Help out a family in need

A family is on the verge of losing everything through no fault of their own. Their father developed Chronic Pancreatitis in December, 2009. After attempting to continue working, he finally had to go on leave of absence in October, 2010. He has yet to return to work. On June 17, 2011, he underwent a 17-hour surgery called a “total pancreatectomy with autoislet transplant or TP/AIT for short.

Essentially he had his pancreas, spleen and gall bladder removed. The team of doctors harvested as many good islet cells possible and implanted them into his liver. He still suffers from severe pain and extreme high and low blood sugar levels due to being a type 1 diabetic. Their insurance was cut off as of August 31, 2012 due to non payment of premiums and he hasn’t received any money since March 2012.

He is also battling severe depression and anxiety which only makes things worse. The family is currently attempting to get help from state and local programs but no luck so far. These are parents of three children ages 2, 5, and 11. The links below will help people understand just what this disease is and all the problems that go along with it. This illness has not only hurt physically and emotionally but it has also put this family into a financial crisis! He has $6000+ in prescription costs alone each month and without them he wouldnt make it long so if you could, please find it in your heart to help if not by donating, then by prayer.

http://www.pancreatitiscenter.com/chronic_pancreatitis.aspx

http://www.pancreatitiscenter.com/chronicpancreatitis_pain.aspx

http://pancreas.org/patients/chronic-pancreatitis/

To make a donation to help this father in need, visit: https://www.fundraise.com/clay-wilkins/support-a-family-in-need

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Boston Local Food Festival coming back for fourth year

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Blindfold Challenge Fundraising Kicks Off to Support 4 Boston-based Organizations

After two Boston Marathons, Kelly and Robyn are giving their bodies a break from long distance running. But their hearts are still beating for the Perkins School for the Blind.

This year, instead of running 26.2 miles, they will run 3.1 miles…blindfolded. On April 14, they will run the Blindfold Challenge as part of the BAA 5k.

The Blindfold Challenge is a unique opportunity to run a 5K blindfolded with the help of a sighted guide. This experience mirrors the way that blind athletes train and run, and the tools and training that blind individuals use to succeed in their everyday lives.

Kelly will be blindfolded and Robyn will guide. They will be connected by a two-foot tether and run the same course, at the same time, and under the same circumstances as the other runners in the 5K event.  By the time they cross the finish line, they’ll understand what anyone with vision impairment already knows: that being blind won’t hold you back, that you don’t need your eyes to see what’s inside you—that, in the end, fear is the only disability.

Funds raised support Massachusetts organizations that provide rehabilitation, education and technology for the blind and visually impaired, including MAB (The Massachusetts Association for the Blind), The Carroll Center, and The National Braille Press.

Help them raise awareness and funds for the Blindfold Challenge here: http://www.fundraise.com/blindfoldchallenge

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Harambee Community Gardens of New Orleans spreading awareness on healthy eating

Harambee Community Gardens of New Orleans is a branch off of the Laini Kuumba Ngoma Troupe. With the growing rate of adult and childhood obesity as well as the rate of serious physical & mental illinesses in the city of New Orleans.

Harambee Gardens of NO & Laini Kuumba Ngoma Troupe hope to spread awareness on healthy eating, fitness and overall wellness. As they promote eating healthy, thinking health and total wellness. They will offer plots to indiviuals, families and groups where they can learn how to grow what they love to eat. They will also offer free cooking & exercise classes while teaching healthy lifestyle changes for an optimal lifestyle.

Their logan, “You Eat it, You Grow It, Let’s Get Healthy New Orleans!”They hope people will consider being a support for this very worthy cause. No donation is to small or to large. All donations will go towards, soil, tools, storage, building supplies, plumbing & water. Donate today to a worthy cause.

For more information and to make a donation, visit: https://www.fundraise.com/laini-kuumba-ngoma-troupe-inc/sistah-diarras-fundraiser.

