Tag Archives: fundraiser

Walk ‘n’ Roll for HoPE

13 Oct

Some people travel to Boston or NYC for marathons, but I’m traveling to Phoenix/Mesa, Arizona next month for the “HoPE Walk ‘N’ Roll” to support Families for HoPE. AND I NEED YOUR HELP!

Several months ago, my friend and fellow HPE mom, Heather Dawn Rinard began planning a fundraising walk to raise awareness of Holoprosencephaly in the Phoenix area where she lives. She recruited other HPE families in Arizona to join her, and they are planning and executing a fabulous event to be held on Saturday, November 9.

Heather committed to this event several months ago; however, in August, she learned that she has Stage IV cervical cancer. As a mother of four (one with HPE), she has begun chemo therapy which will give her more time. The doctors have told her that she will not survive this, but the chemo can give her precious time with her husband and children. After receiving the diagnosis, I asked Heather if she wanted to cancel the event because terminal cancer and chemo would more than qualify as a viable excuse to quit.

Heather is not a quitter or an excuse-maker, and she fully intends to continue with this event on November 9. I will be traveling to Phoenix for a week next month to support Heather’s fundraiser, but I will also be there to help with any tasks that are needed to lighten Heather’s load and help make the event everything she imagined it could be.

Since she joined the board of directors of Families for HoPE in 2015, Heather has been my right-hand and go-to person–especially during our social media campaigns for HPE Awareness Week, Brackets For Good Tournament and Giving Tuesday promotions. You may have even seen some of our Facebook Live broadcasts. Whenever I have issued a call out for help, Heather, without fail, responds with, “What can I do?”

HERE’S WHERE I NEED YOUR HELP . . . Heather has done so much to help me carry my load over these past few years, and I want to repay that by helping her carry her load now. Whatever she needs to make this event a huge success, I will be there asking, “What can I do?”

What can YOU do? You can make a donation to help my dear friend reach and exceed her fundraising goal and honor her commitment to persevere and HoPE in spite of life’s struggles.

https://app.99pledges.com/fund/hopewalknr1/leslie-harley

Thank you!

 

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A Perfect “10”

20 Mar

On January 10, 2003, we received the diagnosis of Holoprosencephaly (HPE) for our unborn baby. The specialist described HPE as 10 times worse than Down Syndrome.

On April 10, 2003, Samuel Aaron Harley was born weighing 6 lbs., 10 oz.

If he were with us today, Sammy would be celebrating his 10th birthday on April 10.

If he had been born without HPE, Sammy would be living a typical 10 year-old boy’s life, and we would be patiently waiting to see what he might grow up to become and how the adult Sammy might make an impact on the future world.

Instead, Sammy was born with HPE, and before he even left the womb, he was already making an impact on the world. In the 5 years he was here with us, he melted hearts by his sweet innocence, and he taught others through his determination and perseverance.

In honor of Sammy’s 10th birthday, it seems only fitting to celebrate the number 10.

What you see below is the formation of a ripple that started with Sammy, and I would ask you to help his ripple grow on this 10th birthday. Sammy was one of the children who helped inspire the formation of Families for HoPE, Inc., and I will be participating in the annual Walking for Dreams fundraising walk on Sunday, May 19 at the Downtown Indianapolis Canal. 100% of the funds raised by my team directly benefits Families for HoPE.

The first ring around Sammy’s photo contains 10 circles and within those 10 circles are room for 10 names. I am seeking 10 friends who will donate $10 to join my team and walk with me in honor of Sammy. Then, I would like those 10 friends to get 10 of their friends to donate $10, and ask those friends to consider walking with us in honor of Sammy, too. (Below is a picture of what my 10 friends will receive to share with their 10 friends.) My goal is to completely fill Sammy’s ripple with names to create my “perfect 10“.

Now, imagine if those 10 friends asked 10 of their friends to donate $10 and they walked with us in honor of Sammy, too. Do you see the ripple forming?

The thing about Sammy is that he couldn’t participate in an event like this because HPE made him unable to walk. Also, Sammy couldn’t ask you to donate $10 and walk on his team because HPE made him unable to talk. He couldn’t walk or talk, yet he made quite an impact on the world.

Will you be a part of the ripple that Sammy started? Will you be one of my “perfect 10“ friends?

1-Perfect 10 Ripples

If you would like to start your own ‘perfect 10″ ripple for Sammy, please email me at LeslieHarley527@gmail.com, and I will send you the file so that you can add your 10 friends and their 10 friends to the ripple.

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