Miss Becky's Blog

3rd Annual SMILEY's FUN RUN - 2008

In honor of the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, China, the 3rd Annual SMILEY’s FUN RUN will have an “Olympic” theme this year, as we continue to light the “torch” of friendship and love between our American Family and the students of the Special Gao Chun School in Nanjing, China, by supporting the SUNSHINE Project AND encouraging HEALTH and FITNESS! This year's FUN RUN will give participants an opportunity to learn more about the true Olympic spirit of sportmanship and the hard work required to push our bodies to perform well.

The students at the Gao Chun School will set their date and carry out their FUN DAY in China under the direction of the Sunshine Project leaders in Nanjing. We understand that the school has a new playground this year where the FUN RUN will take place.

Members of the Ken and Becky Mitchell Family in America will carry out their FUN RUN in the different locations where they live in America, according to this plan:

* Each participant (adults and youth) chooses which “Olympic” event they will do from the following: Walking /Jogging . . . Running . . . Biking . . . Swimming

* Each participant chooses a goal, how much distance they will walk, run, bike, etc. It can be any number that will be a good challenge for that individual. All who complete their GOAL will receive a Smiley’s Fun Run "medal" just like the "Olympic" winners received!!!

* Each “family group” will plan and carry out their own event on a day that works best for them in the area where they live.

* We (Ken and Becky) will donate $$ to the SUNSHINE PROJECT for every mile completed during each family FUN RUN event as well as for the "total miles" completed by the students at the Gao Chun School.

* After completing your run, walk, bike ride or swim, we encourage all to do something FUN together that you enjoy . . . be creative and share what you do!

* Please complete your FUN RUN by early November and send your report and pictures to Nana/Miss Becky at: missbecky@xmission.com

WATCH for reports of completed FUN RUNS as they come in.

Keep Smiling and "Move It"

2nd ANNUAL SMILEY's FUN RUN -- China Edition

On October 27th, 2007, the same day American friends were participating in SMILEY's FUN RUN, the SUNSHINE Project leaders along with the children and teachers of the Gao Chun Special School, near Nanjing, China were also completing their FUN RUN field day AND earning money for the SUNSHINE Project to support the special school. (Click on Sunshine Project -- Nanjing, China to learn more about the project.)

Note the sign on the fence . . .

Aren't those SMILES great????

Note the long shelve, white t-shirts this year. The project leaders had them done in China to save to costs of shipping them from America! They look great!

After completing the "running" and reaching their goals, everyone was set for FUN playing games and doing races with the "smiley faced" equipment sent from America.

LOVE that SMILE!!!!

Aren't those GREAT SMILES!!!!

Here's more SMILES with two project leaders in the center back. Note the "smiley faced" sticker on some of their shirts!

Here the children's DRUM band perform. It's so AWESOME to see what these deaf children can DO -- Thanks to their great teachers!

Here's the report from Weina Hua, one of the SUNSHINE Project leaders. Weina is in this picture on the back row, on the right of the only lady with blonde hair.

"We have now (come) back from the trip. It's wonderful. You will see from some of Jinghong's photos (above). It's a very fine day (we had rain yesterday). And we had a very suitable tempearture to wear the t-shirt. The kids are so happy to have the awards from American grandparents. They all reached their goals they settled. Many of them have been keeping on running since last year's Fun Run. Many kids have made progress. They are sunshine covered kids growing up healthy and happy."

For your information, Amercian Grandparents agreed to pay $10 to the SUNSHINE Project for every one of the children who reached their running goal -- 96 children did, so $960 will be transferred to the SUNSHINE Project account in Nanjing, China.

A special THANKS to all the Project leaders and supporters in China who helped make this FUN RUN there possible. It is our hope that it will be an ANNUAL event to promote HEALTH and FITNESS as we work together with American Friends to raise funds to support the SUNSHINE Project.

Keep MOVING, Keep RUNNING and most of all Keep SMILING!!

2nd Annual SMILEY's FUN RUN is a Great Success

The 2nd Annual SMILEY's FUN RUN in America was held in Logan, Utah on Saturday, October 27th, 2007 with Ken (Smiley) and Miss Becky's grand children, a niece and nephew and our dog, Pingle.

Our two oldest grandsons, Baylor (11) and McKay (10), help Miss Becky to place "smiley face" balloons" and mile signs at different location in town early that morning! We followed the same route as the year before, but the focus this year was on FUN, so we made stops along the way for FUN activities and snacks!!!

In fact the "RUN" began with FUN at the Golf Course where we all hit golf balls!

Jake (our nephew), Baylor and McKay all like to play golf!

Gavin (4) was the youngest participant in Logan this year . . . he also loves to hit golf balls!!!

It's time to start the RUN . . .

GET READY . . . GET SET . . . GO. . .

Britt (9) and Gavin slow the pace and "walk" . . .

Jack (5), Gwen (7) and Gavin enjoy the autumn leaves along the way.

