Skates!

FORT WAYNE, INDIANA -  It’s a little hard to see, this is a still shot of a video (soon to be posted on the Vera Bradley Foundation Facebook) – but it’s worth sharing with you. This is Carolyn, my dear friend that past posts. So she made her annual trek to home office to deliver what she is contributing this year.

Let me tell you something; she inspires awe in me. I know survivors, and a HUGE number of them. I can count on maybe one hand the number of people who are in the fundraiser/survivor category, though.  And of them, I would say maybe 2 or 3 are even in her galaxy. She has taken the disease that touched her and has poured her energy into an annual event that raises money to help others.

She didn’t try to re-invent the wheel, didn’t try to come up with a gimmick or strategy that would have imitated someone else’s idea. She knew what she loved to do – skate. She knew her ample skill set – marketing and nonprofit fundraising. She just sat down and pulled them all together. I’m not saying it’s easy. She works harder and more hours than anyone else I know, but it’s what she knows that makes it so successful. She has friends in one great big family, the world of the ice arena denizens. It’s been 8 years since her first event, and it has grown every year. It did start small, like everyone who does this work. Skate for Hope has now raised more than $300,000 to help fight breast cancer.

But this year – this year, Carolyn gave us a check for $50,000. FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS.  (worth repeating). One woman. With a big heart, a strong passion and a remarkable husband encouraging her every step of the way. I wanted to tell you again about her. I’ve heard the "I’m just one person and I can’t think of anything I can do to help people" thing too much to let them not see her and know about her.

***One more thing, I don’t have a photo of this, but she was wearing the most adorable black faux-snakeskin peep-toe black stiletto pumps. Just in case you thought she couldn’t get any cooler …***

Walk

USA. I have so many friends and 'cancer sisters' who are right in the middle of their run/walk/roll Fundraising seasons. I see their posts on all of my social media sites, I get email updates and my phone buzzes all the time telling me I have yet another photo of yet another sweet friend in pink running shoes.

And I.Love.It.

These are men and women who don't want to sit still any longer and wait for change. I just posted recently that I applaud those who do something - anything - to ensure we make a better future.

Yes, I know some are vastly more successful than others, but I have to say that I don't care. The pics from the big city walks give my just as much joy and hope as the small town walks that had a grand total of 20 people doing the event.Including the dogs. :)

Ingredients

I was asked yesterday if an event was "even possible, since we don't think we have a great story to inspire people." The town I was in was quite small, and they thought their attendance, motivation and subsequent contribution would be too small to matter.

Size doesn't count when it comes to giving, when it comes to love. Even the littlest of people can make an impact, if not through dollars, then through impression. I was once at an event where a little girl gave me 12 cents "for all the sick ladies I talked about." It was in a shoe store on the East coast, and I'll never forget her face. Of course we have donors that are so big, her change seems to be a drop in the bucket. But, she was 5 years old and sad about the sick ladies, so just imagine what that compassion might lead her to later in life!

My little one wrote down the "Saturday pancake" recipe that we always make. She never once questioned whether she was able to cook, whether people would find them good enough, whether it was proper. Now, 8 years of pancake-making under her belt, she wanted to make sure she wrote it down for other people. Because someone might be scared to try, and this would help, she said.

Just try!