My Friend Ray

I don't have many memories of life before meeting Ray Thompson. I do remember that I lived in Harvey, IL for a while, and I also remember a flood that happened in my neighborhood when I was around 4 years old, but not long after that Ray came into the picture. We attended Wolcott School together in Thornton, IL, and he was one of my closest friends. When we were old enough, I would wait every morning for Ray and Adrian Lomeli to walk by my house so I could join them on the way to school. When school ended we made the trip home together as well. When I watch "A Christmas Story" I get all nostalgic watching the adventures of Ralphie, Flick, and Schwartz as they went back and forth to school in the winter. THAT WAS MY LIFE with Ray and Adrian!

I always loved being around Ray. Our group of friends took every opportunity to play sports together. Whether it was playing "fast pitch" baseball (with a tennis ball) against my garage, meeting with a group of guys in the field next to Ray's house to play football, or being together on the Wolcott basketball team (which, by the way, was the greatest team to ever play at Wolcott School), we ALWAYS enjoyed being around each other. You see, the awesome thing about Ray is he always knows how to make you smile, and that makes you want to be around him. I often describe him to people as "the funniest person I have ever known." He just has a way of saying humorous things that make you laugh until you're crying. Some people have told me that they think I am funny, but in the back of my mind I just think, "Well, you haven't met Ray."

We went through high school together, played football and baseball together, and I even had a chance to visit him a few times during our college years, which created some of the funniest stories of all time. He was an usher in my wedding, and I sang three songs at his (I didn't just sing them, he and his wife asked me to). What's my point you ask? Well, I just want you to understand how much I love Ray. It's not just a word I throw out in passing, I genuinely have a "brotherly" love for Ray. If there was an emergency and he needed me to drop what I was doing and help him out, I would do it, and I know he would do the same for me. 

I have a heart for Ray...but now Ray needs a new heart.

Not too long ago Ray was diagnosed with cardiomyopathy. I'll spare you all the details, but it basically means that at the tender age of 35, Ray is in need of a heart transplant. This diagnosis has put a tremendous financial strain on Ray, his wife Amanda, and their three children. Medical bills, missed time at work, and plenty of other family needs have created a huge financial vacuum in Ray's world. Simply put, he needs our help, and I am committed to helping him.

My friends and I have been putting together fundraising opportunities so that people from all over can help out the Thompson family. There will be raffle drawings, sports memorabilia auctions, business sponsoring opportunities, culminating in a HUGE fundraising event on Saturday, September 7th at 115 Bourbon Street in Merrionette Park, IL.

I will be traveling up to Chicago with a group of Nashville musicians so that we can crank out some fun cover songs from the 90s, 00s, the hits of today...And it's ALL FOR RAY!

Would you please click on the links below and consider contributing to this wonderful family. Your contribution would mean more than you could ever know!

Thank you so much!

http://www.raisingforray.com

http://www.raisingforray.com/rafflesdonations

http://www.raisingforray.com/event