Posted 5:42 PM by brad
What a beautiful day. Sunny but not hot. A very bearable delivery day. If any delivery day can be called bearable.

Posted 7:48 PM by brad
Rain,no rain, rain, no rain, that`s how it went all day today. It was warm and muggy.Now the sun is out. A fairly light mail day. Wrote an article for the upcoming Vt NALC newsletter. Reprinted here:


BRISTOL CARRIER HELPS RAISE FUNDS TO CURE CYSTIC FIBROSIS

Brad Bedard, letter carrier and steward in Bristol,Vermont is involved in a unique and very prosperous fund raising event. The Three Day Stampede toward the cure of Cystic Fibrosis is held annually in July at the Bristol Recreation Field. This year the dates are July 26,27,28. This is the 9th year the event has been held and over $310,000 has been forwarded to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation to help fund the research needed to cure this disease.

Cystic fibrosis is a genetic disease affecting approximately 30,000 children and adults in the United States. One in 31 Americans (one in 28 Caucasians) - more than 10 million people - is an unknowing, symptom less carrier of the defective gene. An individual must inherit a defective copy of the CF gene - one from each parent - to have cystic fibrosis. Each time two carriers conceive a child, there is a 25 percent chance that the child will have CF; a 50 percent chance that the child will be a carrier; and a 25 percent chance that the child will be a non-carrier.


Brad became involved 13 years ago because his brother’s granddaughter was born with CF. He has been on the steering committee of the fund raiser ever since. The committee meets several times through out the year planning the weekend. Sponsors are lined up, entertainment is booked, and all the ground work is laid out. For the 2nd year in a row, fireworks will be displayed. The fireworks are completely donated so the Stampede does not incur any costs. In fact, everything for the weekend is donated so there is no cost to the Stampede. Food is donated. Items for the lawn sale are donated. Silent auction items are donated. All the volunteers donate their time. 100% of the money taken in on the weekend is donated to CF. The Stampede has been called the largest grass routes multi-day fundraising event for CF in the country.

This years event kicks off with a giant CF lawn sale beginning on Friday, July 26. There will be food available for purchase. A huge silent auction is a large part of the weekend. Donated items include many hand made items. The past few years there has even been a used car donated. Entertainment is scheduled throughout the day. There will be vendors on the grounds selling everything from jewelry to hand made crafts. Friday evening brings a dance under the stars. (Arrangements are made in case of rain) Music is provided by a DJ from WOKO/WKOL radio stations.


Saturday will be more of the same. More vendors usually show up on Saturday. Local bands will provide entertainment. Other local groups will put on demonstrations. Saturday evening there will be a great fireworks display.

Sunday is much the same. There is a 3.5 mile walk-a-thon beginning at 10:30am. We begin winding down around 3:00pm. Shortly after that, there is a drawing for over 100 donated raffle prizes. Things like pizzas, videos, oil changes and lots of other goodies are donated.

Brad would like to invite everyone to stop by Bristol to help support this great event. Anyone with items to donate or questions can contact Brad at 802-453-5675 or email at bbedard@adelphia.net. You can also sponsor Brad for the walk-a-thon. Any amount is accepted.

Posted 5:24 PM by brad
Still another nice day. Got above 80. Hot on the route. Drank lots of water and took my time.
The nominating committe made it`s suggestions for Legion officers next year and I was mentioned as Service Officer. I`m not exactly sure what that is but I think it`s the guy responsible for giving out medical equipment and the like. I need to check into it before I make a commitment to serve. I`m also trying to start a county branch of the Vietnam Veterans of America. I am a member in Essex Junxtion but it`s so far away, I can`t get to the meetings. I know there are alot of Vietnam Vets in Addison County. It`s just a matter of getting them together. A couple of state officers are going to help. Hopefully by the fall, we`ll have a branch up and running. I will be able to transfer to the local branch.

Posted 7:33 PM by brad
Another nice day. Lots of mail. That`s usual for the day after a holiday.
It`s one of those days when I can`t think of a thing to say. My family wishes there were more of those days.

Posted 4:47 PM by brad
Beautiful,sunny,warm Memorial day. Wayne`s service was very nice. A few tears here and there but everyone held up pretty well.
I did some needed painting outside today. The front porch was sadly in need. Got it about half done. Hopefully next Sunday will be nice enough to finish. We then went for a drive to visit my parent`s gravesites. Just got back and it`s already time to think about supper. Then it`s back to work tommorrow. I quess 4 days is enough time off for now.