My Age Out with The Blue Devils!!

Hello Everyone! I'm Eli and this is pretty much the story of how it all happened. So, I've been involved in the marching arts since I was in 6th grade. I started out as a woodwind (clarinet) and my love for music developed over a two-year span leading me into high school. Upon reaching high school, I had no idea what DCI was. Growing up in one of the most rural areas of TN, I was never subjected or shown what exactly this amazing activity was....until our our band director in high school took us to a DCI event! I will never forget the first time I saw the power and beauty of each corps as I sat there as an awkward little freshmen. The Blue Devils 2009 production "1930" was one that still, to this day, gives me chills down my spine. I've had a very fun three seasons of drum corps starting at the age of fifteen, but now it's sadly my age out. I auditioned twice for Blue Devils, and this season Scott Chandler and the staff gave me a spot. This has been such a dream for me and I am so humbled and grateful to have been given this opportunity. As we all know, this activity is not cheap. My grandmother, who raised me since I was in my early teens, has always been my biggest fan. She came to watch me perform and my first summer of 2012 she drove by herself to thr Colts stadium and stood crying by my tour bus afterward to congratulate me and tell me how proud she was of me. My grandmother has helped me tremendously. She understands the activity and she has always been the one to say "I'll pay this" or "I'll help with that". However, about two months ago she suffered a terrible accidental fall that almost cost her all her mobility and motor skills throughout her lower back and legs. As frightening as this was for me, she told me that she would still be willing to pay for my age out like she had promised me. The bills and treatments she is enduring is not cheap, obviously. She does so much for me and asks so little in return. My Blue Devils tour fees and tuition for my color guard spot are a big deal. I would love to offset the cost of it to relieve my grandmother of her medical bill costs. If I could relieve her stress and take it all away, I would. I want her to be there when I take that field as an age out with THE BLUE DEVILS FROM CONCORD, CA. I know she will be there to cheer me on like she always does. It is my dream to make this happen. Thank you for taking time to read my story. This activity, these people, and my grandmother have shaped my life in the best possible way. I'm looking forward to an amazing summer. Please help me make it possible!