Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Cancer Doesn't Take a Holiday



Happy the Thanksgiving craziness is over?  But wait!  There's more. To prepare for the winter holidays, there's Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, Cyber Monday, and today: Giving Tuesday.  All very well and good but here's the fact: Cancer doesn't take a holiday.

When you have cancer, the best gifts fight and ease the effects of the disease, provide comfort and hope, allow for families to focus on each other rather than the minutia of their "new normal", and provide moments of peace and joy despite uncertainty and fear.

As you prepare for the holidays ahead, we hope you will embrace the giving spirit of the season by finding a place in your heart for the families who rely on our critical support services, and making a donation to the Ellie Fund (here) now or in the future.

Because cancer doesn't take a holiday, your gift is equally important to us on a Thursday in March as it is this December.  And any time you make a donation in honor of a loved one or friend, it's our pleasure to send a special card that gratefully acknowledges your gift, and explains how your donation directly benefits a local family in need. 



 

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Meet Some of Our Awesome Breast Cancer Warriors

Really Cool Boys Wear Pink! Andrew Schiller, Matt Lunt, and Colin Kelleher, all seventh grade students at Taunton Catholic Middle School, came up with the idea to ask for a PINK dress down day this October in honor of breast cancer survivors and their families.

The home room reps took the idea to the student counsel and voted. Passing unanimously, every student who dressed down on October 25 wore something pink and donated a dollar to the Ellie Fund to help local families who are struggling with breast cancer treatment.

Every student who donated was given an Ellie Fund car magnet and you can find the magnets on many of the lockers. The boys are proud of their efforts and so many of their fellow classmates who supported their idea, helping to raise $450. Way to go guys. You make pink look good!


HOLY GUACAMOLE As part of our Do Good Campaign last month, Qdoba in Wellesley pledged to raise $1,000 by donating $1 for every naked burrito or taco sold by the end of the month. Much to our delight, they worked with their staff and guests to exceed that commitment and raised $1,500! Thanks Qdoba!
 
 
In support of Breast Cancer Awareness month this October, the Merck Millipore Corporate Foundation ran a fun "Go Pink!" photo contest where employees were asked to show their support of a local breast cancer nonprofit by dressing in their favorite best pink apparel.

Susan Hoag (front row, in sassy pink pants) works within the Maintenance Contract Sales Department of Laboratory Solutions - Laboratory Water Division of EMD Millipore and pledged to win this contest to support the Ellie Fund and the families we serve. (Lab Water provides world-class water purification systems and services.)


Susan coordinated the photo and chose the Ellie Fund to be the charity beneficiary of their efforts. Thanks to her dedication and enthusiastic commitment to our mission, their photo photo included in-house personnel including Technical Service; Finance; Custom Products; Clinical; Service Logistics; Marketing; Maintenance Contract Sales; Administrative Assistant and their enthusiastic and fabulous Head of North American Sales (wearing the cape!) and WON FIRST PLACE. 

Susan organized the photoshoot for a day and time that allowed additional people in field to join in, as everyone wanted to show their support!  Their Service Managers participated along with a training class of Field Service Engineers and in total, they had a team of 48 employees, including their photographer and a Vince Wilfork cut-out. (He's a staple in their cafes during football season - EMD Millipore works with him and represents his diabetes foundation.)

The winning photo earned the Ellie Fund a $375 donation and the participants will be treated to a free pizza party lunch. Thanks so much Susan!


 
 

 
 



Friday, November 9, 2012

Out Living It

Fellow young adult cancer survivors on the 3-day Lares Trek
through the Andes Mountains of Peru.
October 2012
"Life's challenges are not supposed to paralyze you, they're supposed to help you discover who you are.”  (Bernice Johnson Reagon)

Here at the Ellie Fund, we love to feature and support organizations that fight against cancer right along side us.

The cancer journey for me personally has been one of self-discovery.  I thought I knew who I was and where my life was heading, but it wasn't until I had to face cancer and my own mortality that I truly learned what living was about.  I didn't do this on my own however.  I needed help getting to that point where I could let go of the anger, the frustration, the guilt, and the vulnerability and move on.  The help came in the form of a Colorado-based, non-profit organization called First Descents. 

First Descents offers young adult cancer fighters and survivors a free outdoor adventure experience designed to empower them to climb, paddle and surf beyond their diagnosis, defy their cancer, reclaim their lives and connect with others doing the same. In 2012, they held rock climbing, whitewater kayaking and surfing programs in the U.S., South America, and Central America. 

I've taken part in 4 First Descents' camps since 2009.  I have learned to whitewater kayak on rivers in Montana, Colorado, and Idaho.  This past October I went on a 10 day journey to Peru where I rafted the Apurimac River, completed a 3-day Lares Trek through the Andes Mountains in which I climbed to an elevation of 15,016 feet, and visited Machu Picchu along side 11 other young adult cancer survivors and several First Descents' staff members, including the founder of this amazing organization, Brad Ludden.
First Descents has truly changed my life.

Because of First Descents, I am able to trust my body again and realize that I am now even stronger than I was pre-cancer.  I have done things that I never would have even considered doing pre-cancer.  I can kayak class III rapids with confidence and climb 3,000 feet in vertical elevation on my own two feet; I can LIVE.  I can live in the moment and not dwell on the past and worry too much about the future.  The road to the discovery of my true self has been an amazing one.

For more information about First Descents, visit www.firstdescents.org.  You can also email me at ameis@verizon.net
First Descents Whitewater Kayaking trip to Glacier National Park
in Montana 2009