Team M&W - Update 2

I wanted to add some words my sister, Kristen, sent regarding the Great Strides Walk:

“What an amazing day we had walking in memory of Marisa and Wellesley!  I loved being a part of it.  It was neat that even one of Wellesley's friends was with us, and a family that Marisa was a nanny for.  I had the chance to meet one of Anne's (Marisa's mom) friends who came to show her support, and she told me that she regrets not knowing Marisa better, but how she loves to be around Anne and ‘soak up her light.’  I told her, that's exactly how we all felt about Marisa.

There was a definite sense of ‘emptiness’ while we all gathered again, this time, to walk in honor of Marisa & Wellesley.  But I know how thrilled Marisa would be to know we raised more than triple our original team goal and that we were doing it for her, except she wouldn't have wanted us to go to the trouble.  I think it's important to note that Scott's original fundraising goal was only $500, then he upped it to $1,000 thinking even that was a bit lofty.  Thanks to you all, he finished with over $3,000!  A big heartfelt thank you to all of you who donated, despite being strangers to the cause. 

This was a small way for us to honor her and acknowledge the impact she has had on each of our lives.  So THANK YOU for making that happen!”

Again, from the bottom of all of our hearts…  thank you.

Team Marisa & Wellesley - Update

First, from Scott:

"Sunday's Great Strides Walk drew about 1,000 people to Tempe Town Lake in Tempe, Arizona.  Many of the walkers wore shirts memorializing their lost loved ones, others still images reflecting the object of their current inspiration.  Team Marisa & Wellesley all wore turquoise bandanas to show our unification.  Our team numbered at about 30.

<  Scott, with our niece, Maddy, & sister, Kristen.

Marisa used to attend these walks as well, to show support and sense of community.  She would rile up the troops, get them all excited, commit to doing the walk, then 1/4 of the way in... she would duck out the side – she'd cough up some stuff and we'd either press forward again or skip right to the end.  I missed having her by my side this time... and me running to hers, panting (usually harder than she was, and I really never had an excuse!)  We raised a lot of money, and everyone was so generous and thoughtful to contribute through each of us as walkers for the team.  We exceeded our cumulative goal, and I want to thank everyone close and far, friend or stranger, for acknowledging through donations what she meant to the world and the people who were lucky enough to have known her personally.  Thank you, thank you."

I’m ecstatic to announce that Scott was able to raise (with your help) $3,071 (exceeding his $3,000 goal) and the entire team raised $6,532.10 (exceeding the team goal of $5,000)!!

Thank you for caring… for your amazing generosity and sweet support of this important cause.  Scott couldn’t have raised so much without you.  Thank you for helping me to honor Marisa, and her sister, Wellesley, in this way.  This means the world to me, my brother, and my family.  Thank you, thank you! 

 

Last chance!

Over 16,400 downloads of the Team Marisa & Wellesley Printables to date!  WOW!

Scott only has $298 left to reach his goal of raising $3,000 for the Great Strides Walk to benefit cystic fibrosis.

At last check, Team Marisa & Wellesley was #4 on the list of top fundraising teams for Sunday’s Walk.  Number 4! 

Just 2 more days until the walk… just 2 more days to donate… just 2 more days to download this series of printables.

I’ve read that having cystic fibrosis is like breathing through a straw.  All.the.time.  I can’t even imagine what that must feel like (it’s bad enough being congested with a sinus infection)… and yet, so many of us take breathing easily for granted.  For a cystic fibrosis patient, their reality is struggling for each and every breath!

Marisa’s been gone just over 6 weeks now… and her sister, 10 years.  I know their family and close friends would love to imagine a world without cystic fibrosis.  A world where Marisa and Wellesley were still with us.

Marisa Johnson from Scott on Vimeo.

If you haven’t donated to Team Marisa & Wellesley yet, and would like to help make a difference in finding a cure for cystic fibrosis, please click on the button to the right.  Remember, no amount is too small!  

Thanks so much for your support – your kind words and very generous donations… it means more than you know!

