tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-65869467823960444922024-03-12T16:14:31.837-07:00Beads for MemoriesCoolHeadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05770695914715485273noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6586946782396044492.post-53740244502723746712014-09-26T16:53:00.000-07:002014-09-26T18:37:12.543-07:00We Keep on Rolling AlongIt has been much too long since I updated the Beads for Memories site. Much has happened in the months since the Cabin Fever Reliever.<br />
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The first major event after our last post was our family being named as the 2014 Walk For Mamories Honouree family! We were quite surprised and very flattered that Alysha would be the face of the 2014 walk.<br />
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Alysha was enthusiastic about her new responsibilities, appearing in e-mail and advertising for the Society, and even doing a live radio show on 1290 CJBK. You can hear the entire interview, from the 'Ask The Experts' segment <a href="http://www.cjbk.com/Episodes.aspx?PID=2800" target="_blank">in their archive</a>.<br />
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And what a day it was.<br />
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Our family was also able to give a thank you to all the supporters and volunteers at the society, and lead the walk out and along the path through Springbank Park.<br />
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You can <a href="http://www.alzheimerlondon.ca/events/events/walk-for-memories" target="_blank">see here </a>that Alysha managed to raise the third highest amount of individual donations, and the $153,000 raised was a London record. We were shocked by the amount of different donors to Alysha's walk, and know that the Society will put the funds raised to good use.<br />
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Seeing Springbank Gardens full of supporters is a bittersweet thing. For one, we know there are lots of people in the community willing to give their time and effort to helping families cope with this disease. Of course, knowing that Alzheimers and many other kinds of dementia have no cure, a full park means there are a lot of people who need help, and there will be more in the coming years.<br />
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It is our hope that, in our own way, a young person like Alysha can help draw attention to the fact that Alzheimer's is not a disease that affects only those over a certain age.<br />
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Alysha has had more going on this summer, and I will be posting (soon I hope) about a couple of other projects to keep Beads For Memories rolling along.CoolHeadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05770695914715485273noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6586946782396044492.post-29672769387809027802014-02-10T20:29:00.003-08:002014-02-10T20:29:23.309-08:00Cabin Fever Reliever 2014<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The 2014 Cabin Fever Reliever has come and gone, and it was another very successful night for Beads for Memories.<br />
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With a table crammed full of all new beaded and woven bracelets,
earrings, matching earring and necklace sets, Alysha and Julie were
ready for anybody. There were even bookmarks and zipper pulls made for
those looking for something different.<br />
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Sales were steady all evening, and the total was $257 raised for the whole night. That's the best single day of sales in Beads for Memories history!<br />
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Alsyha was also interviewed on camera for the evening's video presentation. She was also invited for an interview on CJCS 1240 in Stratford with their morning show announcer, Eddie Matthews. She did the radio interview on Monday morning, and hopefully there will be a link to the audio soon.<br />
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It's shaping up to be a big bright shiny year, for the Alzheimer Society of London Middlesex and Beads for Memories. We'll have lots more news to come.<br />
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To contact Alysha about how you can purchase a one-of-a-kind beaded piece of jewellery, e-mail awlovespets@rogers.com, or leave a comment below!<br />
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<br />CoolHeadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05770695914715485273noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6586946782396044492.post-90926597057270648172013-05-12T15:29:00.000-07:002013-05-12T15:30:08.258-07:00Walk For Memories 2013Another year has gone by quickly, it seems. The month of May brings one of the most important dates on the Alzheimer's Society calendar, the 5km Walk For Memories. Unlike the warm day that mother nature provided in 2012, the weather was positively chilly for the Saturday morning walk in 2013.<br />
Alysha and Julie were still there early to set up shop, however.<br />
