The Gift That Keeps Giving

My 25^th anniversary @ TV 9 was celebrated on August 3^rd, but it has turned into the gift that keeps on giving. I continue to receive good wishes from viewers. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!! And gifts are coming in too.

I received a beautiful silk scarf from Cyndi Lubus decorated with painted breast cancer ribbons. We met about 10-years ago for a Buddy Check 9 report.

Monday a “Shelf Sitter” arrived in the mail. Instead of the black & white checks of the Harlequin figure, the costume, from head to toe is decorated with the cancer ribbon. It’s beautiful; my thanks to designer Judith C. Alston.

Then there’s Joni Reylea. A breast cancer survivor and an artist, I profiled the artist in a 2005 Buddy Check 9 report. Joni doesn’t walk the ACS Cancer Relay or the Komen Race for the Cure…but she uses her talent to raise funds and to celebrate those touched by cancer. She started painting a series of flowers she called “First Blooms.” Now those “First Blooms” are reproduced on umbrellas at $20 each. Portions of the proceeds are donated to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. For more information contact:

JCRelyea First Bloom Collection

4196 Merchant Plaza, Suite 621

Lake Ridge, Virginia 22192

or E-Mail Skyewind@aol.com

You can learn more about Joni in the Buddy Check 9 section of wusa9.com. Make a note, the September Buddy Check 9 report will discuss Breast Cancer & Fertility. And yes, we still have the gold truck.

Have a great rest of the summer.