In May of 2013, the world lost a great man. He was a son, a brother, a fiancé, a friend and a Leader. U & Improved Leader & Communicator alum Tim Rewinkel, lost his year long battle with Leukemia, at the very young age of 30. Shortly after Tim’s death more than one-hundred generous U & Improved alumni, family and friends walked in Tim’s honor during the 2013 Light the Night Walk and we raised $10,500. And again, this year, on November 7, 2014, Tim’s family, friends and his U & I family, joined to celebrate Tim’s life as we walked again. With so much tremendous support from Tim’s family, we all walked together on that beautiful November evening, filling the Phoenix sky with red, white and gold lanterns remembering and honoring blood cancer survivors, those still battling and those who have lost their life to this brutal disease. We raised our lanterns and we raised awareness. We raised our lanterns and to date we have raised more than $10,215 to help find and fund a cure. (Special Thanks to our sub-teams of HomeSmart & Family of Tim Rewinkel). There is still time to donate and help us beat last year’s total). We raised our lanterns and we raised our faces toward the sky as we honored, celebrated and remembered Tim, who fought such a valiant fight. Tim was selected as the 2014 Phoenix Light the Night Memorial Honoree after the tremendous outpouring of love and support LLS witnessed to his memory last year. His beautiful fiancée, and fellow U & Improved Master Grad and Samurai, Lisa Pontillo, spoke to the audience at this year’s walk, and shared Tim’s life with us all. Through her beautiful photographs and words, she let the world know what a wonderful man the world lost last May. And she also let the audience know the gift we received in knowing him during the short time we were given that gift. Lisa shared how Tim implemented the tools he learned through the training. His attitude was so positive, even in the hardest and darkest times. Tim and Lisa taught the doctors a lot, too, about the way in which they were going to fight this fight, and the positive place they needed those doctors to come from each and every time they entered their hospital room. Tim’s hospital room was flooded with alumni, family and friends during that difficult year. His walls were covered in positive quotes and affirmations….sayings like “It’s okay to heal quickly!” and photos of exotic destinations he would travel to when he got better…love surrounded him every day. But the fight became so very, very tough. Tim was a fighter, and Lisa IS a fighter. As her life has continued to beautifully unfold with more love and light surrounding her, we remember our dear friend and fellow Leader Tim, who will always be in the hearts of all of the U & Improved alumni who were lucky enough to have known him. In this month where we pause a little longer to give thanks, I know I write these words on behalf of my entire team when I say thank U to Tim for being that shining light and example of what the heart of a Leader truly looks like. Rest in peace, Tim…U are forever missed. If you would like to help in our fight to end blood cancer, you can donate at this link.
U&I Care: Light the Night in Loving Memory of Tim Rewinkel
