Kickstarter

So, under different circumstances we would be reaching the very end of the road and in many ways we are...In a GOOD way of course. This week we'll be requesting any needed information so that we can send goodies out to our amazing supporters, YOU!

However, here I am at 2:23am writing an update that I simply cannot keep to myself! The Daily Breeze Newspaper for the South Bay Area (with a circulation of over 70,000) has put Mel & Myself on the front page of their paper! What an honor!!! This will be our very first newspaper article and of course we are thrilled. You may be wondering if this is based on kickstarter but it was actually based on THE BOOK and OUR MOM and OUR STORY! The fundraiser through kickstarter has given us an amazing launching pad to print more workbooks (most importantly) in addition to an amazing bonus- getting our name out there so more people will learn about the resources we continue to develop. And in so many words also help us honor the memory of our mom.
VISIT
http://www.dailybreeze.com/
or
http://www.dailybreeze.com/latestnews/ci_15491224

I wanted to share this uplifting and amazingly hopeful experience with all of you because of all the support you've given us! We cannot thank you enough and I hope you stick around as we continue on this amazing journey!

xoSarah
sbanks@carechronicles.com

They must be talking about my website;) Well, savings has been spent but my inspiration, determination, and creativity are all still flurishing! As soon as it's complete I'll let you all know- goal is the end of the weekend hopefully sooner!

Reminder: WE ONLY HAVE A FEW WEEKS LEFT TO REACH THE GOAL! We're coming to the end of the road so please contact 2-3 people and ask if they'll donate just $25-$50 and we will reach our goal! Including checks WE"RE A LITTLE MORE THAN 1/2 WAY THERE. Now is the time! So reach out to a couple friends, your parents, co-workers, or someone you know would want the Symptom Management Workbook for themselves or a loved one! WE NEED YOUR HELP MORE THAN EVER! And if they can give more, even better!

Exciting updates...Your inspiration pushes me forward, so know you are helping to make these things happen!
**My program at a local CA based foundation is starting now! I just saw the flier they put together and it's official- we're moving forward. They've been so supportive from the absolute beginning and now we can provide their patients with something amazing! Plus they've been so eager as they've anticipated it's arrival, so this is great news!

**An amazing foundation that offers support and so much more for pancreatic cancer patients & families has asked to partner up with them. We had a meeting and they loved the book! I was in awe and just tried to keep myself composed afterwards. This is so dear to my heart because of my mom's diagnosis. They'll be purchasing some of the batch of books I purchased and providing it as an educational tool to the patients & caregivers they help! I can't wait to officially make the anncouncement in our first newsletter or sooner!!!

**A blogger who writes an advice column and has been following my FaceBook page and fundraiser wrote an amazing peice suggesting the Symptom Management Workbook! Check it out!
http://carechronicles.wordpress.com/2010/06/01/a-cancer-diagnosis-the-love-of-2-daughters/

**I was inviting to meet with the Director of a program for CHILDREN IN PALLIATIVE & HOSPICE CARE at a children's hopital. They LOVED THE WORKBOOK and said they'd never seen anything like it before...I told you it's UNIQUE TO OTHER RESOURCES! :) The only issue was that they can't fund it on their budget and they really want to provide it to their children & families- MORE OF A REASON TO DONATE SO WE CAN PRINT MORE BOOKS!

**I started a personal blog that will be linked to the website. People have asked to hear about my family's story and though it's new to me, I'm workin on it! I put my first post up the other day and will put up another today. I admit it's a little difficult but people relate and if it provides some comfort then it's worth it!
http://carechronicles.wordpress.com/2010/06/01/a-cancer-diagnosis-the-love-of-2-daughters/

Now, May was Mother's day & some of you know it was also the 1 year anniversary of losing our mom to pancreatic cancer. So I've decided to share with you a pic of me and my sister paying homage to my mom's love of ice cream..she loved her sweets!

THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR HELP!
Sarah

I saw our first professional prototype and I loooooooooooooove it!!! I made a few changes because i can be a bit of a perfectionist and so it would look and work even better, and the final product will be amazing!

