Baking cookies? Knitting blankets? A kiss on the forehead? Nope. That’s yesterday’s grandmas, children. We’re talking about a new species now — in 2016 — that perform incredible feats of strength to take care of the ones they love.
Like Virginia grandmommy Bonnie Vona, who broke the mold, then broke a Guinness Book Record for most consecutive tennis singles matches played with 38 last weekend. That’s right. Thirty. Eight.
The best part? It was all to raise awareness — and raise a ton of money — for the United States military community. Her efforts have enabled 24 scholarships to be given out to sons and daughters of military families.
This from WJLA:
“Compared to them, this is just an insignificant effort,” Vona said, of military service members.
“This was the court that I was on right here,” she said, pointing to a court over her shoulder. “It’s very safe, for me. I was thinking about all of those people out there serving our nation that are not in these kinds of conditions.”
“That was a pretty exciting feeling, I got goosebumps, I started crying a little bit,” she said.
After each hour of playing, she hit a five-minute break.
“The feet, I can still feel a little tenderness, especially when it rubs on the outside of the shoe,” she said, pointing to her feet.
Thanks U.S.A. hosted the event, along with a July Fourth family festival, aiming to raise money for scholarships for children and spouses of those in the military.
She tweets, too:
38 matches! I did what I set out to do! #72hrSalute #GuinnessBookOfWorldRecords @ThanksUSA
— Bonnie Vona (@10sBon) July 2, 2016
Check her out in action:
https://twitter.com/ThanksUSA/status/749679400531202051
While Ms. Vona was inspired by the men and women who fight for our freedom, there’s no doubt that any service member reading this story, watching her gut out a sporting marathon like she did at her age would be, in many ways, motivated by her perseverance and dedication.