I’m really not sure how to start this, or how to say it, so
I hope you will bear with me.
In my line of work I speak and interact with a lot of
people, and over time some of them stop being just customers. They become
friends. We'll share our joys, talk about our kids, or snark at the world at large. One such friend needs a little help.
If this was a book or movie, the story would go something
like this:
Man and Woman meet and fall in love, they get married, adopt 2 kids,
have 2 dogs, run a popular gift store and live happily ever after. Right?
There’s a hitch.
The Man has Cystic Fibrosis and 6 months ago underwent a double lung transplant.
He survives and they go on to win Canadian Retailer of the Year.
Together they danced at the gala celebrating their win.
He survives and they go on to win Canadian Retailer of the Year.
Together they danced at the gala celebrating their win.
Inspirational? Yes. Amazing? Yes.
But wait, there’s more.
That night, as they were dancing and celebrating, they held
on to a secret.
In early January, our heroine was diagnosed with stage 2
Breast Cancer.
In a matter of days, she goes for a double mastectomy.
After that, recovery and who knows what else she’ll need to do.
After that, recovery and who knows what else she’ll need to do.
She is V, and she's Outrunning the Cloud.
In August she will be doing the Weekend
to End Breast Cancer. For her 5th time.
She first started the walk when her mother was diagnosed
with Breast Cancer.
She lost her mother to the disease, 3 years ago this month,
but still continues to do the walk.
She started doing the walk to support her mother against the disease that was ravaging .
She continued to do the walk so that nobody else (including
her daughters) would have to lose their mother, now she does the walk as a
future Breast Cancer Survivor.
She has a blog documenting her “journey” http://outrunningthecloud.tumblr.com/
Among her fears for post-surgery is that she may not being able to knit, and it will be a while before she can run. Not being able to do the walk has never even been
whispered.
Here is where the call for help comes in.
She is personally responsible
for raising $5,000 to walk. A goal that she knows she will meet.
But for her friends and supporters and everyone else on her
team, they each need to raise $2,000 before they can even take a single step
with her.
V is a planner, and an organizer, and amazing; and she has guaranteed to her friends that
they will each meet (if not surpass) their goals.
Her initial idea to raise funds was to auction of knit items
and handicrafts.
Since she announced her plan, things have snowballed.
Friends and fans have started donating anything and everything. From restaurant gift certificates, to sheets, to
leather dog beds, to personal trainer sessions. I will be donating items from work, and personally.
She has also been given an autographed book from The Bloggess (aka Jenny lawson, aka V's internet hero!) to auction off!
V posted her most recent addition for the auction this week, made with her own two hands (using an awesome pre-printed cloth!)
She has also been given an autographed book from The Bloggess (aka Jenny lawson, aka V's internet hero!) to auction off!
V posted her most recent addition for the auction this week, made with her own two hands (using an awesome pre-printed cloth!)
I am asking for donation items that she can auction off (knit stuff, books, anything at all), or
if you can’t donate anything, ask that you stop by the auction or make a
direct donation.
Even a few dollars makes a difference.
Even a few dollars makes a difference.
I hope you will help me support her in any way you can.
The auction will run from May 15th to June 1st. here
The auction will run from May 15th to June 1st. here
And just to be clear, not a penny will be going to her
personally, or even to pay for her treatment. All monies raised will go towards
research, equipment and care. You can learn more here.
