HIVictorious,
Inc. formed a team in February
of 2008 to support our dear friends at
Camp Heartland (One Heartland.) Seven of us took the challenge head
on to dance for twelve hours for
Dance Your Heart Out. The dance marathon took place
in
The Mall of America in Minnesota. We set a team goal
of $1,000.00 and were elated to have surpassed our
expectations. THANK YOU to all of our amazing families
and friends who gave so generously in support of our
team effort. We boogied our asses off (not all of it was
real pretty) from start to finish! Each hour of the
dance brought a new theme. I had the distinct honor to
speak during "Talk Like a Pirate Day/September" theme.
Go figure...So, I took it upon myself to contact the
ultimate Pirates, me hearties from
International Talk Like a Pirate Day,
Cap'n Slappy
and
Ol' Chumbucket. Cap'n Slappy a.k.a. Mark Summers,
wrote an incredibly heartfelt letter to all of those in
attendance. You can read what he wrote by scrolling
down. It was an absolute honor to relay the lessons in
Pirattitude to the crowd of
Pirates and
Landlubbers
alike. We were reunited with many Campers and staff and
kept each other going with great humor and inspiration.
It was incredible beyond words to see paper money flying
over the rails from the floors above us. (Thank God they
didn't toss coins!) The onlookers from the Mall
literally started throwing thousands of dollars onto the
dance floor in support of
Camp Heartland. Camp Heartland is so dear to my
heart. I'm honored to call them my friends and family.
Since 1993, they have provided hope, love and life
skills to children who are infected or affected by
HIV/AIDS.
Jonathan Bennet and friends hosted the event
and brought levity and heart to the dance. I too tossed
in some Pirattitude from time to time to keep the masses
moving. Our dear
friend Kimberley Locke thrilled the dancers and crowd
with her awe-inspiring voice. It truly was an experience
that all of us absolutely cherished. It was worth every
ounce of pain and fatigue that transpired. It was a good
reminder that no matter how tiring or painful at times,
we must NEVER relent in
the FIGHT against HIV/AIDS!
YouTube of
Da Pirate
speaking at
Dance Your Heart
Outd>
Ahoy! Avast! And other nautical
greetings! As anyone can tell ye,
today’s pirate is not just about the
acquisition o’ treasure and booty,
no! Today’s pirate, like me ol’ pal,
Bob Bowers, is all about facin’
tough problems with courage and
humor and ferocious determination.
Today’s pirate displays what we
call, “Pirattitude”
– the “ATTITUDE” o’ a pirate! Thar
be no cannon we won’t face – no
frigate we won’t challenge – and we
will never, NEVER back down from a
fight (especially them fights that
we HAVE TO WIN!!!)
Therefore, it is with a heart o’
big, piratty love that I, on behalf
o’ the whole crew here at
International Talk Like a Pirate Day
and
www.talklikeapirate.com, say a
hearty Thank Ye for comin’ out in
support o’ Dance Yer Heart Out and
Camp Heartland! What is the price o’
a smile on a wee one’s face? Not
much – just an open heart and a few
doubloons for a good cause. The
treasure isn’t in yer purse – it’s
in yer heart. And though I be naught
but a crusty ol’ pirate, I know this
much – that generosity toward
children is how we touch
immortality. Because generosity is
inherited from those who have been
generous to us and passed along for
generations to come. And when all
the gold and silver and trinkets and
jewels are long forgotten, it is the
kindness that we will treasure – it
is the kindness that shines in the
smiles o’ children.
Thank ye for bein’ a part o’ that
treasure! Ye’re all splendid pirates
and I’d be proud to have ye in me
crew!
Dance
your heart out! Team
HIVictorious
is all smiles and energy
Bob
Bowers a.ka.
Da
Pirate and
Sharky from Underwater World showin some Pirattitude
Da Pirate and "Da Noodles"
August, 20066 Neil Willenson a.ka. "Da
Noodle" (Founder and CEO)
and da whole Noodle Family
at Camp Heartland in Malibu,
California A heartfelt thank you
to the Willensons!
Many thanks for your vision,
leadership and willingness
to speak out. Although you
don't wear a lifeguard shirt,
you should because you are
a lifesaver.
