The REAL Heroes of Twin Towers

[Marksman]

Scenerio paintball is about heroes. For one weekend we can put away the worries of the world and fight epic battles of good versus evil, we can be warriors, generals and kings. In the process we get the chance to share some truly memorable moments.

I was privlidged this weekend to be at a very special event, the MXS Twin Towers game at EMR Paintball. While the game was incredible, the event I speak of took place off the field. It was a real battle of good against evil, a very real fight to save the life of a little girl. For anyone just checking in, Kayleigh Wilkes is the 7-year old daughter of Kevin "Joker" Wilkes of Joint Fury. Kayleigh is waging a battle against cancer. What happened at Twin Towers shows what scenario players are made of.

With the gracious support of a host of sponsors, MXS was able to organize a tremendous raffle and auction to raise money for Kayleigh's medical expenses. Patrick "Pacman" McKinnon even put his own head on the block, at least from the scalp up, offering to shave his head if the effort could break the ten thousand dollar mark. It was a lofty goal, the kind of high bar you'd expect to find woven into the story of a scenario game. The response was magnificent. Players came in literally from all across America; Oregon to New Jersey, Florida to New England. Texas sent an entire army. In an age where we see spoiled celebrities and overpaid athletes whine and strike over million-dollar contracts, a bunch of working guys and gals showed what heroism really means. As if the goal of 10K wasn't high enough, they took it to nearly twelve thousand dollars. All to help one of our own.

I could not help but think that one day some disaster might jump up and hit me between the eyes; if it did I would find out just what kind of friends I had made in life. I can tell you today that friends don't come any better. I have never felt so proud to be a part of a community or a sport as I am of being a scenario paintball player. When asked how I spent my weekend, friends and co-workers won't get the usual paintball war stories. I will simply tell them that I spent the weekend in the company of heroes.

With my great respect to all of you,

Michael "marksman" Marks
Team Captain
Dead By Dawn
[email protected]

Our prayers and best wishes to you Kayleigh.



P.S. In spite of this tremendous effort, the fight is a long way from over. If you missed the chance to help out and want to, this is the information for any and all support you might be able to offer.

For cash and check donations for Kayleigh, make checks payable to Kayleigh Wilkes

Send to: Kayleigh Wilkes
125 Blough Road
Fairless Hills, PA 19030

Paypal donations for Kayleigh to: [email protected]

If you are a blood donor, please donate in the name of Kayleigh Wilkes, c/o Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Pediatric Oncology

[rikkter]

just gonna add.

items were auctioned off at this game, a rt pro for 1000 that went straight to the pot for the girl, a sword that went over 500, some people even won markers, and threw them back in for auction to help out with the money. at the end, Pacman and others walked around while people began throwing money at them for the girl. a total of over 11,500 dollars was gained in effort to help this girl.
it was a truly remarkable experience.

[Star_Base_CGI]

I met alot of people in life, I didnt like. People that would let you down and ask you for a favor when they needed a hand up. Ive gotten bitter and cynical.

It was really nice to read about how all of you came together to help one little girl. A little girl that Im sure will grow up to learn the meaning of life.

About 10 years ago my quality of life droped a little. My cousen got cancer. Dr Ben Carson operated on her but after about a year she surcame to the cacner. I went to see her before she died and she went into a coma. The docters had put her on a Morphine drip.

Meanwhile down the street from my grandmothers where I know live. Another girl had the same cancer, brain cancer. Dr Ben Carson operated on her. People prayed for her. These two little girls were very different. Both were adopted. One came from a nice neighborhood, the other did not. Both families had faith but one had a little bit more faith. The girl, whos family lived the faith every day and prayed. That girl is alive and well and a teenager. Shes got her lip peirced now and she likes to wear black and Pink. Shes so nice and they always goto church every week.

Faith is important. When people dont have anywhere else to go, people turn to God. You can be angry or bitter but in the end. I think its important to celibrate life in order to conquer cancer or wind up bitter.

I hope in the wind my life gets a little better. We never know what hardships we may endure.

Benjamin Carson was born in Detroit, Michigan. His mother Sonya had dropped out of school in the third grade, and married when she was only 13. When Benjamin Carson was only eight, his parents divorced, and Mrs. Carson was left to raise Benjamin and his older brother Curtis on her own. She worked at two, sometimes three, jobs at a time to provide for her boys.

Benjamin and his brother fell farther and farther behind in school. In fifth grade, Carson was at the bottom of his class. His classmates called him "dummy" and he developed a violent, uncontrollable temper.