Including checks we have raising approx. $3000 to date...BUT we still have over a month to go and lots of generous people out there that I know would love to give to this project if we could increase awareness, and that's exactly what we intend to do! On May 20th it will be the 1 year anniversary of my mom's passing- people don't really know how to respond to that information...what can I say? What could I do? MAKE A DONATION SILLY;) This is a way to give to families like mine and here's the answer to those questions, give them this workbook! I know the idea of a workbook may not seem fancy or leave the average person in awe but when you see the look on the faces of caregivers, cancer patients, and people who work in the oncology community- you'd see instantly that it's worth the work! Not to mention it's exciting as we begin to come up with even more ideas for tools that families can use so that they can live more comfortably and with more dignity as they endure treatments and the sometimes harsh effects.

IF YOU ARE READING THIS, SEND OUR KICKSTARTER LINK TO A FRIEND! ASK THEM PERSONALLY "WILL YOU GIVE?" Tell them it's worth every cent, because it is- whether it's $50, $100, less or more- whatever you are able to give is a gift for someone else! I know it's a leap of faith for those of you that may not have had an experience with cancer and I hope you never do have that experience. But take the leap if faith anyway! Not just for me or for my family, but for the thousands of people who are being diagnosed now with one of the 200+ types of cancers out there. Help us make their lives a little easier to get through day-to-day. What I created for my mom will be available so very soon and it's being customized for patients with a variety of diagnosis. Every week I am approached by another organization, another caregiver, another survivor who all say "this is amazing! How can I get my hands on it?!" Well, help me raise funds to print more of these books and get this dream up off the ground! Most people find it hard to ask others for $, I confess no matter how many times I ask, whether it's for another charity or for this book...asking people to give you money out their pocket can actually bruise the ego a bit... but I'm putting MY ego in my pocket and asking you to ask your friends, your loved ones, people who may relate or understand what it's like to battle cancer to put their hands INTO their pockets and make a donation! They're more like to do it if they hear it from you! Now check out the pick of the professional prototype, for those who have already given, I hope you're feeling as excited about this project as I am and I can't wait to start the newsletter so I can tell you about the amazing organizations we're already teaming up with...THANKS EVERYONE!

Most recently I've been incredibly busy working on this project and every moment has been fulfilling! Although the part where I must improve on my patience is taking a little extra work just because I'm so excited to be moving forward! I've had the priviledge of several individuals showing their support that have become great champions of the Symptom Management Workbook over the past year and have whole heartedly embraced this dream of ours and helped in any way possible along the way. I am incredibly gratful to all of them, all of you who have made pledges, and for everyone helping out by telling their friends and families about our fundraising! When you've lost the dearest person to you it's those who surround you, surprise you, and stand by you that make a difference.

Updates on our project, Drum roll please...

1.) I continue to receive generous donations through my kickstarter.com fundraising page ranging from $10- over $500! Every pledge no matter the amount will help us push forward allowing us to further develop these amazing books for adults, and now children & families as well!
2.) I have already researched, selected and begun working with an amazing printer to start on our first small batch which I, yes I, paid for with my savings. I feel it's important to say that because even when you don't have much- if you don't believe in yourself who will?!
3.) I've had the most amazing women (and men!) come into my life that have have helped with a wide array of tasks associated with putting this book together, our upcoming program, and our kickstarter project, and let us not forget the uncoditional moral support we've received as well!
4.) We have received expertise from generous individuals who work in a variety of fields. They have contributed by:
-Generously helping us fundraise for this project!
-Offering Bellah Care Chronicles the opportunity to begin making our Symptom Management Workbooks available to more survivors and caregivers with an amazing program through a CA based foundation.
-Providing amazing assistance with creating more user-friendly tools for at-home care & treatment in addition to small helpful accessories to go with the workbook.
-Offering detailed graphic design services AND now an artist has come forward who would like to help by designing a cover for the batch of books we produce from this fundraising page!
-Joining & supporting us on our first fundraising walk for pancreatic cancer awareness & research in honor of mom
...And there's much more in the works! Our continued thanks to all of you and of course don't forget to spread word and send our link to your friends, family's and individuals who you think would want to help us meet our fundraising goal and offer these books! The link they can visit is http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/NewCaregiverResource/care-chronicles-customized-cancer-treatment-orga-0

Thanks so much,
Sarah
*NO MORE HOMEADE PROTOTYPES (BELOW)...WE'RE OFF TO THE REAL THING NOW!