First of all, my apologies for the late notice on this event. Plain and simple - I've been busy and neglected to get the word out.

But...

We are doing our 2nd Annual Lacey Pate Poker Run here in Polk County. 100% of proceeds go to help our little angel get the surgeries she needs every year (see below). Here are the event details (we would be honored to have you guys attend our event again):

What: Lacey Pate Poker Run
When: February 5th @ 11:00 AM (registration)
Where: Giovanni's New York Pizza
6959 Cypress Gardens Boulevard, Winter Haven, FL
(863) 324-9100
See Map Below
Why: Cuz Jeep Stuff is cool.
Why again: Cuz You wanna come help a little girl and win some kick donkey raffle prizes. All the cool kids are doing it.

So can you make it? We sure hope so. I will do my best to check back on these threads (all over the place) - but if I dont answer questions - email me: Karnuvore@gmail.com

God Bless.

Maps:

OK - here is the starting point. Giovanni's Pizza on Cypress Gardens Boulevard. If you came to our event last year, this place is JUST up the road from last year's starting point.

Address:
Giovanni's New York Pizza
6959 Cypress Gardens Boulevard, Winter Haven, FL
(863) 324-9100 ‎

Link to map:

http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ie...h&z=16&iwloc=A


A map zoomed in:


A map zoomed out:


The route is roughly 70 miles long. It goes to 3 bars/restaurants and there will be food at the end. It ends, as it did last year at Sorenson & Schade Jeep dealership in Lake Wales. We are 90% sure there will be wheeling opportunities along the route!

Lacey's story - in her mother's words:

In July of 1999 Lacey was born in Winter Haven, FL. She was immediately flown to Tampa General's NICU. After 2 weeks of intense testing the doctor's diagnosed her with King Syndrome. She is only the 3rd child to be born in the US with this syndrome. The doctor's said she would never live. At 3 weeks old she had her first surgery, this was to stitch down her diaphragm to allow her lung to work. This surgery was unsuccessful, so Lacey had to be on oxygen 24 hrs a day. Lacey's spine was crushing her lung, causing her to have chronic respiratory insufficiency. She had contractures of all her joints, causing her to be unable to raise her arms, walk or crawl. She also had severe kypho scoliosis, webbing of the neck, severe hearing loss, hypoglycemia, malignant hyperthermia, failure to thrive, a severe club foot and a vertical tailus. At 1 year old she had 3 surgeries to help correct her feet. She also had to have 2 surgeries on her hips. When she was 3 years old she was still on oxygen and on a bi-pap machine to help her breathe. Her lung doctor told us her condition was getting worse & if something wasn't done we could lose her. Her spine was now at a 86 degree curviture, & it was crushing her lung and in to her pelvic bone. No one in Florida could help her so they got us in contact with a doctor in Texas who had invented a surgery they thought might save Lacey's life. In Sept of 2002 when we flew out to meet with the team of doctor's Lacey was 3 years old and only weighed 18 lbs. The doctors agreed to do the surgery if Lacey had a feeding tube placed to help her gain some weight and a port so they could access her IV's since her veins were not very good. We came home & Lacey had both of those surgeries. In April of 2003 we flew back to Texas for the Titanium Rib Implant. Lacey was in a coma & on a respirator for 9 days. We were able to fly her back home a month later. The surgery helped and she was able to eventually come off of the bi-pap and is only on oxygen at night and when she is sick. Lacey had a great desire to walk and once again there was no one in Florida who could help her. Through the doctor in Texas we were able to find a surgeon who could help her but he was in Seattle. In May of 2007 we flew out and met with him and he scheduled her surgery for Oct. of 2007. She had 2 surgeries on her legs in Seattle, and we were able to bring her home 1 week before Christmas. Lacey is now able to do some walking with the help of a walker. She has now had a total of 25 surgeries & we travel every 6 months to Texas for surgery on her spine. She will continue to have surgery every 6 months for the next 7-8 years. The travel cost is an average of $3,000 - $5,000 every 6 months. Lacey requires oxygen on the plane which is $400 each trip, we rent a car and are usually in a hotel for about 2 weeks. We also have to eat each meal out or at the hospital. Lacey is a precious child with a positive attitude.

Thank you so much for considering Lacey for this fundraiser. This will truly be a blessing to her and our family.