This post is sponsored by the American Cancer Society, but as always the opinions above are 100% my own.
Cancer… Did you shiver just a little? The word that I believe most everyone is afraid of. Whether you are a parent, a spouse, a friend, or a child… the fear that cancer brings is unbelievable. When someone is diagnosed with cancer it affects everyone around them. Everyday life suddenly revolves around doctors’ appointments, testing, imaging, and procedures. Sometimes patients are even forced to travel to these appointments to receive the best care.
I have been affected by cancer a handful of times in my short 29 years of life. My grandfather was diagnosed with lung cancer, but he had not smoked a day in his life. He passed away when I was 20, which was a huge loss to our family. The man that was always there for me, who brought me tootsie rolls and gave me money for extra incentive to do well in school. A few years later I watched my Aunt Tanya’s father die, another man that I looked up to. The most profound cancer that I have watched to this day is the death of Seth Helie. Seth was my Aunt’s brother in law. Amy, Seth’s wife, I have known since I was 5, and she watched me grow up. Seth and Amy were both very active, enjoyed hiking, and Seth owned his own custom cabinetry and furniture business. In September of 2017, Seth woke up not knowing what day it was. Seth was admitted to Maine Medical Center and in mid-October, he was diagnosed with grade 4 glioblastoma. The tumor was covering a large portion of his brain, which impacted his motor functions. Seth passed away on January 30, 2018.
During these months my heart was entirely broken for Amy, Ethan, and the whole family. One day you wake up and your whole life changes, how is this fair? With the help of the American Cancer Society, I have been able to start planning ways to help out and raise money to kick cancers butt. Fundraising can be a simple and fun way to raise money for a cause you care about.
If you’ve hosted or attended an ACS fundraising event you know the passion that goes into these events. American Cancer Society is a non-profit dedicated to elimenating cancer. From raising funds for research to offering programs and services for families, they are attacking cancer from every angle.
One of the things that I have heard the most is that ACS offers a ton of resources and can connect any family to whatever they may need. Transportation. Food. Lodging. ACS has resources to help out families in need.
Yearly we look forward to attending Relay For Life and coming together with friends and family. Relay For Life is a fundraiser put on by the American Cancer Society. It is an overnight event (because cancer doesn’t sleep) that celebrates survivorship of cancer and also strives to raise funds for research. People gather into teams, usually grouped by families or associations, to tackle the goals. Don’t have a Relay for Life event in your area? Try Raise your Way!
Similar to the Relay for Life Fundraiser, you can create your own unique fundraiser through the American Cancer Society’s Raise Your Way platform. The tool allows you to turn your everyday passion to purpose, transforming just about anything into a beneficial activity for the ACS. I’ve put together some great ideas on how to kick start your fundraising goals! You could create any one of these and make a big impact!
Backyard BBQ
Summer is right around the corner and so are the many get together. Why not turn one of your backyard BBQ’s into the perfect fundraising event? Incorporate raffles, a small fee for a plate of food, or even sell t-shirts / decals for your car.
Paint Night
Who doesn’t love paint nights? I know I love getting my girlfriends together and laughing over a glass of wine while trying to paint. This is the perfect opportunity to get together while asking for a donation that will contribute to hitting your fundraising goals.
Hike
Are you an avid hiker? Get your friends together at a local state park and create the perfect patio set up and head out on your hike. Honoring an activity that someone loved is the best way to get people together, fundraise for a good cause and share memories together.
Ready to kick start your fundraising efforts?
1. Go to www.crowdrise.com/americancancersociety
2. Follow the prompts to “Start a Fundraiser”.
3. Choose where you’d like your donation to go.
4. Create a Crowdrise account with Facebook, or manually through form entry
5. Continue prompts to name your fundraiser and set a goal!
6. Be sure to share your fundraiser on social!
What are your American Cancer Society fundraising goals this year? What event will you be planning? I can’t wait to hear! #AttackingCancer #PassionToPurpose
Xo,
Ashley
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