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Health & Fitness

The Show Still Goes On. See you Saturday.

On Tuesday, we learned that Illinois banned skylanterns.

Just 4 days before our festival.

We fought. All of us. We contacted the Illinois Fire Marshal. We contacted local politicians and Governor Quinn. Today we contacted President Obama. 

The Illinois Fire Marshal called today. I expected a blunt, short conversation. I was pleasantly surprised that we maintained a positive, flowing 20 minute dialog about skyanterns, suicide, planes, Vietnam, and more. He supports SPS as an agency. He simply does not give us permission (or anyone, even with a special permit) to launch skylanterns in the state of Illinois. 

We were still denied permission. Additionally, Governor Quinn denied us permission. Quinn's legal department looked into it to see if there was a way. They were unsuccessful. The law was set and their hands were tied, according to their office. 

This turn of events showed how SPS, as a group, rally and fight and never ever lose hope. Media shone a light on us and we beamed brightly. Thank you so very much for that. www.spsamerica.org

Today, Fed Ex came and picked up 14 boxes of skylanterns to return to the company we purchased them from. For anyone who has given a donation in exchange for a lantern on our website, we have reached out to you via email with instructions for a refund, or an exchange for a glowing balloon and luminaria kit. We hope you can all still join us Saturday. 

We have an alternative plan for Saturday. Will will not be launching, selling, or distributing skylanterns. Our festival will continue. We will unite. We will celebrate.

Admission is free. The night of the festival, a $20 donation to SPS will get you a glowing balloon and a luminaria kit to decorate and light. You can reserve yours online now: www.starsofhopefestival.com 

Our festival is perfectly named: Stars of Hope. We will always be hopeful. 

We will enjoy this festival. We will have glowing balloons and luminaria lighting up the night. Glow necklaces. Bubbles. Performers and music. Face painting and more. Please join us tomorrow night as we celebrate life. Gate opens at 8pm. See you then! www.starsofhopefestival.com

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