Last year I was blown away, gang. Blown. Away.
In the winter of 2017 I was diagnosed with the autoimmune disease, Myasthenia gravis, or MG. It's known as the Snowflake Disease, because it affects each of its patients so differently, but the basics are the same: muscle weakness. My brain and my muscles actually both work just fine, it's the connection between them that's deteriorating. The more I use a muscle, the weaker it becomes. Rest helps, and there are surgical options, drugs, and treatments that can help. But there is no cure and I am currently untreated. Why? Because my best options are drugs that can cause more harm to the rest of my body than good...and research hasn't brought us a cure or treatment that's safer--yet.
After posting
this blog in September 2017 explaining my situation and why it was so important to me to raise funds for Myasthenia Gravis research I received one of the largest outpourings of support to date: from
you.
I cried some happy tears, I have to say...I was and still am so honored, humbled, and simply floored by what you helped us to accomplish. We raised so much money that Beadshop's name was called out during an awards ceremony at the National MGFA Conference this summer, and they sent me a fancy certificate to boot! Due in large part to the fundraising from our Bead Fam the MG Walk asked me to be their "
Walk Hero" this year, and of course I told them I'd be picking up my cape at the dry cleaners ASAP! It'll go beautifully with my
tiara and tutu from last year!
And so the time has come once again, ladies and gents! We have a new MG Walk to walk, and some new goodies for those of you who'd like to join in the FUNdraising.
This year, my team
Kiss Myas(thenia Gravis) and I hope to raise major moolah! We've set our goals even higher than last year and I can't wait to blow them out of the water. Janice and I, along with my friends and family, will be walking on
Saturday, October 13th, at the
MG Walk of Virginia in Springfield. This is not only an opportunity to raise funds, but one to spread awareness of MG and be a part of a community I didn't even know existed until just a year ago. Janice and I want to invite any locals to join us! We would be honored to see you there.
Once again, we have a raffle to help raise those much-needed funds:
Janice has donated a $50 beadshop.com gift card
that we are "raffling" off to YOU.
To win, you donate.
For every $5 donated you will receive one chance at winning the gift card. So if you donate $5, your name goes in once. If you donate $20, your name goes in four times, and so on. I will keep track of the donations and tally up the names and numbers, and on Saturday from the MG Walk, Janice and I will broadcast
LIVE on our Facebook Page and select a winner.
That's not all! Kate wanted to have some fun, too, and she is making these adorable snowflake charms to make the donations a little sweeter. For anyone who donates $25 or more, you'll receive one charm. For anyone who donates $50 or more, you'll receive a set of 3!
Donations must be in by Midnight PST on Friday, October 12, 2018 to be eligible to win. Donations must be made to the "Beadshop Dotcom" team member in order to qualify.
Questions? I'm happy to answer and happy to help.
Just email me at
Drea.beadshop@gmail.com
Many thanks and, as always,
Happy Beading!
Drea
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