A day of community fellowship attended by more than 6500 persons last Sunday brought strength and encouragement to Boardman High School teacher and coach, Christine Terlesky, who is battling Lou Gehrig’s disease. ‘Chip in for Chris’ was supported by a 20-member committee and more than 200 volunteers who served-up some 3700 spaghetti dinners and hosted a variety of auctions, raising more than $120,000 that will go towards expenses Mrs. Terlesky and her family will incur as they fight the crippling disease. Boardman Trustee and local school teacher, Brad Calhoun, summed-up the event. noting “Thousands of people spoke, hugged and laughed with Christine, and the entire time, she greeted each of them with enthusiasm and joy. Everyone is in awe of her strength. It was amazing, people kept stopping by with donations, and more importantly, their love and encouragement.” Following is a letter to the Boardman community from Christine.
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      I have said ‘thank you’ many times in my life...usually to one person at a time. I find myself in a strange predicament---How does a person thank 6,700 people for an unbelievable showing of generosity? I decided to write a letter of thanks to the entire Boardman community---Thank you for your generosity, your prayers, your kind words of encouragement for my family and myself.
      I realize that the words ‘thank you’ can never truly convey my gratitude. Thank you is inadequate for the magnitude of support we received from the Boardman community, but from the bottom of my heart I thank you.
      When I was diagnosed with ALS it was devastating. I knew my life would be forever changed. My family and my children were going to deal with hardships because of my sickness. To be honest there are times when I can’t fix my daughter’s hair, teach my sons to shoot a basketball, or be able to ever ride a bike again that I ask “Why? Why did this happen?”
      I’m sorry to say I have felt sorry for myself a few times...
      And then an event like Sunday’s spaghetti dinner happens and it was an amazing, humbling experience that gives me hope, that forces me to quit feeling sorry for myself and fight!
      There is not enough I can say about the CHIP IN FOR CHRIS committee. They put together an event that was mind boggling. And the entire community that came out on a beautiful Sunday afternoon was truly amazing and unexpected.
      Many of you told me that I was “inspiring.” I disagree. I am not inspiring, this community who came together to help a family is inspiring. Boardman, you inspire me!
      I am also in awe of surrounding communities that donated and attended the dinner. There were many of you and I also thank you.
      I never understood Lou Gehrig stating that he “considered himself the luckiest man on the face of the earth.” I understand now.
      I understand that I get to see the best in humanity. I understand that there is NOTHING more important than people and love. I do not take for granted the little things that I used to... I hug and kiss my kids about a million times a day because I know it can be taken from me. I tell my family every day I love them...I have reconnected with my very best friends and I will never let them go...I have tried to teach my students to live every day like its your last...and I am telling the community that I live in who has shown me unbelievable support and love---thank you,thank you, thank you...you have no idea how much your support means to me and my family.
      I do have some special thank yous--- To Boardman High School and administration for allowing us to have the spaghetti dinner, to the cafeteria ladies, you guys are awesome---to the custodial staff, you too are awesome, to the committee for “Chip in for Chris,” and my family, Ron and Judy Moschella, Nadine and Nick Colla and Jolene, and Mary Lou and Ted Terlesky...
      There really are so many others...
      The best decision my husband and I ever made was deciding to live and work in Boardman---The people, the people are the best in the world.
      Christine Terlesky
       EDITOR’S NOTE: Donations to the Chip in for Chris campaign are still being accepted and can be mailed to Chip in for Chris, c/o Brad Calhoun, 422 Jaronte, Boardman, Ohio 44512. Checks made out to: Chip in for Chris.