4 countries, 3 continents, 1 hope

When Team Elise was formed over 4 years ago, it was done so only a few weeks after Elise was diagnosed. Some shirts were hastily put together the night before and a handful of friends came out to walk.

This year, Team Elise had over 100 people join us (we had close to 150 sign up, but many people had to back out due to illness and bad weather). Despite the rain, I was overjoyed at how many people came out and walked in support of Elise and people with diabetes everywhere.

But do you want to hear the coolest thing of all?  Besides the U.S.A., Team Elise has had people walk in Canada, Portugal, and now Mozambique.  Four countries.  Three continents.  It fills me with such hope

If you've read my blog for awhile, you know that we have a good friend in Portugal (Tiago) who took it upon himself to organize a walk for Team Elise.  There is no JDRF walk there; HE went out and got the sponsorships, had the shirts made, got people to sign up and raised money.  Two years in a row...

Last year, we had the honour of walking with almost 200 people, most of which had no connection to diabetes or Elise.  It was one of the most beautiful things I have ever been a part of.

Of course, there is also Team Elise Canada.  Put together by Fred's Mom and sister in Toronto.  I love that we have people walking for Elise in my home and native land.

This year, sadly, our friend Tiago moved away from Portugal.  But I was blown away to learn that his Mom taken up the torch this year for Team Elise and on the very day we were walking in Texas, there was a group of beautiful people doing the same in Portugal.

Not only that, but half a world away, Tiago was at it again... this time from his new home in Mozambique.  Again, on the very same day we walked.

Keep in mind, there is really no JDRF presence in Portugal or Mozambique, this was all done by people on their own time.

I still cannot wrap my head around the love these people have shown us.  And I don't think I can properly express just how much it means to me when people take the time to stand with us.  On the days where diabetes has kicked me down, and I feel like I can't take one more minute of it, I think I will return to this post to bring me to my feet again. 

Thank you to everybody who has given me the strength to keep fighting this fight for my daughter.

Muito obrigada

A little thank you video Fred put together with some pictures from the Team Elise Portugal walk.

Muito obrigada means thank you very much in Portuguese.

Team Elise Portugal... more pictures!

Here are some more pictures from the walk. I wish I knew all the names of the people that appear in these pictures, but I don't. I just wanted to share their beautiful faces with you. I am thankful for everyone of them.

The walk took place at the Parque das Nações (site of the '98 Expo) right by the Vasco da Gama bridge

Saying a few words before the walk begins

Love seeing all the blue!

Away we go!

Love this picture for the background... people playing soccer on a beautiful Sunday morning

Cheeeese! (or should I say Queijo!)

Elise and her cousin Carolina.

Run!

Walking along the Tejo River

So many came to walk

People of all ages

Love their smiling faces

Babies came to "walk" too!

Unfortunately, I missed out on my massage!

This picture overwhelms me. How about you?

So there you have it... Team Elise Portugal 2011, was a HUGE success! Thank you to everyone who was invovled.

A quick P.S. - I've posted my non-D related Portugal trip stuff on my other blog. Click here to read it.

Team Elise - Portugal style!

I wanted my first post about Portugal on here to be this one, because it was undoubtedly the coolest. Let me give you a little background...

We have this friend, Tiago. Fred met him in NYC, and he has since moved back to Portugal. Last year, he organized a walk the coincided with the one here in Dallas.

This year, since we were going to be in Portugal, he planned it during our trip. When I say HE planned it, that's exactly what I mean... Tiago was pretty much a one-man walk-planning committee. It was not put on by the JDRF, or any other diabetes group. It was started and run by Tiago. I think he had some help, but there were times when Fred would be on the phone with Tiago, discussing walk things at 10:00 pm our time (4:00 am in Portugal).

The end result was a fantastic walk, complete with shirts, sponsors, and almost 200 people walking. I cannot believe that so many people, most of which have no connection to Elise or diabetes, would come out and walk to show support. I think it really speaks to the generosity of the Portuguese spirit. I don't have the final numbers on what was raised, but Tiago thinks it could be over $2000 Euro (almost $2900 USD).

Many of the people were return walkers from last year and were so excited to meet Elise. Some even wanted to have their picture taken with Elise!

One of the best parts was meeting Laurinda. She is a Portuguese D-Mom that has a 11 year old daughter, Clara, with type 1. She and her family made the 3 hour drive to be a part of the walk. And like all Portuguese people, she showed up bearing gifts for the kids and some yummy Portuguese pastries too!

I wish we had had more time to spend together. Laurinda was so great to talk to, and I felt connected to her right away, even though we had just met. It just shows you how D links us together, despite being from different countries, continents, and cultures.

Okay, get ready... because I have a buttload of pictures to share. I might even have to do two separate posts because there are so many! The following pics are the ones from our camera.

Team Elise... Portugal!

The guest of honour

Too cute for words

All I can say is that Fred needs to shave (he doesn't while on vacation)

And away we go

A long blue line

Cousins!

Fred's sister, their cousin and her husband & son (R to L)

Fred's Grandma (R) and her friend, Olga

Fred's Mom (R) and her friend, Odete

Turning around point and water station

Fred with Laurinda and her family (Clara is in the middle)

Lunch time after the walk

All the type 1s that were there for the walk (except Fred, of course)

Elise sporting her cute bow made by Laurinda

Elise and the amazing Tiago!

Team Elise... in Portugal!

The picture to the left is of a good friend of ours, Tiago. Fred met him a number of years ago in New York, and he has been an amazing supporter of Team Elise from the very beginning. Last year, he surprised us by flying in from New York so he could do the walk with us.

Unfortunately, Tiago has moved back to Portugal, but is still very much a part of Team Elise. On September 25th at 3:00 pm (the exact date and time of the walk here in North Texas), he will be walking in Lisbon. He had some shirts made up, raised sponsorship money, and is rallying his friends to come join him. Fred and I cannot thank him enough for his devotion to Elise and our cause.

How cool is that? Team Elise has been represented in THREE (U.S., Canada, and now Portugal) counties now. The only question is, where to next???