TO THE EDITOR:

Thomas "Stump" Bunch and his family would like to express sincere gratitude to everyone involved in the Stars and Bars Motorcycle Riders poker run and fund-raising events on May 6.

We appreciate Matt Morton's efforts in bringing awareness to Thomas' needs. Thomas is a dialysis patient awaiting a kidney transplant due to a rare disease, IGA Nephropathy. As soon as Matt mentioned a fund-raiser, Tim and Kelly Harris of Harris Enterprise, Ken "Big Daddy" and Barbara Davis, and the Stars and Bars Motorcycle Riders, along with riders from Elberton, Lincolnton, and South Carolina, got together and held a poker run, raffle and door prize drawings while Henry and Alicia Brown with the help of Gene and Robin Turner and so many other friends hosted the activities at The Gin House in Tignall.

Many local and out-of-town businesses and people donated gifts, time and money, and presented Thomas with $6,906.25 to help with medical and surgical expenses, a gesture that we cannot adequately thank everyone for enough.

The loving and caring response from so many kind and generous people during this time of need, and uncertainty for Thomas, and all of us, has been emotionally overwhelming. We are fortunate to know all of you who pitched in and to call you our friends. The camaraderie of the day was truly a gift within itself and will never be forgotten.

Thank you again, from the bottom of our hearts, to everyone who made these events possible and to everyone who participated. Your efforts will be appreciated even by generations of our family to come, who will be told of how you all came together for us.

With deep sincerity,

Thomas "Stump" Bunch

and Jenna F. Bunch;

Carly Ware and Brad Barnett;

Casie Bunch; William Thomas "T.J." Bunch Jr.