Stuffed Animal Kick-off

On the first weekend of the stuffed animial drive for the children of Scottish Rite Hospitals, we've already collected over 700 furry creatures!  Our athletes were around town this past Saturday at the drop-off sites including Hy-Vee, Cindy's Steakhouse, Goal Kick, KICD, Weasy's, and ILCC encouraging the general public to donate new or gently used stuffed animals.  If you would like to donate, go to any one of those drop-off sites and look for the bright blue and yellow boxes!

Make Your Donation ONLINE....

Don't want to mail a check?? Well, you can pay online by clicking on the following link....

DONATE ONLINE

Once you get to the secure form go to the Designation of Gifts section and check the box titled "Specific Program/Payment" Then you can enter the amount you want to donate and below that type "Boot, Scoot and Pedal" in the box next to "Program:"

We truly appreciate your donation to this wonderful charity!!

How do I donate to "Boot, Scoot and Pedal"?.....

Please make all donation checks payable to: Iowa Lakes Community College Foundations
In memo line simply write...."Soccer" or "Boot, Scoot & Pedal"

Mail checks to the following address:

Iowa Lakes Community College
Attn: Soccer Program
1900 Grand Avenue
Spencer, IA 51301

We will send a letter back to you to use for tax purposes.

Getting Things Started

Coach Farley & Nicholas James
reunite while Coach drives
through Arkansas.

I departed Spencer, Iowa on Tuesday morning shortly after my 5:30am run. It was a beautiful morning on the run and it was a great sign of how good my trip would be.

I will have to be honest...I was a bit nervous.

I knew that within the next 48 hours, I would have reunited with Mr. James in Arkansas and his son, Nicholas James.

I really wasn't too sure of what to expect.

The drive took all day and, I took my time. I even stopped in Tarkio, MO along the way and had lunch with an old teammate, Jason Goldberg who still resides in Tarkio...where I went to college for 3 years.

On Wednesday morning, at approximately 11:30am...I pulled into the parking lot of the restaurant where I was meeting Mr. James, "The Whole Hog Barbecue"! 

Great Barbecue at "The
Whole Hog"

It was a moment that I will forever keep in my thoughts. I pulled into the drive and there was Mr. James in his pick-up truck...but, to my surprise, sitted in the passenger seat was Nicholas James! It was incredible.

But, what was even more incredible was what I got to experience the next several hours. I was able to watch a true team work hand in hand together. Mr. Randall James and Nicholas, showed me what a true team looks like. From working TOGETHER to get out of a pick-up truck and into a wheelchair, to working together so that Nicholas can enjoy the amazing food at "The Whole Hog", to communicating...I had the priveledge of seeing a successful team in action.

I was also able to witness TRUE HAPPINESS. Nicholas James' car accident may have changed his life in many ways...from walking to not walking, from being independent to needing 24/7 care givers, and many other ways. But, the car accident DID NOT change Nicholas James' heart. It did not change Nicholas James' soul. It did not change Nicholas James' mind. And it did not change Nicholas James' personality.

The "Bear Lea" Farm

Nicholas James is a very happy person. If you spend a few hours with Nick, like I had the opportunity to do...he will make you smile, he will make you laugh, and he will make you wonder...he made me wonder how in the world I ever allow myself to NOT be happy.

Nicholas James changed my life for the better on Wednesday, November 10, 2010.  And every push or pull of the pedals that I make on the bike ride in April will TRULY be in HONOR and DEDICATION of Nicholas James and his wonderful teammate...and Father, Mr. Randall James.

Head Coach, Kevin Farley is traveling through Arkansas and Texas throughout this next week to meet with the James' family, the United Cerebral Palsy Organization, and Alex Schindler Director of the Panda Cup Tournament in Lewisville, Texas.

Stuffed Animal Collection Stations Finalized...

The Iowa Lakes Soccer Program, KICD 107.7, LITE 104.9 and KICD AM 1240 have finalized the collection stations which will be located in Spencer, Iowa for the collection of stuffed animals. All stuffed animals collected will be donated to the Scottish Rite Hospital for Children. In turn, the Scottish Rite Hospital uses the stuffed animals to give to the children who are patients at the hospital.

More details will be release soon through the media.

We will be looking to accept donations of new and "gently" used stuffed animals from community members of the Spencer, Iowa area.

If you would like to make a donation, you may drop off your stuffed animals at one of the following locations in Spencer:

KICD Radio Station, 2600 Highway Blvd, Spencer, IA
Iowa Lakes Community College, 1900 Grand Avenue, Spencer, IA
SouthPark Mall, 901 11th Street SW, Spencer, IA
Cindy's Steak House, 331 11th Street SW, Spencer, IA
Weasy's Lounge & Grill, 216 Grand Avenue, Spencer, IA
HyVee Grocery Store, 819 N Grand Avenue, Spencer, IA
Goal Kick Sporting Goods, 411 Grand Avenue, Spencer, IA

Your donation will be greatly apreciate!