At the high school field we stopped for a quick, fun soccer (football) game with "smiley faced" balls.

Here's one of the SMILEY's FUN RUN signs pointing the way to go as we walk/jog through the city of Logan, Utah.

It's a BEAUTIFUL fall day in Logan . . . great for the FUN RUN!!!

FUN stop at our favorite Bakery for a snack and a rest!

At the next corner we are met by our youngest daughter and son, Kara and Brady. Kara missed her flight the day before from Boston, so Brady had to go to the airport to get her and they joined us when they got to Logan. (Kara is sort of hidden behind the children -- she is wearing a green hat and glasses.

On we go and it LOTS more fun to "walk" in the leaves AND . . .

even MORE fun to "play" in the leaves!!!

The next FUN stop was at a playground at one of our favorite parks. Here Gavin swings as others

play on the new climbing wall . . .

Gavin gets a ride in the wagon that we pulled for our water bottles, snacks and equipment . . .

On the way back to Ft. Smiley (our home) we stopped at a neighbors garden where I had placed pumpkins

for EACH of the children to select one.

Here we are all back at Ft. Smiley . . .

We had lots of FUN and covered a distance of over four miles!!! But the FUN did not end here. Kara and Brady took the children ice skating while I made preparations for a special Cousins' Halloween Party. The children dressed up in costumes, decorated their pumpkins, played games and took went on a walk in the dark with flashlights!!!

The donations from America totaled $2,000 (about 16,000 RMB) for the SUNSHINE Project. The goals of the project had been met!!!

2nd Annual SMILEY's FUN RUN

Dear Friends,

Since SMILEY's FUN RUN was such a fun, good experience for our family and friends, especially the Chinese children at the Gao Chun Special School, we have decided to make it an ANNUAL event.

The purpose of the FUN RUN will be to have FUN together as we

* Promote good health and fitness for family and friends,

* Raise $$ to support the SUNSHINE Project in Nanjing, China, and

* Put SMILES on the faces of all who participate!!!

It will be held each year in the fall around Ken/Smiley's birthday in honor of the first FUN RUN, where we were able to pull off the most "spectuar suprise" of Ken's life!!!

Our "Top Secret Mission" was accomplished AND our grandchildren loved it. Months ago they started asking what we were going to do to celebrate Pappy's birthday this year? That got Ken and I to thinking and we have been in contact with the Sunshine Project leaders in China to set it all up.

The 2nd ANNUAL SMILEY's FUN RUN will be held on: Saturday, October 27th 2007 in Logan, Utah and at the Gao Chun Special School near Nanjing, China AND anywhere you live, for example our son K.C. will be "running" in Las Vegas and is inviting some young friends to participate as a service project.

The FUN RUN will be 7 miles again here in Logan, or whatever length that would be a good goal for you and yours. Some of our younger grandchildren will "run" a shorter distance, with some stops along the way to do some FUN activities. We post a report of our FUN RUN on my BLOG after October 27th.

We have challenged each of the Chinese children and our grandchildren to set their own GOAL for what they want to accomplish this year and EACH will be rewarded for reaching their GOAL!!

The SUNSHINE Project leaders in China are printing t-shirts for the children there to save shipping costs --- our family will use our shirts from last year. We are sending some "smiley" prizes for each of the children who complete their "walking, jogging, running" goal.

I'll also be posting several articles on health/fitness on my BLOG at: http://www.xmission.com/~kmitch/becky/ that to be used by the Chinese teachers to promote greater knowledge and awareness of the vital role exercise and positive emotions (love, caring, & happiness) play in our health, overall well-being and fitness.

If you live in Logan, you are invited to come "walk/jog/run" with us at 10:00 am on October 27th. If any of you want to do something for your health and "walk/jog/run" where ever you are, we would appreciate knowing and receiving your pictures so we can share with the Chinese children, all those who participated.

We are inviting our grandchildren to make any donation they want to the Sunshine Project, rather than giving Ken or I birthday gifts. AND it has to be money that they have "earned" themself, not just given them by their parents. We want them to learn early to care about others and learn to give!

Donations of any amount to the SUNSHINE Project will be welcome:

In China donations can be sent to:

JIN JIAN (Jane is her English name)

Bank of China in Nanjing, HuNan Road Sub-Branch, PR China

Account number 4447802-0188-052027-3

Jin Jian, is the treasurer of the SUNSHINE Project and if you have any questions please call her at 13851986887.

In America, donation checks can be sent to:

Ken & Becky Mitchell

149 East 700 North

Logan, UT 84321

Phone: 435-752-2466

If you would like to learn more about the SUNSHINE Project, please go to my BLOG and click on the Category "Sunshine Project - Nanjing, China."

Hope you all have had a good summer and are enjoying beautiful fall or autumn weather now. It's very beautiful here in Logan, we are especially enjoying cooler temperatures after a hot, record setting summer.

KEEP MOVING AND SMILING!!!

Much love,

Ken and Becky Mitchell