A Thousand Acts of Kindness
February 25, 2001

So often life deals us hard blows. Who among us has not been humbled by the harshness those blows can mete out. The seemingly arbitrary manner in which cancer and other awful diseases strike their victims can leave us helpless, overwhelmed and dejected. They remind us that there are no promises that life will be fair; no guarantees that exercise and healthy eating will protect us or our loved ones from the cruelest face of fate. Each of us, every day, must decide how we will respond to such things.

On Sunday February 25, 2001, our community made an unbelievable statement in response to what life has dealt Tim Simpkins. Led by a cadre of GWTC members we said that such harshness must be met with equally strong kindness and togetherness. We responded by saying that in response to life's arbitrariness we must treasure every minute we are given as an opportunity to make our world a better place than we found it. An act of kindness is a powerful means to accomplish this goal. Most importantly, we must be willing to reach out to each other when the need is there.

Over 400 people showed up at the Leon High School track to do what they could to help Tim, Cora, Rachael, John, Mark and the rest of the Simpkins family fight a very tough battle against cancer. This group and many more sent their own special message about what is most important in life. They took the time to show support and kindness for a wounded friend and his family. They brought energy to help them fight the battle, money to help them pay for the expenses and a whole lot of love to help them though one those really devastating blows from life. Some walked one lap, while others formed teams that ran hundreds of laps. One ran over one hundred laps in combat boots because he wanted to feel his friend's suffering and pain and be a source of the courage and strength necessary for Tim to prevail in his battle with kryptonite. He joined three others who ran over 100 laps, including one who had been by his side spreading the message of fitness and fun in costume to school kids all over the county. Two more did over 80. Many ran more than 50. Some gave as little as $5 and others gave over $350, but amazingly they just kept coming and giving until at the end of the day over $16,800 had been collected.

They brought all these things and more to this very special day, and in exchange they took home something very special, because you cannot give that much away and not find more coming back to you than left. GWTC, your kindness and generosity today exceeded all expectations. It made the world a better place than it had been on February 24th, 2001. And today you have grown so much stronger as a result. Today you have proven that kindness can in fact match life's most bitter harshness.

Tim, we continue to wish you the best and to keep you in our thoughts and prayers. And whatever the outcome of this battle, we thank you, Cora, Rachael, John and Mark for helping to make us all better.