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Zane’s Matching Fundraiser has three weeks to go

A couple of week ago, something incredible happened: an anonymous donor stepped up to help improve Zane’s world with a 30-day, dollar-for-dollar match campaign to raise $10,000.

This donor will match every donation, up to $500, but if we’re going to raise $5000, we’re going to need your help.

Here’s what you can do:

Donate
Each and every donation of any amount is greatly appreciated and will be matched dollar for dollar.

Fundraise
You can “Join” on the righthand side of the fundraising page, a duplicate fundraising page will be created for you with your own unique URL and you can use to send to your personal contacts. Set a goal for yourself and encourage others to give if they can.

Share
Often people think that money is the only way to help, but that’s not the case. We ask you to please share Zane’s story through email, social media, and in person on your mobile device. Your share could mean more supporters for Zane.

Please read Zane’s story below and help us improve his world:

Zane’s Story
Five years ago our son, Zane, nearly died. He had a four-hour seizure that left him forever changed. Zane has a type of epilepsy that is resistant to medication called drug-resistant temporal lobe epilepsy. Before his surgery, he was having abnormal epileptic spikes on average of every 20 seconds. The diagnosis was that with the way things were headed, he was unlikely be able to speak or care for himself by the time he was an adult. With a goal of ridding him of these debilitating seizures, he had brain surgery over two years ago. Doctors estimated that there was an 80% chance Zane would be completely cured.

Unfortunately, two months after the surgery, Zane had another massive seizure. Tests showed that the seizure activity had moved to the other side of his brain. This is rare. We were devastated. That initial seizure left Zane with brain damage at the tender age of two- years old. Since then, he has been diagnosed with drug-resistant epilepsy, autism and sensory processing disorder. The sensory processing disorder makes it difficult to go out to events with lots of noise, light or people.

But things did get better after the surgery. For the past two years Zane has had far fewer seizures, his behavior improved dramatically, and he was doing great in school. Maybe things would be OK. Our smiles grew bigger.

This past spring, Zane started having headaches - cluster headaches that would go on for days and migraines that were incapacitating. This fall, things got much worse with him having more seizure activity and more autistic-like symptoms. He often asks, “Am I going to die?”
Zane’s condition can make him aggressive. However, Zane is also one of the most affectionate, beautiful people you could ever meet, making for a strange dichotomy. He gives the best hugs. He gives his brother, Gavin and us, multiple kisses each day.

Zane has an MRI and overnight EEG scheduled at the Denver Children’s Hospital in February, 2013. That is the soonest they can get us in and it feels like an eternity to wait. We are hoping to know more after those tests are run.

There are ways that you can help.

First and foremost, keep us in your heart. Think good thoughts for us. If you pray, keep us in your prayers. When Zane got sick before, we felt people’s love holding us up, holding us together. At times it felt like that love was the only thing that got us through. We could also use extra help for Zane’s care and travel expenses.

Lastly, thank you. Thank you for your kindness and support. This process has taught us to reach out and ask for help, and to accept it as the gift it is, when given. Many people have told us how lucky Zane is to have us as his parents. We count ourselves lucky to have him and his brother as sons and to have the love and support of our family, our friends and our incredible community, both near and far. We know that there are many challenging days ahead. But Zane also reminds us that our lives, though fragile, are also a blessing.

With love and gratitude, Elaine & John

To donate to the matching donation campaign, visit: https://www.fundraise.com/zanematch

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Art 4 All helps support Arts in Alabama and needs your help

Please help Hannah Walton save her nonprofit organization! Art 4 All is a 501(c)3 free art education organization that she founded when she  was 8 years old to help provide fee art for children and schools that cannot afford to have an art program.

Walton is now 11 years old and has helped over 3,600 children across the state of Alabama experience and realize their artistic talent. But because of lack of funding Art 4 All will have to close if they cannot raise at least $12,000 by the end of March.

Please help Walton keep Art 4 All open and serving the children and schools of Alabama. To learn more about her organization, please visit www.art4all.org.

To make a donation to the foundation, visit: https://www.fundraise.com/art-4-all/save-art-4-all.

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