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Alysha was happy to have customers to keep her moving, and new woven pattern bracelets at $4 each to keep people coming back for something different. Of course, Joan, one of Beads for Memories first and best customers, stopped by for a visit and a purchase.<br />
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We're always happy to see the lady in purple, and she's always got something purple to pick out when she stops by.<br />
Of course, the day is about walking in honour of those who suffer with Alzheimers and dementia, and Alysha and I marched the 5km with pride. We stopped 1/3 of the way through for a picture at the memory wall.<br />
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Alysha's marching warmed her up perfectly, and she was proud to have raised $533 on the day of the walk, between pledges and bracelet sales.<br />
Thanks to all who came by and said hi, and our gratitude goes out to the family and friends who pledged money for the walk as well.<br />
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This brings Alysha's total raised to over $3000 dollars in the last 3 years, and we are all very happy that she's been able to have a very positive experience from what was<a href="http://beadsformemories.blogspot.com/2012/01/alzheimers-beads-and-alysha.html"> once a difficult situation</a>. See you at the next Alzheimer's event!CoolHeadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05770695914715485273noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6586946782396044492.post-3340091751519717002012-05-22T21:04:00.002-07:002012-05-30T18:33:19.490-07:00Walk for Memories 2012This post is a bit behind schedule, but better late than never! Alysha spent her first year collecting pledges for the Alzheimer Walk For Memories, and she completed the walk on May 12th.<br />
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Alysha, Julie and I were there to walk, and to sell bracelets.<br />
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The walk was lovely, and though the day was a grey one, there was lots of colour as the London Police piped us through the first turn.<br />
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Here, Alysha is joined by a surprise companion. Natasia is a family friend who managed to walk almost all of the route, even with much shorter legs . Maybe she can be convinced to collect pledges next year!<br />
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At the halfway point, we pause and take a breath at the Memory Wall.<br />
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Alysha is very stoked up by her completion of the walk, she knows her $520 in pledges will be a big help. Natasia is a bit less impressed.<br />
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During the hour long walk, mom held down things at the bracelet table, and we raised another $145 for the Society.<br />
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Thanks to all the people at the society who always make us feel welcome, and to all the friends and family who donated. The employees at Ramkey Communications were responsible for pledging almost half of Alysha's total for the walk, which was truly unexpected.<br />
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Hope to see you all there next year! (If not before.) <br />
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<br />CoolHeadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05770695914715485273noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6586946782396044492.post-49812657489396802452012-05-12T13:04:00.001-07:002012-05-12T13:04:26.831-07:00A little bit more famous.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As I mentioned in my <a href="http://beadsformemories.blogspot.com/2012/05/little-bit-famous.html">last post</a>, Alysha was given the opportunity to appear on London's Rogers Daytime TV program for an interview!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Leslie Mitchell from the <a href="http://www.alzheimerlondon.ca/" target="_blank">Alzheimer Society</a> was nice enough to bring her along, and if you missed it, you can see her first ever television appearance by clicking <a href="http://www.rogerstv.com/page.aspx?lid=237&rid=9&sid=3268&gid=96623" target="_blank">right here</a>.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We are very proud of Alysha for taking this opportunity to get the word out about Alzheimer's and the Walk for Memories. The walk itself was completed Saturday, May 12, but if her story has interested you, pledges can be made up until May 31st at <a href="http://walkformemories.ca/">walkformemories.ca</a>. To pledge for Alysha, you can use <a href="https://secure.supportthealzheimersociety.ca/ParticipantPage.aspx?L=2&CCID=46&PID=15739&GC=GTv2" target="_blank">this link directly</a>.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If your interested in learning more about Alysha and her family's efforts to raise funds for Alzheimer's care and research, might I suggest <a href="http://beadsformemories.blogspot.com/2012/01/alzheimers-beads-and-alysha.html">my original post</a>.</span>CoolHeadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05770695914715485273noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6586946782396044492.post-64634348431029149492012-05-12T12:58:00.000-07:002012-05-12T13:22:10.295-07:00Totals and Goals<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<a href="http://www.google.ca/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=beads%20for%20memories&source=web&cd=5&ved=0CF0QFjAE&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbeadsformemories.blogspot.com%2F&ei=FSY4T6qmGMTv0gHDqO3VAg&usg=AFQjCNEOmdlSn_R_jYPq6BFvz1HoAiS1rg&cad=rja">Beads For Memories</a> is about making a real difference for those who have Alzheimer's. Alysha knows that every bracelet made and sold is important. She's still nine years old, and fifty cents is more than loose change to her, it represents real time and effort to earn it. Really, every contribution is appreciated, by all involved.</div>
