Last year Beth the education coordinator of Bookworm Gardens came up with the idea to have an event called, “Walk, Roll & Read Day.” In case you are not familiar with me talking about Bookworm Gardens, it is an outdoor garden based on children’s books based in Sheboygan, Wisconsin. Frankie, and the first book I wrote about her is represented in the garden thank you to wonderful sponsors who made this possible. Frankie’s legacy lives on in the gardens.
The event will be on Saturday, May 4th. Details are being worked out and I’ll share the final details here as well as on Facebook once I have them. There will be a small walk (and roll) around the University loop since the gardens are located across from Sheboygan UW. Beth sent out the pledge form today which will help raise donations for the gardens as well as for The Frankie Wheelchair Fund the day of the event.
It was one of those moments that came flooding over me that had tears flowing down my face when I read this on the pledge form, Barb Techel, author of Frankie the Walk ‘N Roll Dog will lead the walk in memory of Frankie, and introduce her new dog, Joie.
I still remember the day, a few short days before the grand opening of the gardens when John and a friend wheeled the Frankie dog house, which John lovingly built, that would represent Frankie’s story, into her special spot within the gardens. In front of her house is a stone statue representing Frankie with a wheelchair John and I donated. I can’t begin to express what it meant to me to have Frankie within those gardens. I knew one day she would no longer be here, but it was so important to me to have her legacy live on for thousands of children– and this is exactly what is happening.
On May 4th Joie and I will help celebrate another season of the darling and enchanting Bookworm Gardens that provides smiles, laughter, reading, nature, and family fun time. But to know we will also celebrate the life and legacy of Frankie’s work touches me in a place in my heart that I can’t quite find adequate words for.
And now for a few more smiles… Joie is training hard for the under 1K walk and roll event on May 4th…. check it out!