Moms for a Cure, comprised of 44 local moms from all walks of life, is doing whatever its members can to raise money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS). Among them is Ari Jones, 36, of Fair Oaks’ Century Oak community.
She’s marshaled the group to raise as much money as possible toward a cure for blood cancers. Their fund-raising campaign begins April 1 and runs through June 13.
Said Jones, "I decided it would be wonderful if we could all join forces and raise over $100,000 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society." And as a cancer survivor, herself, she knows how devastating it can be. Four years ago, she had metastatic thyroid cancer, but is now in remission.
So this wife and mother of two children — a boy, 8, and girl, 6 — wants to do her part to help others. In addition, because of her volunteer work and the money she’s raised for LLS, she’s been nominated as one of the organization’s 18 Washington Metropolitan area candidates for Woman of the Year.
Jones received the nomination two months ago and will find out at the end of the campaign if she won. But even if she doesn’t, she’ll still feel like a winner because of whatever amount of money she and the other Moms for a Cure are able to raise.
"It’s a 10-week campaign, with every dollar raised counting as a vote," she said. "There’s also a community award with recognition for the person doing the best job of promoting the society’s mission — to cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s Disease and myeloma and improve the quality of life of patients and their families."
In Jones’s case, a Mother’s Day gift of a massage brought attention to a previously undetected lump in her neck. After surgery and radiation treatment at George Washington University Hospital, she returned home to recover, but soon became a leading fund-raiser for LLS.
Since it began in 1949, LLS has raised more than $600 million toward research targeting blood cancers. And Moms for a Cure has planned and coordinated several, upcoming events to continue the efforts.
"I wanted this ‘Little Engine That Could’ team of moms to create something tremendous — a fund-raising force to be reckoned with and an achievement that our children would be proud of," said Jones. After all, she added, "We’re all two degrees of separation away from someone in our lives who’s been touched by cancer."
The local fund-raisers are as follows:
Monday, April 6, from 4-9 p.m., Milwaukee Custard at 13934 Lee Jackson Memorial Highway in Chantilly’s Sully Plaza Shopping Center, will hold a "Spring Break Sundae." For everyone who mentions Moms for a Cure, that night, Milwaukee Custard will donate 20 percent of the proceeds.
Saturday, April 18, at 7 p.m., is "Simple Man Saturday Night" at Fast Eddie’s at 9687 Lee Highway in Fairfax. For a $20 cover charge, attendees will enjoy a live band, free food and raffle prizes, with a portion of the proceeds going to Moms for a Cure.
Thursday, May 7, anytime, is "Dish for a Cure" at Let’s Dish, 11215 Lee Highway Suites in Fairfax. People may prepare meals there to take home or get them already made. And 10 percent of the proceeds go to Moms for a Cure. Anyone unable to participate that day, but still wishing to help, may go to www.letsdish.com, enter the code F9-Moms and donate anytime during the campaign and the Moms will get 10 percent.
Saturday, May 9, from 8 a.m.-noon, is a community yard sale in the Century Oak community, 3507 Broadrun Drive in Fair Oaks. Moms for a Cure will receive 100 percent of the proceeds, and donations will be accepted at that address from now until then. Rain date is May 16.
Contributions may also be made via checks payable to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and mailed to: Ari Jones, 3507 Broadrun Drive, Fairfax, VA 22033. For more information about other upcoming events, to donate or to become a corporate sponsor, go to www.momsforacure.com. To learn more about the organization, see www.LLS.org.
Story on
She’s marshaled the group to raise as much money as possible toward a cure for blood cancers. Their fund-raising campaign begins April 1 and runs through June 13.
Said Jones, "I decided it would be wonderful if we could all join forces and raise over $100,000 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society." And as a cancer survivor, herself, she knows how devastating it can be. Four years ago, she had metastatic thyroid cancer, but is now in remission.
So this wife and mother of two children — a boy, 8, and girl, 6 — wants to do her part to help others. In addition, because of her volunteer work and the money she’s raised for LLS, she’s been nominated as one of the organization’s 18 Washington Metropolitan area candidates for Woman of the Year.
Jones received the nomination two months ago and will find out at the end of the campaign if she won. But even if she doesn’t, she’ll still feel like a winner because of whatever amount of money she and the other Moms for a Cure are able to raise.
"It’s a 10-week campaign, with every dollar raised counting as a vote," she said. "There’s also a community award with recognition for the person doing the best job of promoting the society’s mission — to cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s Disease and myeloma and improve the quality of life of patients and their families."
In Jones’s case, a Mother’s Day gift of a massage brought attention to a previously undetected lump in her neck. After surgery and radiation treatment at George Washington University Hospital, she returned home to recover, but soon became a leading fund-raiser for LLS.
Since it began in 1949, LLS has raised more than $600 million toward research targeting blood cancers. And Moms for a Cure has planned and coordinated several, upcoming events to continue the efforts.
"I wanted this ‘Little Engine That Could’ team of moms to create something tremendous — a fund-raising force to be reckoned with and an achievement that our children would be proud of," said Jones. After all, she added, "We’re all two degrees of separation away from someone in our lives who’s been touched by cancer."
The local fund-raisers are as follows:
Story on
No comments:
Post a Comment