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There is a great motivating factor in setting goals, however, so there are totals to be reached as things progress. Some have already been achieved, and some are still out there on the horizon. Without further ado, let's do this by the numbers!</div>
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February of 2011: Alysha starts selling bracelets for 25 cents each. Sales surprise everyone involved, and Alysha sets her goal to raise<span style="font-size: large;"> $200</span> by the end of the month. On March 1st, she finishes selling, and brings <span style="font-size: large;">$212.50</span> to the <a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_688481055" target="_blank">Alzheimer Society of London</a><a href="http://www.alzheimerlondon.ca/" target="_blank"> and Middlesex</a>.</div>
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Spring/Summer 2011: Alysha aims to get her own message on a chair at the Alzheimer Society's conference room. Her target is the <span style="font-size: large;">$250</span> dollar donation required to do so.</div>
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Our supporters at local businesses help out by having a donation/sales box at their front counter. <a href="http://www.jewellerywerx.com/" target="_blank">Jewellery Werx</a>, <a href="http://www.clinicbook.com/attain-total-health" target="_blank">Attain Total Health</a>, <a href="http://kraftykennedys.com/" target="_blank">Krafty Kennedy's</a>, and <a href="http://www.yellowpages.ca/bus/Ontario/London/Advantage-Automotive/7501981.html" target="_blank">Advantage Automotive</a> are all participants in this effort.</div>
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Alysha and her parents are also given space at the third party fundraiser table at the May 5th Walk for Memories, where many of the society's regular volunteers and contributors get to meet Alysha fro the first time.</div>
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The Alzheimer's Society is part of the<a href="http://www.doorsopenlondon.ca/" target="_blank"> Doors Open London</a> Event, Alysha is stationed at her own table, and collects <span style="font-size: large;">$110</span> in contributions over 2 days! </div>
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By the end of the summer, Beads For Memories has raised and additional <span style="font-size: large;">$250</span> and the plaque and message go on the chair in October 2011.</div>
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February 2012: With a large supply of bracelets, Alysha and her mother attend the Alzheimer's Cabin Fever Reliever dinner and auction. Proceeds from this one night total <span style="font-size: large;">$230.00</span></div>
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Alysha also sells bracelets at <a href="http://www.tvdsb.ca/WhiteOaks.cfm" target="_blank">White Oaks School</a> every school recess and lunch. As of March 1st White Oaks staff and students have donated another <span style="font-size: large;">$305.00</span>. Since the school reached the $250.00 mark, a message will be added to a chair in the Alzheimer Society's conference room on White Oaks behalf.</div>
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March 1st 2012: Individuals and companies who donate over <span style="font-size: large;">$1000</span> in a calendar year are recognised by the Alzheimer's Society by having their name placed on the wall at the offices on Windermere Road. Alysha has been seeking this target since back at the beginning of March, 2011. At the time, the goal was over $750 away. We are proud to announce that the sale of bracelets will result in a total for the year of over <span style="font-size: large;">$1000</span> dollars!<br />
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Alysha celebrated her first year of donations with the staff at the society, <a href="http://beadsformemories.blogspot.ca/2012/03/pat-on-back.html">give a click </a>to see the cake and the BIG cheque.</div>
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The Society ran a day of workshops in April, and we were thankful that Pam and Joan brought Alysha's bracelets to the Navigating the Road Ahead event. These two high-pressure sales ladies brought back <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">$175.00</span> in bracelet sales from the one day event. We thank them for their time and effort when Alysha could not be there.<br />
