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:
It's a record-breaking #4thOfJuly weekend for @10sBon and @ThanksUSA #militaryfamilies #tennis @GMA pic.twitter.com/Uwm56nxT9r
— ThanksUSA (@ThanksUSA) July 3, 2016
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.