Stories

Ammon Days 2024

   Saturday I was able to have a booth for the Foundation at the annual Ammon Days event. Kristi and I would like to thank Bailey Thorne and Carter Riggins for all their help. Before I get into the story, let me give you a little background on Ammon Days. Back in 1965, Mel and Dixie Richardson started the first Ammon Days to raise money for a swimming pool for the city of Ammon. If that name sounds familiar, it’s because they are Kristi’s parents.

   This event seems to get bigger each year, and I have been fortunate enough to be one of the non-profit groups able to have a booth there for free. They have a lot of amazing events and programs. One of the biggest attractions is the Hot Air Balloon rides. One of the City of Ammon officials reached out to me and said they wanted to give the Foundation two tickets for a Hot Air Balloon ride we could raffle off to raise money. We were so grateful for the tickets and when we brought it up to the Board, it was decided we would all sell 20 $10 raffle tickets to win the two Hot Air Balloon ride tickets. We were able to raise over $1,700 which we will use to purchase gas cards for cancer families. (A story for another time is the contest and bet Kristi and I had on who could sell the most tickets!)

   The booth we had at Ammon Days wasn’t the one I selected. Instead of the spot I had chosen, I was moved to a spot that would have been the last one I would have picked. I was frustrated, because I was positive, we would be able to raise more money in the first location. I let the situation annoy me for a while. Then I realized there wasn’t much I could do about it at this point, so I decided to make the best of it. I implemented my simple philosophy of “It’s not what happens to you, it’s what you do with it.”

   I think the best part of the event was to see all the families and little kids enjoying themselves. As the day moved forward, we were able to sell a few items and raffle tickets. We were able to talk to several people about the Foundation and its goal to help cancer patients and their families. I was happy with all the conversations I was having with people, when a lady came up and told me “I noticed your Foundation was here today and I just had to come over and thank you.” She told me she was dealing with cancer years agon, and the Foundation helped her. “You don’t know what that meant to me at the time,” she said with a little tear in her eye. When she told me her name, I remembered her and being able to help her out. She was one of the first cancer patients the Foundation was able to help with medical expenses. We talked for a little while longer, and she told me she is cancer free, and everything is going well. “That makes me very happy,” I told her.

   I can’t tell you how much it meant to me to have someone let you know you made a difference in their life. I need to thank our wonderful and generous community for all of their donations and support. Opportunities like this would not be possible without your help. I have always said these occasions are blessings that money could never buy. It helped me realize the location of the booth was never a problem. It put everything in perspective. I am looking forward to Ammon Days next year, and I encourage anyone that can to attend and bring you family.

Thanks for reading.