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On May 12 2012, Alysha participated in the Walk For Memories for the first time. Beads for Memories had a table with our wares, and the sales of handmade bracelets came to <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">$145.60</span> this year! We hope all of you who bought a bracelet are wearing it with pride.<br />
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Alysha also collected pledges for the 5 kilometre walk, and brought in another <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">$520.00</span> for her efforts. Thanks to friends, family, and the employees of Ramkey Communications for your generosity.<br />
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As of <span style="color: red; font-size: large;">May 12, 2012 </span>, the total monies raised by the sales of Beads For Memories is:</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">$1712.53 </span></b></div>
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The total for all the contributions to the Alzheimer Society as a result of Alysha and her customer's and pledges efforts is now.</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000; font-size: x-large;"><b>$2232.53</b></span></div>
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Once again, every donation is appreciated, and if you are among those who have seen us around town and helped out, we would like to thank you again.</div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As always, if you'd like more information on the project you can contact </span><a href="mailto:awlovespets@rogers.com" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">awlovespets@rogers.com</a><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">. if you would like to read about </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Alysha's</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> inspiration for the work that she does, you can read </span><a href="http://beadsformemories.blogspot.com/2012/01/alzheimers-beads-and-alysha.html" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">my first post.</a><br />
<br />CoolHeadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05770695914715485273noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6586946782396044492.post-81279513134422465142012-05-02T18:28:00.001-07:002012-05-02T18:28:19.571-07:00A Little Bit Famous<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
Life in the land of Beads for Memories continues to surprise and take unexpected turns. It seems that the daily London paper called <a href="http://metronews.ca/" target="_blank">Metro</a> was interested in doing a column about the Walk For Memories. Our friends at the <a href="http://www.alzheimerlondon.ca/" target="_blank">Alzheimer Society of London-Middlesex</a> told their reporter about Alysha and what she had been up to over the past year with her bracelets. This resulted in an interview, and a feature in the newspaper. We were all very excited, you can read the story by <a href="http://metronews.ca/news/london/124469/one-girls-bracelets-make-a-big-difference/" target="_blank">clicking right here</a>.</div>
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We hope you are inspired by Alysha's story as much as we are. She will be doing the walk just ten days from now, and we are still looking for donations to reach her goal of $500.00 for the walk. Alysha's mother, Julie, will also have bracelets for sale before and during the walk on a table near the registration area.</div>
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The Alzheimer Society has a very easy online donation system, so you can pledge your support directly with a few clicks of the mouse. If you'd like to know more about how the walk helps Alzheimer's patients and their families, you can got to <a href="http://walkformemories.ca/">walkformemories.ca</a>, if you would like to pledge funds for Alysha's walk, you can go to <a href="https://secure.supportthealzheimersociety.ca/ParticipantPage.aspx?L=2&CCID=46&PID=15739&GC=GTv2" target="_blank">her personal page</a> and donate there.</div>
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We appreciate any amount you can give, Alzheimer's is a disease that takes tremendous resources to support sufferers and their families, and we want to help the society ease that burden as much as possible.</div>
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As always, if you've come to this site only lately, you can read about the start of Beads for Memories at <a href="http://beadsformemories.blogspot.com/2012/01/alzheimers-beads-and-alysha.html" target="_blank">my first post</a>.</div>
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Alysha may be making an appearance on Rogers Television in London next week, so come back to the blog this weekend and I will hopefully have details about the exact time and channel.</div>
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<br />CoolHeadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05770695914715485273noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6586946782396044492.post-34330791873189091572012-04-27T20:05:00.004-07:002012-04-27T20:05:38.945-07:00Million for Memories Celebration<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
