Guest Post: -Ask Me Why I’m Bald- #childhoodcancer #StBaldricks

The first time I heard about the St. Baldrick’s Foundation was in 2009, when I watched and photographed two Soldiers having their heads publicly shaved at Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan. The research I’ve done since then has always shown what an outstanding organization this is. Although I’m not brave enough to shave my head like Jessie, I can at least donate. I challenge you to read Jessie’s story and pledge, and then think about what you can do to help in the fight against childhood cancer.- Elisebet

From Jessie:

In 2012, I made the crazy decision to shave my head! While bad hair days had been known to drive me crazy, that isn’t why I decided to go bald. I went bald for a wonderful cause! I shaved my head to raise money for The St. Baldrick’s Foundation. It was such a great experience that I’m shaving my head again on March 15th, 2014! My goal is to raise $2000 to help conquer kid’s cancer, and I hope you can help!

Jessie gets her head shaved 2012 to raise money for the St. Baldrick’s Foundation.

The St. Baldrick’s Foundation exists to help bridge the funding gap in childhood cancer research. Did you know that all types of childhood cancer receive only 4% of US federal funding for cancer research? That makes St. Baldrick’s the largest private funder of childhood cancer research grants! Worldwide 175,000 children are diagnosed with cancer each year. Luckily, St. Baldrick’s is funding ground breaking clinical trials to improve childhood cancer treatment and fighting to find a cure. Shaving my head to raise funds for childhood cancer research is an honor!

You see, I’m a mom to 6 wonderful kids. We have been fortunate that our children are for the most part healthy kids. Not all parents can say the same thing. There are too many parents rocking their children in hospitals instead of their homes. There are too many kids that are sick instead of playing outside and enjoying normal activities. Most of all, there are too many children that have been lost to childhood cancer. What if the money we raised helped to save a life, or two, or twenty lives? What if the children that are fighting cancer all survived to do amazing things? Those children may grow be up to be parents themselves, or they may be the next great artist, or maybe they will even find the cure for cancer themselves. The children that fight motivate me, and I hope they will motivate you!

It is my honor to shave my head in support of all children with cancer. Please join me and be a hero for kids! You can donate online, and you can keep your hair! Thank you so much!

About the Author:

Jessie headshotJessie Voiers is the laughing lady behind the blog Then I Laughed. Jessie has six children, 1 adopted at birth and 5 bonus children gifted to her upon marriage. When she isn’t chasing kids around, she loves to blog, go to the bathroom by herself, and find any bargain imaginable. She will soon be bald, so should have some extra free time that used to be taken up by styling her hair.

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Review: Handmade, Upcycled “Grace scarf” by Rethreaded

Disclosure: I got this product as part of an advertorial.

According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, it’s difficult to ascertain exact statistics of how many people are trafficked every year. The office states a “conservative” estimate would be 2.5 million victims at any given time. Human trafficking affects every area of the world. Horrifyingly, it’s a multi-billion dollar industry for criminals.

The overwhelming amount of those trafficked are women, but statistics show men, boys, and girls are also trafficked. Although some of these victims will be forced into manual labor, the majority will end up in the sex trade.

Rethreaded is a nonprofit organization that seeks to help those affected and exploited by the sex trade, whether that’s trafficking, pornography, strip clubs, or prostitution. Based out of Jacksonville, Fla., Rethreaded helps local women through a four-month holistic training program. The training gives women (some of whom have trouble finding employment due to felony records) the chance to earn a living wage while becoming artisan seamstresses. The women at Rethreaded “upcycle” donated t-shirts into items like scarves and skirts. On a global scale, Rethreaded distributes products from around the world made by women affected by the sex trade.

The folks at Rethreaded sent me one of their beautiful Grace scarves to review. This scarf is the Original Grace Scarf in pink. When a woman enters the Rethreaded family, the Grace scarf is the first product she makes. The scarf is upcycled from a t-shirt. Each cut strip stretches into curled strands, that are then tied together. To the Rethreaded family, the scarf symbolizes grace.

“Only when we are able to give and receive grace are we able to come together as one team to make something beautiful.” -From Rethreaded.com

The scarf is comfortable and versatile. I can wear it in different ways and with both casual and dressier clothes. I love the concept behind Rethreaded. Not only are you giving money to help victims, but the scarf (or whatever item you purchase) can be a great conversation piece. I can use my scarf to open a dialogue with others about human trafficking and what they can do to help.

If you live in the Jacksonville area, you can visit the Rethreaded warehouse to shop. For the rest of us, you can shop online at Rethreaded.com, as well as learn how you can help. Click HERE to view Rethreaded’s partner organizations. (There are some gorgeous handmade products from around the world: bags, jewelry, coin purses, scarves, stationery, etc.)

Which item from Rethreaded or one of its partners would you love to own?

Note: I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

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The Fisher House Foundation partners with Goldfish crackers

If you’re a military family that frequents a base exchange, you may have noticed special military-inspired packages of Goldfish crackers on store shelves. Pepperidge Farm, the company behind the Goldfish brand released limited-edition Goldfish packages to coincide with their $25,000 donation to the Fisher House Foundation, a nonprofit organization.

Military GoldfishThe Fisher House Foundation is an organization that I’ve grown familiar with as a service member. Their purpose is simple: “Providing a ‘home away from home’ for military families to be close to a loved one during hospitalization for an illness, disease or injury.”

I first learned about Fisher House several years ago when I saw a billboard on the side of a Florida freeway, advertising a Fisher House being built in a nearby city. I looked it up online later that day. They have more than 60 houses currently operating and have served almost 200,000 families since their beginnings in 1990. In 2012 alone, almost 20,000 families stayed in a Fisher House to be near their sick or wounded loved one. England even opened their very first Fisher House yesterday! 

The foundation has recognized almost 25 locations that need a Fisher House, whether it be the first, a replacement, or an additional house. But the houses aren’t the only Fisher House Foundation program. Hero Miles, Hotels for Heroes, and scholarship programs also address the needs of wounded or ill service members and their families. Pepperidge Farm’s donation will be used for one of the scholarship programs, to help military families pay for their children’s college expenses.

Although donations from companies like Pepperidge Farm are vital to the Fisher House Foundation, everyone including me and you can help in some capacity. For the last two years, my brother, an Army JAG Corps officer, has run marathons to raise money for The Fisher House Foundation. Not a runner? Do you golf? Ride a motorcycle? Like music? Attend auctions? If this is something that interests you, please click HERE to visit the foundation’s “Events” page.

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