SoupSocial

Click on
photo for a
larger image

Photos by:
Stacey
Buzby

To everyone from The Victors Family

Dear Families and Friends who are here to support us as we go through this experience of treating Virginia’s
Thymoma. We want you to know how very much we appreciate all that you have done for us and all that you are
doing. There are no words to express our feelings. We always considered our beekeeping friends as very
special. That you have gathered together in this place is proof of that.

All of you know Virginia’s story. All of you know what a wonderful girl she is. This adventure is shaping her into an
even greater and stronger person. Her faith has grown; her confidence has grown; her love for others has
grown. Our entire family has grown with this experience. Our past has taught us that every difficulty that we have
faced has made us better people. We cannot imagine how difficult this journey would be without our friends and
our families to support us. We draw our strength from you. Your prayers and thoughts to us are tangible.

We received a glass heart in our mailbox at Ronald McDonald house. On the bottom of the heart’s container was
a strip of paper stating, “Virginia, keep on smiling.” In going online to heartishot.com, we found that the heart has
traveled only to one other person, who gave it to us. This is his story that I thought we would share with you
tonight at this soup social.

David’s Story
HEART NUMBER: 242

This is the story of a heart that sojourned out with much love from my wife Terri. I wanted to make sure it went into
hands that were full of love and full of life! I volunteer with pleasure on Tuesday nights at Ronald McDonald House
in Seattle. I was privileged a fortnight ago to encounter a new guest at the house and her kind family, the Victors.
When I first glanced upon Virginia she was being wheeled out to the
van I was driving. She had that hollow out stare with dark circles around her eyes, and I could tell she was in a
battle with Chemo and that she was just stepping out of a tough round one. She may have been only 10 years old,
but it was something in her smile that I could tell she was a seasoned fighter, and knew how to go the distance.

I was mesmerized as I saw Virginia at the front desk, it was only a week's passage of time and the magic was
back. Her smile lit up the whole lobby at the house; she was laughing and talking at 300 miles per hour. She was
along ways from her home in Alaska, but she had great family with her go all ten rounds. The voyage out into the
city tonight was a nice escape from reality for her, like a going to a movie, if only for a few hours. She nearly
jumped into the van when it was time to depart, leaving the wheelchair behind her. I was thrilled. This is why I
volunteer.

Virginia, this heart is precious to me, since my wife gave it to me with her love. I am giving it to you since you
passed me a little bit of your smile, and energy and love of life. I will always be in your corner!

Dave the Van Man

In closing, we just wanted to say thank you to our beekeeping family! Thank you for being in our corner!

Love and gratitude,
Steve, Donna, Jesse and Virginia Victors

On the regular Monday meeting night, April 28,2008, SABA sponsored a
benefit fundraiser. Dawn Cowan organized a Soup Social for ten year
old Junior Beekeeper, Virginia Victors. Virginia is in Seattle Children's
Hospital with cancer. She is the daughter of SABA's president and our
secretary, Steve and Donna Victors and sister to big brother, Jesse.
Over 100 people attended.
Almost $2,000.00 was raised at the event, between donations for soups
and auctions for donated items.
With the mailed in donations and the social, a Total of $3,175.50 was
raised.

Thank you to everyone who donated, cooked, and attended.

(Scroll down below the photos for a letter from the Victors family.)

Southcentral Alaska Beekeepers Association