I’ve got some good news. I’ve got some bad news.
Well….
we’ve got some good news about the van contest. There’s also some not-so-good news about the van contest. They say you should start with the bad news when you have both good and bad news so you can end things on a positive note. I’ll buy that. So here goes…
The Bad News
It’s really not unexpected news, to be honest. It’s really something we should have expected, since we started the campaign so late. We have found out that we did not advance to the next round in our quest to get a wheelchair-accessible van. The top 5% vote-earners have been announced and we are not on that list. We fell significantly short. By our best estimates, we would have needed ten times more votes than we received.
Thank you, again, for all your support and for helping to get so many people to vote!
The Good News
There’s two parts to this good news. And it’s very good news:
1.) Three families are still receiving wheelchair-accessible vans.
While we aren’t one of those families, I’m happy that three other families will have access to this life-changing piece of equipment. In reading through many of the stories shared during the campaign, I was moved by all of them. I wished every family could win and receive a van. And while that’s not possible at this time, at least we can celebrate that three people will have their lives changed.
2.) We’re not done.
We have a year to plan for another voting effort (assuming they do it again next year). Unless we somehow have an opportunity to gain access to a wheelchair-accessible van through some other means between now and then, we’ll be submitting our story again next year. We’re down but not out. We’ll be back.
I don’t think I can say this enough: thank you for helping us out. We’re humbled by the outpouring of support. Now isn’t the time to be sad. It’s time to celebrate. It’s time to regroup. It’s time to knock this thing out of the park next year.
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I’m so sad to hear this Matt! However, you are right in saying YAY for the families who are getting them. I’m sure you understand a lot better than I how it eod be a tremendous help to anyone in the situation to need one. I’m ready with my voting fingers for next year. And also praying something comes sooner Lord willing. 🙂
P.s. I would buy you the van if I had the means, I mean that sincerely however it would come with one stipulation. Lol. Of course that would be for the family to come back to little old Cowan because we miss ya!
Miss you guys too! We’ll find our way up there again someday. I’ll keep you posted. Who knows? Maybe I’ll wind up doing some guest preaching in the area sometime in the future. Stranger things have happened! 🙂