Bone Bash

Bone Bash, a themed costume gala and a funding source for our mission to improve lives through leadership in the prevention, control and cure of arthritis and related diseases, was held Friday, October 23 at the Hilton Garden Inn Southpark in Colonial Heights, Virginia.  The purpose of Bone Bash was to raise awareness and funds, specifically in the Tri-Cities of Colonial Heights, Hopewell, Petersburg and surrounding areas where there are an estimated 29,000 doctor diagnosed patients.

Dr. Carlton Miller of AMDC Arthritis and Osteoporosis Clinic in Colonial Heights and Mrs. Katana Miller hosted the event in royal fashion as our king and queen and honorary chairs along with our Event Co-Chairs, Phyllis Chester and Darleen Taylor also of AMDC. This frightfully fun evening included spine-tingling entertainment from our Master of Ceremonies Cavell Phillips, a Richmond, Virginia Hall of Fame Broadcaster, and DJ Eric Cunningham. It also included a jaw-dropping silent auction of gems and treats including an overnight stay with breakfast at the historic five-diamond and five star Jefferson Hotel in Richmond, an overnight stay at Virginia’s only hotel with an indoor waterpark, Great Wolf Lodge in Williamsburg, original crafts from local artisans and season tickets to the Petersburg Generals, a summer wood-bat baseball team made up of the best collegiate baseball players. The fun didn't stop there; ghosts and goblins (our guests) participated in an array of activities from tarot card reading, guessing games and other games of chance.

The night wasn’t all fun and games. Costume contest judges LeAnn Binger, Director of Advancement of Richard Bland College, Honorable Delegate Rosalyn Dance of the Virginia House of Delegates 63rd District and Colonel Cortez Dial,Chief of Staff of Virginia State University had tough decisions to make in five costume categories. Contestants from battered superheroes fighting arthritis, Dorothy and Toto along with all their friends from the Wizard of Oz, a saloon girl and her cowboy, the devil and an angel and a Q-Tip were just a few to parade in their garb fighting to be the  winners of the first ever Bone Bash costume contest. Other battles ensued during the evening in Goblin Gamble. The Goblin Gamble, a raffle, was a chance to win two AirTran Airways tickets to any of their U.S. destinations. 10 finalists were selected but only one went home with the tickets.

Guests wandered through our forest of “scary statistics” and learned why arthritis needs attention more than ever, they also helped us find a “Key to Cure” to unlock this disease as our "Key to a Cure"  Ambassador 14 year old Dymond Carle, gave us a look at her life with arthritis. Dymond fought back tears as she told us why she would not let arthritis stop her. She received a standing ovation and helped to raise over $2,000.

Bone Bash was fang-tastic.  We reached our goal of $25,000 and we had a good time for a good cause. Don’t be a scaredy cat. Mark your calendar for this annual October event and together let’s say “Boo” to arthritis.