Helping One of Our Own
By Dave Merry, South Carolina State Chairman and Al Thomas, Chairman Emeritus
RMEF’s Upstate South Carolina Chapter has been active for 14 years, and for the past seven, a good portion of our chapter’s success can be attributed to treasurer Lisa Henson.
Lisa is an ardent conservationist who enjoys the great outdoors. She grew up in Traveler’s Rest in upstate South Carolina at the foot of the Great Smoky Mountains, where outdoor opportunities abound. Traveler’s Rest got its name because in Colonial times travelers would rest there before the arduous trek up the mountains to Asheville, North Carolina.
A self-employed mortgage broker and widow, Lisa is battling cancer. She has already undergone two operations and many treatments, and she’s in need of financial help. On February 7, 2009, 300 of her closest friends—including those from the Upstate South Carolina Chapter—gathered for a barbeque and silent auction benefit. Together we raised over $10,000 to assist Lisa with her expenses. It was a wonderful night for Lisa and her friends, including those from RMEF.
When you do good things, good things happen to you. The event not only benefits Lisa, it also created more of awareness for RMEF. And, our chapter gained five new committee members.
Lisa keeps our chapter straight all year long, especially at the banquets. Her friendship and dedication to the cause is much appreciated. We all wish Lisa continued improvement and a speedy recovery.