the tickets with your sisters...we had a blast!

3rd Band Added to the Line-up

I just received notification that 17 Hands High will join the line-up again this year. I've had my fingers crossed that they would accept my offer and after a week of patiently waiting for the word, I received it this morning...thanks George! Just wanted to share that with all my readers.

I'm going to leave you with a few photos from last years concert...I'm so ready for our 2nd Annual...and patio drinking with all the people I love, honoring one of the most dearest things in my life...we do it for you Bubba!