Story and photos submitted by
SUSAN PONDER

As a child we all eagerly watched as a balloon, once in our hand, rose to the blue sky. While at the time we may have cried in our disappointment, our heart was actually leaping as it was imaginatively being carried away on the breeze with our balloon.  As adults, we continue to be mesmerized by the sight of a balloon floating in the sky.  It is a powerful image of what is possible and often causes one’s heart and spirits to be lifted. For many burdened with the weight of illness, a floating balloon can also symbolize HOPE battling air currents as it rises to the heavens and finally finds peace as it floats through frothy clouds.

The Forney Sole Sisters, a local Breast Cancer 3-Day walking team, would like to share HOPE as it celebrates Breast Cancer Awareness month during October. The team has planned numerous activities throughout the month and plans to kick off its celebration with a communitywide “pink” balloon launch. The kick-off event is scheduled to begin at 6:30 on Thursday, October 1 and will be held at the Forney Community Park Pavilion. Participants will have the opportunity to launch a balloon as a symbol of HOPE in honor of lost loved ones or in celebration of the lives of survivors as well as those currently battling the disease. The team would like to extend a special invitation to survivors and co-survivors to be a part of this event along with anyone whose life has been impacted by this disease.  It is their goal to fill the skies over Forney with pink and white balloons so all will know what it’s like when HOPE FLOATS!

The Forney Sole Sisters walking team was established four years ago and presently consists of 13 members. Nine of its members will be participating in the Breast Cancer 3-Day 60 mile walk scheduled to take place in Dallas on November 6 – 8.  Although preparation for the walk requires many hours of training and and other activities, the team recognizes the importance of increasing community awareness about breast cancer. In addition to the October 1 balloon launch, the team will partner with Forney businesses and “Paint Forney Pink” so all will be reminded to continue to HOPE that a cure will soon be found!

If you would like more information about the Forney Sole Sisters or any of its upcoming events, please contact Rebecca Trotter at 214/537-7367 or Renee Lee at 214/212-5855.

A list of upcoming events is given in an ad on page 6 of this issue.