Amazing friends doing for others

I have amazing friends. Amazing, genuine, considerate people who have chosen to walk beside us and experience with us this truly life-altering, heartbreaking, faithful and blessed journey. This post is from my friend, China. She's amazing. Please support her heart's desire if you can. God Bless.

Hi everyone~

It's that time of year again for the Santa Cruz to Capitola Wharf-to-Wharf race on July 28th!  Last year, your support of my run raised over $1,000 for CASA and foster youth in Santa Cruz County- thank you!  This year, I am fundraising for a cause very dear to my heart, in honor of Madeleine Angela Vazquez, the beautiful baby girl of my childhood friend who lost her life this last January at only 15 months old to Atypical teratoid rhabdoid tumor (AT/RT), a rare tumor usually diagnosed in childhood that results in tumors (often multiple, recurring tumors) in the brain and central nervous system.  The malignancy rate for ATRT is a heartbreaking 11%. Although she only lived a short time, Madeleine's spirit not only changed my life, but the lives of so many.

·     Because of many of your kind donations towards the bake sale/silent auction I held at my work in January after Madeleine's passing, we raised nearly $1,700 for the family to help with Madeleine's funeral costs.  I am forever grateful for your support and honored to know so many giving souls, and hope you will continue that support at the macro level— to find a cure and support the children and families who suffer every day because of childhood cancer.

·        I am fundraising for the Jessie Rees NEGU (Never Ever Give Up) Foundation, which began in honor of Jessie Rees, who was diagnosed at 11 years old with an inoperable and incurable brain tumor called DIPG, from which she died at 12 years old.  Her story launched a global movement of compassion that her foundation continues with through the support of amazing corporations, athletes, charities, volunteers and people like you! 

* One of the attached pictures shows Madeleine with a “JoyJar” from the Jessie Rees Foundation – just one way they spread hope, joy and love to children fighting life altering medical illnesses.
http://www.negu.org/

 Our greatest gift in honoring Madeleine’s life is to live every day to the fullest.  I am running in honor of those who can't— the millions of children and families that suffer because of pediatric cancer, and yet keep striving and believing in a cure. Their strength has been particularly moving for me this year and serves as a reminder to keep trying no matter the obstacle.

I truly appreciate whatever level of support you can give.  Please visit my FirstGiving.com donation page for more information about the Jessie Rees NEGU Foundation and to donate: http://www.firstgiving.com/fundraiser/chinaburyn/chinaburynsfundraisingpage

In honor of Angel Madeleine ~

http://supportmadeleine.blogspot.com/

Thank you,

China