Just 7 more days

To date, there have been more than 15,000 downloads of the Team Marisa & Wellesley Printables.  I’m incredibly flattered that they’ve been so popular, and I thank you all so much for your kind comments and generous donations to Team Marisa & Wellesley. 

My brother, Scott has set a modest goal of just $3,000 to fundraise for the walk, and he's nearly 84% there…  Only $493 to go!

Imagine if just $1 was donated for every download from this series… that’s more than $15,000!  I do realize that $15,000 is a lofty number, but $1 really isn’t that much if you think about it.  Even if every person who downloaded donated just $1… that’s still an incredible sum of money – an incredible sum of money that would do a lot to further the fight to find a cure for cystic fibrosis.

If you enjoyed these printables, or believe that this is a worthy cause, would you please consider donating?  No amount is too small.  It would mean so much to me (and to him) if he was able to meet his goal amount.  And, he’s so, so close!

Remember, just 7 more days until the Great Strides Walk in Tempe, AZ… and just 7 more days until the Team Marisa & Wellesley Printables are no longer available for download!

Thank you so much for your support!

Ain't too proud to beg!

Just 18 days until Team Marisa & Wellesley will participate in the Great Strides Walk to benefit the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation in Tempe, AZ.  (And just 18 more days until the Team M&W Printables are no longer available for download!)

I was curious to see how popular they’d been since I began releasing them 2.5 weeks ago… this afternoon, I counted more than 10,800 downloads!  Unbelievable!  :)

About a dozen of you have been amazingly kind and generous to donate to such an important cause. I know there are more of you out there who have enjoyed these printables and are able to donate to the cause!  Please don’t hesitate to do so. 

Imagine if just $1 was donated for every download from this series… that’s more than $10,000!  I realize that $10,000 is a lofty number, but just $1 really isn’t that much if you think about it.  Even if every person who downloaded donated just $1… that’s still an incredible sum of money.

The Johnson family lost two beautiful daughters much, much too soon.  It’s been 4 weeks today since Marisa joined her sister, Wellesley in heaven… and my brother lost his best friend.  If you haven’t yet seen Marisa’s tribute video, please don’t miss it!  This memorial truly captures the inspiration she is to her family, her friends, and the rest of the world – it will move you, I promise.






Marisa Johnson from Scott on Vimeo.
(<< Marisa (as a baby) with her mom, published in CF literature.)


Please consider donating so that families afflicted with CF can get the support they need, so that new treatments can be developed for those ailing, and so that a cure can ultimately be found.

No amount is too small – any amount you can offer will help make a difference in the fight against CF!

To make it easier on you, I’m listing all of the printables from this series below.  ;)  Simply click on an image to find its post.



 


Once again, I’m not charging for the printables in this series, but I sincerely hope that in exchange for the free downloads you’ll consider making a donation to the Great Strides Walk for Team Marisa & Wellesley.  These printables will only be available until Sunday, May 22nd.


I’ll be re-posting this project to some of the link-up parties listed here:

Under the Table & Dreaming	Kuzak’s Closet	I Heart Naptime
Heather Lynne/Raising Memories	The DIY Show-Off	Keeping It Simple
Sew Can Do	The Girl Creative	Sumo’s Sweet Stuff
Making the World Cuter	C.R.A.F.T.	Skip to My Lou
Mad in Crafts	I’m Topsy Turvy	Sugar Bee Craft Edition
Tip Junkie	Oops! I Craft My Pants	Crazy Domestic
My Delicious Ambiguity	Today’s Creative Blog	Hope Studios
Lucky Star Lane	Someday Crafts	Blue Cricket Design
Sew Much Ado	Bargain Shopping Paradise	Night Owl Crafting
Somewhat Simple	My Backyard Eden	Creations by Kara
House of Hepworths	Fireflies and Jellybeans	Beyond the Picket Fence
Everything Etsy	Tatertots and Jello	6 Inches of Ribbon
Fingerprints on the Fridge	A Few of My Favorite Things	It’s a Hodgepodge Life
Fun to Craft	Tidy Mom	The Shabby Nest
KojoDesigns	Chic on a Shoestring Decorating	Just a Girl
Seven Thirty Three	Beat Until Fluffy	A Little Lovely

Thank you so much for your support!

