Sunday, July 4, 2010

Near and Dear

This post has special meaning for me due to my Dad currently being the hospital for Leukemia. I hope for everyone to participate in this fundraiser! I will be... together with my new sewing machine!! Whoo hoo!

Compassionate Craft-a-Thon to Bag Cancer
Welcome Compassionate Crafters! We need your help to bag cancer. Sign up today to craft reusable grocery bags to benefit a Leukemia and Lymphoma Society Team In Training runner.

About the Project
Compassionate Crafters are invited to join in sewing reusable grocery bags during a virtual 26-day craft-a-thon starting Monday, July 19, 2010, ending Saturday, August 14. Sewers may choose their own reusable grocery bag pattern, or one will be provided to you. Since this project is environmentally friendly, sewers are encouraged to use recycled fabric such as old sheets, curtains, scrap fabric, etc. Bags may be left plain or they may be embellished with paint, buttons, etc.

The Craft-a-Thon is 26 days -- one day for each mile of the marathon that Team in Training will race to save lives. See benefit information below to learn more.

Local Wisconsin crafters are invited to the sew-in events fellow crafters are hosting throughout the Craft-a-Thon. If you are not a local crafter, you are welcome to host your own sew-in with friends, family or neighbors.

At the end of the Craft-a-Thon, sewers have two options. They may mail completed bags to Craft-a-Thon organizers to be sold at end-of-year farmers markets, Labor Day Festivals, and other Wisconsin local craft fairs. Just a reminder that Team In Training is a nonprofit organization, so your postage is tax deductible. Or, they may sell the bags themselves to friends and neighbors and mail the proceed check to Craft-a-Thon organizers.

Again, Team in Training is a nonprofit organization, so your donations are tax deductible. You will not be paid or reimbursed for your costs in sewing or mailing bags. However, you will receive a tax deduction receipt for the resale price of $5 - 10 per bag and any mailing costs you my incur.

How to Sign Up
Email us at compassionatecrafters@yahoo.com for more information on how to join the Compassionate Craft-a-Thon to Bag Cancer!

About the Benefit
This Craft-a-Thon to bag cancer is organized by Janel DeZarn, to benefit her run with Team in Training. Janel is training to participate in the Nike Women's Marathon in San Francisco, CA, as a member of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's (LLS) Team In Training. Team In Training is the premier fundraiser to help stop leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin lymphoma and myeloma from taking more lives. Janel is completing this event in honor of all individuals who are battling blood cancers. These people are the real heroes on our team, and we need your support to cross the ultimate finish line - a cure!

Janel's true inspiration to train for and run a marathon is her best friend, Jennifer. Jen was diagnosed 16 months ago with stage 4 breast cancer at the age of 36. Her newborn and 2 year-old daughters and loving family gave her so much hope and reason to fight. At the time of her diagnoses, Janel was so out of shape she couldn't walk a mile. Jen continually encouraged Janel to get and stay healthy for two reasons. First, to take care of her body so that a disease like cancer may never affect her. Second, to ensure that Janel will always be around to watch Jen's girls grow in the case that Jen didn't survive.

With that, Janel took up running. Jen wanted her to run a marathon, but Janel decided to start out with a half-marathon. Jen was her biggest supporter as Janel trained for months to run a 13.1 mile half marathon. She was so proud! Sadly, Janel never got to run the race she trained for. At the time when she was supposed to be crossing the finish line, she was giving Jen's eulogy at her funeral.

Janel knows that Jen wants her to keep running with the same intensity and tenacity that Jen showed while battling cancer. So, she has joined Team In Training to run a full marathon just as Jen wanted. While breast cancer and blood cancers such as lymphoma and leukemia are two very different cancers, blood cancer researchers are making amazing strides towards treatments and a cure. When one field of study makes astonishing strides, all cancer research fields benefit.

**Janel is still looking for a crafter to sign off on using their tutorial/pattern.

1 comments:

Storyline Design said...

Janel and Jen's story gave me goosebumps. Please help support finding a cure!

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