We have been so blessed by the precious people at Franklin Taekwondo Academy in so many ways
They held a series of fund raisers to raise money for the big one held on May 17th which was a tournament entitled
"At Peace With Destiny".
(See the article below, from the Tennessean, from the day before the tournament)
I love how it brought so many people together - it was a wonderful day :-)
Some of the money raised after the big tournament, was donated to Vanderbilt Children's Hospital in honor of Joshua, because the majority of the corporate sponsors requested that the money go directly to Vanderbilt.
There is some money that came from the bake sales, etc. that went to assist in paying for things and supplements I've had to get for Joshua.
You may click on the donate button, if you'd like to assist with all I've had to get for Joshua in his alternative / integrative healing, over the last year, and other things I am still doing and getting for him:
We are so grateful :-)
Photos below are from the big tournament, and the info after is about the 2 fund raisers prior.
Nelson Vieira, the photographer, is awesome and a joy to work with :-)
There was another Fund raisers which went toward the tournament (Trophies, rent cost, etc.). Below was schedule the mini fund raisers.
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ON April 26, 2008 What: Josh's Taekwondo Day at Alexander Plaza When: April 26th Time: 10 am until Silent Auctions Cook Out Bake Sale Kick-a-Thon Spar-A-Thon Open House And much more....
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There was also Chili Cook-off, Bake Sale Saturday March 15th from 10am-3pm at Franklin Taekwondo Academy. I Joshua was able to go, and made a couple of new friends - I am so grateful!
And another at Applebees last Saturday, April 5th, which was so wonderful!!!!! There was so much love there, from all who came and everyone from the Academy worked with such harmony - it was a great experience for us all & Joshua really loved everything about it too!
Suggestions have been made to really get the kids involved with this cause by collecting change for Joshua. "Pennies for Josh" This can be done through church, family, neighbors, school, under the sofa, etc.
We are always so grateful for the loving and healing thoughts prayers and decrees for his healing. Thank you all, so very much!!!!
In this photo from November, Joshua Stevens, who has a type of bone cancer, smiles as he is pushed by Phil Turner after receiving an honorary black belt from the Franklin Taekwondo Academy.
Donations arrive for Spring Hill teen fighting cancer
Tae kwon do tourney will help with medical costs
By BONNIE BURCH • Staff Writer • May 16, 2008
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SPRING HILL — Neighbors, friends and even strangers continue to support Joshua Stevens, a 16-year-old who lost his left leg to cancer.
A tae kwon do tournament on Saturday will kick in some money for his recovery while a Brentwood man recently donated a chairlift so the teen can get around his Spring Hill home.
"My youngest son is 16 and is quite active as a soccer player. And I can't imagine what Joshua is going through, or, for that matter, being a parent of a child with cancer," said lift donor Bob Bellenfant.
Joshua recently had the surgery at Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt to remove his leg at the hip.
Bellenfant's elderly parents used the lift while they were alive. But since both have passed away, he says the equipment was gathering dust in his garage. After reading an article in Williamson A.M. about Joshua's struggles, Bellenfant was inspired to act.
"The chair lift worked great for my parents. And it's not that old and still in great shape. I'm just glad that Joshua could use it," he said.
Bellenfant donated the lift to the Brentwood Rotary Foundation, who worked out the details to provide it to the family. Almost as important, installation of the equipment was arranged at no cost to the family.
In addition, Franklin Taekwondo Academy invited 22 training centers throughout the state to participate in a fundraising martial arts tournament. Joshua and his 17-year-old brother, Corey, who was diagnosed with osteosarcoma in his left arm in 2004, have lifetime memberships at the academy.
The tournament will begin at 10 a.m. Saturday at Academy Park on the former Battle Ground Academy campus on Columbia Avenue in Franklin. Admission is $5 or free to ages 5 and younger or ages 60 and older.
All proceeds go to Joshua Stevens and his family, said Franklin Taekwondo Academy owner and chief instructor Jack Smithson.