This week Alysha had a chance to celebrate with the <a href="http://www.alzheimerlondon.ca/" target="_blank">Alzheimer Society</a> at the end of their Million for Memories campaign. The special guest for the evening was London born actor <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001255/" target="_blank">Victor Garber</a>, an accomplished stage actor, guest star in many television series, and perhaps best known for his role as shipbuilder Thomas Andrews in <i>Titanic</i>.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZSpBwVAKsuXVegCzohQ8Ffldh2UYZjhcXJGaCWaETViTepDBS-wqzpqnZyN6jyFGsh-8ZlOJAZ4ndqMZOPmGLNnW7ULuUAXa6QdUpbhyphenhyphenYaPVyuXt7fUdXqvtlXKFnLjYHMHI2Z4oEQzM/s1600/julie+alysha+donor+wall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZSpBwVAKsuXVegCzohQ8Ffldh2UYZjhcXJGaCWaETViTepDBS-wqzpqnZyN6jyFGsh-8ZlOJAZ4ndqMZOPmGLNnW7ULuUAXa6QdUpbhyphenhyphenYaPVyuXt7fUdXqvtlXKFnLjYHMHI2Z4oEQzM/s640/julie+alysha+donor+wall.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Alysha and Julie, her proud mom</td></tr>
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The first surprise of the day came to Alysha and her mom before meeting Victor, though. The Major Donor posters are up at the society for the last year, and Alysha got to have her picture taken with her name on the wall behind her. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWuIWBgfskI1UrIdBW-_AwG7NL80z3HZqgv_DUbIEgylzn1bRGNRS_4mFQQ_Zq-uBnFtZdT0wv3RF5VuJjKHJcBnaR-vX3hkDGO8mFFWS8zk-8rAjtCFCQE5dInzS0nszyehz9iz9UHRE/s1600/alysha+and+victor+garber.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWuIWBgfskI1UrIdBW-_AwG7NL80z3HZqgv_DUbIEgylzn1bRGNRS_4mFQQ_Zq-uBnFtZdT0wv3RF5VuJjKHJcBnaR-vX3hkDGO8mFFWS8zk-8rAjtCFCQE5dInzS0nszyehz9iz9UHRE/s320/alysha+and+victor+garber.jpg" width="228" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Alysha and Victor Garber</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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Along with appetizers, came the opportunity to meet Mr. Garber. He was full of positive things to say about the efforts to lessen the impact of Alzheimer's, and not only posed with Alysha, but accepted the gift of a Beads for Memories bracelet.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqLOI4wBNA82iOW_nZJKYLy01Hohowsh0BjUmCGTWEoPajL_pz9kRwtvry13EdY-q0jT2gy0kd7RBKiIEyEtZydnxnHISz047mPcnYybEYO27-1l3lSvvZsJA5KGVMUANhQZiqYk9txqQ/s1600/alysha+ties+bracelet+on+victor-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a>As Beads for Memories continues to make and sell bracelets to raise funds for Alzheimer's care and research, it helps to know that there are people just as willing to donate their time and energy to the cause.</div>
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You can see more pictures from this event on the Alzheimer Society<a href="http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151166878922715.537706.70621362714&type=1" target="_blank"> Facebook page</a>. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqLOI4wBNA82iOW_nZJKYLy01Hohowsh0BjUmCGTWEoPajL_pz9kRwtvry13EdY-q0jT2gy0kd7RBKiIEyEtZydnxnHISz047mPcnYybEYO27-1l3lSvvZsJA5KGVMUANhQZiqYk9txqQ/s1600/alysha+ties+bracelet+on+victor-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqLOI4wBNA82iOW_nZJKYLy01Hohowsh0BjUmCGTWEoPajL_pz9kRwtvry13EdY-q0jT2gy0kd7RBKiIEyEtZydnxnHISz047mPcnYybEYO27-1l3lSvvZsJA5KGVMUANhQZiqYk9txqQ/s320/alysha+ties+bracelet+on+victor-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stylish bracelet for a stylish guy.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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To date, over $1500 dollars have been raised by Alysha and her family, and we will continue to take our show 'on the road' wherever the Society will have us. As always, we thank those who have supported us in the past, and hope to meet more of you dedicated to this cause in the future.</div>
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To read the whole reason behind Beads for memories, check my <a href="http://beadsformemories.blogspot.com/2012/01/alzheimers-beads-and-alysha.html">original post here</a>.</div>
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For our most recent fundraising tally, check our <a href="http://beadsformemories.blogspot.com/2012/02/totals-and-goals.html">Totals and Goals</a>.</div>
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<br />CoolHeadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05770695914715485273noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6586946782396044492.post-90216121284196378742012-04-11T19:11:00.001-07:002012-04-11T19:11:49.993-07:00Speech! Speech!At the annual Alzheimer Society appreciation dinner, Alysha was asked, with other volunteers, if she would like to speak. She took this opportunity to tell the others people who help out around the society just what she does. She also took the time to thank those who have helped her keep Beads for Memories going. If you've ever helped bead or sell bracelets, listen for your name! Its just like an Oscar speech, I swear.<br />