Thank you

To those of you who have so generously donated to Team Marisa & Wellesley, and to those of you who have blogged / retweeted / shared on Facebook about this series…

…from the bottom of my heart – it really means a lot to me, and I know Scott is very appreciative as well.

It’s not too late to donate!  If you’ve enjoyed this series, or want to give to a great cause, donations to Team Marisa & Wellesley are being accepted until the day of the Great Strides Walk in Phoenix, on May 22nd, and likely beyond.  All donations will benefit the work of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, where “your generous gift will be used efficiently and effectively, as nearly 90 cents of every dollar of revenue raised is available for investment in vital CF programs to support research, care and education.”

Until May 22nd, I will be leaving the download links open for this series, and the donation buttons posted on Sprik Space.  If you’ve hesitated to donate, please hesitate no more!  :)  After May 22nd, this series will not be available for free downloads.

Again, I’m not charging for this series of printables, but I sincerely hope that in exchange for the free download you’ll consider making a donation to the Great Strides Walk for Team Marisa & Wellesley. 

The blog world is generous, unbelievably so, and this is an on-your-honor activity – I have provided the download and donation links with each release.  A single donation is sufficient for downloading the entire series.  No amount is too small – any amount you can offer will help make a difference in the fight to find a cure for CF!

You can find all 10 Team Marisa & Wellesley Printables by clicking on the button to the left.

Thank you again for your generous support of such a worthy cause!!

 

Team Marisa & Wellesley :: Printable 10 of 10

SO SORRY – The printables series for Team Marisa & Wellesley were available for a limited time only.  Please check my FREEBIES page for other printables I’ve offered.

 

Please read the introductory post on this series of printables here.

Though loved ones have passed on, I believe we will see them again in the next life.  Apparently, Marisa’s dad always said to her, “Bye for now.”  Her stepmom told me, “She loved this and almost always said it back to him. I guess it's very appropriate now.”  I agree – it is very appropriate.  They will see each other again… someday.

To download the 5x7 image(s) for printing, simply click on the collage above, and a new window will open to the download location in 4shared.  Then, just save it to your computer.  You can print it out yourself, or upload to your photo printer of choice.

 

I’m not charging for this series of printables, but I sincerely hope that in exchange for the free download you’ll consider making a donation to the Great Strides Walk for Team Marisa & Wellesley. 

The blog world is generous, unbelievably so, and this will be an on-your-honor activity – I will provide the download link and the donation link with each release.  A single donation is sufficient for downloading the entire series.  No amount is too small – any amount you can offer will help make a difference in the fight to find a cure for CF!

 

You will be able to find all 10 Team Marisa & Wellesley Printables, as they’re released on the blog this week, by clicking on the button to the right.

Thank you in advance for your generous support of such a worthy cause!!

Team Marisa & Wellesley :: Printable 9 of 10

SO SORRY – The printables series for Team Marisa & Wellesley were available for a limited time only.  Please check my FREEBIES page for other printables I’ve offered.

 

Please read the introductory post on this series of printables here.

This graphic has been a part of my blog design for over a year now, and is often requested by readers.  I thought it would be appropriate to include it with this series.  As their family and friends can attest, the lives led by Marisa and Wellesley are both endlessly memorable and beyond inspirational.  (See a moving tribute video made for Marisa here.) 

To download the 5x7 image(s) for printing, simply click on the collage above, and a new window will open to the download location in 4shared.  Then, just save it to your computer.  You can print it out yourself, or upload to your photo printer of choice.

 

I’m not charging for this series of printables, but I sincerely hope that in exchange for the free download you’ll consider making a donation to the Great Strides Walk for Team Marisa & Wellesley. 

The blog world is generous, unbelievably so, and this will be an on-your-honor activity – I will provide the download link and the donation link with each release.  A single donation is sufficient for downloading the entire series.  No amount is too small – any amount you can offer will help make a difference in the fight to find a cure for CF!

 

You will be able to find all 10 Team Marisa & Wellesley Printables, as they’re released on the blog this week, by clicking on the button to the right.

Thank you in advance for your generous support of such a worthy cause!!