My fundraiser is a calendar based on the good things small town people are doing to raise awareness and funds for cancer. As there are not enough people in my area doing the ride itself, I decided to do it on various cancer organizations! It took months of planning but I managed to pull it together! I found a sponsor to cover most of the printing costs. I am selling the calendars for $ 15.00 each. I have printed 200 to start and if I need more I can print them in batches of 100. So far they are going really well. My only wish is that I had started preparing for it earlier. I felt very rushed and stressed near the end to get them to the printer in time. It is obviously too late at this point for you for a fundraiser for this year, but it's a thought for next year if any of you plan on riding again. You will want to start organizing it in the summer months. I took photos of twelve individuals who have done remarkable things fundraising for cancer and had a write up about each of them. The write up is below...perhaps it will give you some fundraising ideas from what they have done as well. Good luck to each and everyone of you in reaching your fundraising goals! Karen
January
Twenty four year old Jason Kloss of London recently swam a marathon of 65 kms across Lake Huron for the Canadian Cancer Society. He is the youngest person to swim across the lake, with a total time of 26 hours & 3 minutes, while his Grandfather Dick Kloss the oldest, completed the crossing exactly 20 years earlier at the age of 50! Jason raised a total of $ 20,000.00 for the Canadian Cancer Society. To support Jasons cause, please visit www.kloss2cross4cure.ca
February
After Carol Miller was diagnosed with breast cancer, she joined a cancer support group. She suggested, to this group of non quitters, Lets make a quilt! to raise funds for cancer support. The Quilt project was born. Over the years, quilts were donated from all over the world and auctioned atlocations across Canada, including the Stratford Shakespeare Festival. During the organizations 11year history, they raised over 1.8 million dollars for Wellspring, Princess Margaret Hospital and like purposed organizations offering free support programs for people living with cancer. For more information on Wellspring, and to support Carols cause please visit www.wellspring.ca
March
Brittney Mark of Mitchell joined the ranks of Cancer fundraiser when her mom recently underwent surgery for Chrondroscarcoma. She is now doing all she can think of to raise funds! Brittney participated in the Relay for Life, she has raised $ 400.00 selling raffle tickets on 2 giant 5 lb Hershey chocolate bars at her high school, and has co-hosted a Silent Auction! If you'd like to help support Brittany's cause, please visit www.mountsinai.on.ca
April
Audrey Wickie, Adelinde Sacherow, Rena Tuer, and Grace Rothwell are just a few of the volunteers of the Wigs and Accessories Room based out of Knox Presbyterian Church in Stratford . The Room was created in 2004 to provide cancer patients with wigs, hats, scarves and prayer shawls all free of charge during their treatments. The last Friday in April they hold a Body and Soul Spa Night, a fundraiser which provides them with some funds they need to continue their support to those in need. They have hairdressers, seamstresses and compassionate people who all volunteer and have spent endless hours giving of their time to those in need! For more information or to donate to their cause please phone 1-519-271-0373 or visit www.knoxstratford.ca and mention in your donation that is it for the Cancer Care Mission - Wigs and Accessories Room.
May
Ten year old Hailey Schoonderwoerd from Tavistock is proof that caring comes in all sizes. When her neighbour passed away from cancer, Hailey took that as her sign to get involved. Fundraising an astonishing $ 1000.00 for the Canadian Cancer Society, Hailey shaved her head in front of her whole school. Then she donated her long locks to Locks of Love. To donate to Hailey's cause please visit www.locksoflove.org
June
Karen Eveland of Exeter was 1 of over 4600 people who rode 200 km from Toronto to Niagara Falls, on her bicycle. Raising $ 4500.00 for the Princess Margaret Hospital. In total the Ride To Conquer Cancer event raised a total of 17.5 million dollars over the course of one weekend. Karen plans on riding again this year with three others and their newly formed team Out Spoken! If you wish to support her efforts please visit www.conquercancer.ca
July
Katelyn Merner a student at Brock University not only is a survivor but also a crusader. Supported by her family and friends, Kates Army was born. After selling over 1,0000 bracelets for Bone Cancer Awareness, Kates Army joined forces with the Relay For Life raising $12,000.00 for the Canadian Cancer Society. When Kate was given the all clear, Kates Army held and Its Gone... Partys On Bash and raised just over $ 11,000.00 for her local London Cancer Center! To donate to Kate's cause please visit www.lhsf.ca/ways-to-give/donate-now
August
Exeters Liz Campbell is founder and host of the Jane Giffin - Glave Memorial Golf Tournament held every August in Seaforth, in memory of her sister. To date, she has personally raised more than $ 34,000.00 towards the Weekend to End Womens Cancers which supports the Princess Margaret Hospital! Her team, the Walkers 4 Knockers was named by her sister Jane when she did the walk, and to date have raised a total of $102,748.00. To support Lizs cause, please visit www.endcancer.ca
September
Stephanie Simmons is a 17 year old from London, not only is a three time brain tumor cancer survivor but also an advocate for Childhood Cancer! Stephanie and her family recently formed the Gold Ribbon Campaign! A group dedicated to Childhood Cancer Awareness. From speaking at conferences, to participating in relays and other fundraisers, Stephanie wants everyone to know what the Gold Ribbon stands for! She is currently in the process of petitioning Canada Post for a Gold Ribbon stamp and the Canadian Mint for a Gold Ribbon quarter. Other projects included, Niagara Falls, the CN Tower and London City Hall who lit up in Gold for National Childhood Cancer Day! Too support Stephanies cause, please visit www.goldribboncampaign.org
October
Denise MacDonald from Ilderton with her support group Dees Cups. For the past three years Dees Cups ~ Theresa Vance, Kim Baigent ,Denise McLennan, and Denise Kane have participated in the London Run for the Cure in Denises honour! To support their cause please visit www.runforthecure.com
November
Pinky is the brain child of Mark Steffler of Seaforth. Mark is the sales and operations manager for Perth and Huron Concrete Products out of Stratford, which is where Pinky resides. Mark decided to paint the ready mix truck in memory of his mother, Sal Steffler of Guelph, who passed away of breast cancer in 2009, and to raise awareness for Breast Cancer. For every cubic meter of concrete Pinky delivers, $ 2.00 is donated to breast cancer research through the Canadian Cancer Society. When Pinky is not busy, she makes appearances at many events including car shows, open houses, golf tournaments and parades. (removed the relay for life) For a donation, you can also sign your name to her drum. If you would like to make a donation to Mark and Pinkys cause please visit www.concretecontractorscare.ca
December
John and Jennifer Prober of Seabringville are huge advocates for the cancer cause. John is the founder of the Race Against Cancer and Jennifer is a volunteer mentor for Caring Voices and Ellicsr. Both are support groups for cancer patients, based out of the Princess Margaret Hospital in Toronto. Jennifer a two time cancer survivor says she just wants to give back. She participates in many fundraising events including the Ride to conquer Cancer, the Heart and Stroke Ride for Heart, and the MS Bike Tour. To donate to any of their causes please visit the following websites. www.caringvoices.ca www.ellicsr.ca www.pmhf.ca www.conquercancer.ca
