Every year on the last weekend in July in small town Bristol Vermont, a group of people gather. They show up, for hours, days, some of them weeks, and, a few of them year round. Often new people show up, but every year the core people return, making the boat float. They come to sweat, in god awful heat and humidity. They come with rain jackets for the annual rain storm that always shows up, just like them-without fail. They carry boxes, tables and tent parts. They sort through clothes, home items and sporting goods. They risk finding a family of mice in a box of otherwise garbage worthy items. They deal with grumpy customers and stealing hands. They smile unconditionally and do whatever is needed. 

They have fits of “my job is the most important” and we all use the phrase “too many chiefs not enough indians” at least once throughout the weekend. Every year we get better at “our jobs," we become more organized and in turn we expect more from each other. Better tarp folding, more upper body strength, knowing how to use the PA system, making the burger set up faster and always showing up with your can do positive attitude.

This July, these people put on the 28th annual Three Day Stampede, Toward the cure for Cystic Fibrosis. This July THESE people donated their 2 millionth dollar raised directly to The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. TWO MILLION DOLLARS (holds pinky to mouth) 28 years worth of generous sponsors, donations, shoppers and service. 100’s of days and uncountable hours given and in return they get, I hope-exactly what they want out of it, and I am talking figuratively, as this is a non-profit, not for pay, not for the weak, type of fundraiser. 

For some it may be a feel good day to volunteer a few hours to a good cause, others maybe just a free meal, it may be an obligation, a tax write off or a cause that is close to your heart. 

For The Stampede Family it is a way of life. It is their vacation time, and favorite weekend of the year.

When I was born, along side (before actually, I was FIRST) my twin sister Samantha, my family was quickly educated and given the “options” of my health care.  Things they could do, things they could choose not to do, and with that came the knowledge of the struggles ahead. Luckily for me the day we were born we were surrounded by the most passionate, hard working, stubborn, refuse-to-take-no-for-an-answer family there is. They were not going to watch me go through this without doing something.

8.24.89 was probably the day my grandmother, Bonita started drafting her evil plan to trap all of us into forever being bound to this thing that is now such a huge part of our lives. It was then she started dreaming of all of our summer Saturdays being spent taking donations no matter the weather, and all of the obligatory days spent loading and unloading someone elses old possessions. She probably was preparing me to answer interview questions all along too. (Which I am still not great at). Her and my grandfather had the “Stampede family roster” drafted by October and laminated by December, once your in- its almost impossible to get out.

For me, the stampede is 1000 things. Just like living with CF, the Stampede life is all I know. I am constantly astounded by these volunteers. By my family. They pour so much, love, sweat, mind power, and determination into this thing that sometimes I don’t know how to feel. Although the Stampede, is not “for me," the money does not go into my hands or directly to my life, I still have this feeling of lingering guilt. 

The feeling that I will never be able to repay these people for all that they have given me. The kind of love that gets you through bad days and lights up your good ones. The feeling that you will always have someone to call, and the push you need when you just don’t feel like taking care of yourself. 

As I am writing this my mind is racing with everything I should say and all the reasons these people and this event are absolutely amazing. I will never be able to put it all into perspective for you.

I know we all have our days where this feels like an obligation..where maybe you won’t come back next year or do as much as you have before. But that will pass, and you, and I - will show up, until The Stampede stops Stampeding.

I am the type of person who picks up the heavy boxes, takes the sledge hammer away from the older folk and can’t stop until the last thing is packed away in the trailer. Mostly because things always get done fast and better, when I am helping!  This year was a little different for me.  I picked up what felt like was allowed and stealthily snuck away from the heavy items, I took time to sit and rest and made sure to hydrate, I even snuck away for a cat nap once!  If you thought to yourself this weekend “Why is Kayla being so garsh darn lazy?" So didn’t I. Remember when I said my family was stubborn...the apple did not fall from the tree. Not being able to throw the 30 pound tarp over my shoulder and haul it across the field, or put 100 tables into the trailer was a serious mental battle. This year, it was not just about taking care of myself.

I’d like to say next year will be different...but the lovely reality is, I will be carrying a 6 month old around the field, fending off the baby hogs, while all of you do the hard work.

That is right, FINALLY baby Bessette will be gracing us with his or her presence February 2019 and we can not wait to share this blessing with all of you!

Hardest secret to keep EVER. Only one of the Stampede family caught me vomiting behind the porta-potties-- and thankfully my husband had already spilled the news to him. So he was at a tolerable 6 on the “why are you puking” panic scale!

For those of you who have not heard of the stampede, check it out at www.threedaystampede.org or better yet, get your butt down to the Bristol Rec Field the last full weekend of July and come see where the magic happens. 

My grandmother may have been planning this since I was born, but what she didn’t know was that she was also building a army. And for that, I don’t think I could ever take back being born with this awful disease.

 

      Help Others Live STROnger and LOnger! - #STROLO

 

Kayla Flint is a 29 year old Vermonter, and also a four time CFLF Recreation Grant recipient. She loves field hockey, working out, and spending time with friends and family. Her family started The Three Day Stampede Towards the Cure for Cystic Fibrosis, a Non-Profit Vermont Event that has sent over $2,000,000 to the CF Foundation for programs and research. Check them out online for more information. You can follow Kayla on instagram @breatheeasy824