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I've got another update on the running total coming up soon. Glad you stopped by, we'll keep you posted on anywhere else Beads for Memories will be, as soon as we know!CoolHeadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05770695914715485273noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6586946782396044492.post-23410381550997834922012-03-13T13:47:00.002-07:002012-03-13T13:47:38.918-07:00A Pat On The Back<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
The first year of Beads For Memories has come to a close. It has been a more interesting, and much more uplifting year than any of us here had imagined. After reaching her goal of $1000 raised in a year, Alysha felt it was time to celebrate. So what goes better with celebration than cake?</div>
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With that in mind, Alysha baked and decorated one. She put her message on top in chocolate, and set up a get-together with the <a href="http://www.alzheimerlondon.ca/" target="_blank">Alzheimer Society's</a> staff. We were quite surprised to find a gigantic novelty cheque waiting for us when we arrived, allowing Alysha to 'present' her donation to the society! Thanks again to the thoughtful staff who made that moment possible.</div>
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Alysha had the honour of cutting the cake, and the pleasure of gving and receiving thanks to those who have worked with her over this unusual year. She also recieved a card and small gift from the staff as a show of appreciation for her work. She'd like everyone to know that she appreciates their hard work on her behalf too. </div>
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And with a lot of hugs and smiles, the first year of Beads for Memories' fundraising is a closed book. Alysha will have bracelets at some of the upcoming Alzheimer Society events, and will be doing the Walk for Memories herself this year. Check back, we'll keep you posted right here!</div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">As always, if you'd like more information on the project you can contact </span><a href="mailto:awlovespets@rogers.com" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">awlovespets@rogers.com</a><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">. if you would like to read about </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Alysha's</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> inspiration for the work that she does, you can read </span><a href="http://beadsformemories.blogspot.com/2012/01/alzheimers-beads-and-alysha.html" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">my first post.</a><br />
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<br />CoolHeadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05770695914715485273noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6586946782396044492.post-18206623059514978262012-03-04T17:47:00.001-08:002012-03-04T18:11:41.218-08:00White Oaks, February 2012It has been a very busy February for the second year in a row at Alysha's house. She spent the entire month making bracelets at home, and selling them at school. Many thanks to the staff and students at <a href="http://www.tvdsb.ca/WhiteOaks.cfm" target="_blank">White Oaks</a> who supported by purchasing bracelets and raffle tickets. Thanks too, to the family members and businesses who have supported <b>Beads for Memories</b> over the past year.<br />
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After all the donations were totalled up, White Oaks donated a total of:<br />
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To the <a href="http://www.alzheimerlondon.ca/" target="_blank">Alzheimer Society of London Middlesex</a>. Because the donation exceeded $250 for the month, there will be a <a href="http://beadsformemories.blogspot.com/2012/01/meaningful-message.html">plaque added to one of the chairs</a> in the conference room at the Society's headquarters. The message will let whoever uses the chair know that "<b>White Oaks P.S. Cares</b>".</div>
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We look forward to bringing you more news as Beads for Memories continues to raise funds for those suffering from Alzheimer's. </div>
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<br /></div>CoolHeadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05770695914715485273noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6586946782396044492.post-48086966038119373762012-02-05T12:28:00.000-08:002012-02-12T13:00:51.507-08:00A Grand Evening<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
February 4th, 2012 was the night for the <a href="http://www.alzheimerlondon.ca/" target="_blank">London Middlesex Alzheimer Society's</a> annual <a href="http://www.alzheimerlondon.ca/cabin-fever-reliever-dinner-and-auction" target="_blank">Cabin Fever Reliever</a> event. The 'Reliever' is a dinner and auction, and was held at the <a href="http://www.lamplighterinn.ca/" target="_blank">Best Western Lamplighter Inn</a>. Alysha was invited to bring her bracelets to the event, and sell them throughout the evening.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Alysha and mom, Julie at the sales table.</td></tr>
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The bracelets included a selection with semi-precious stones added in, made just for this event. Alysha was lucky enough to be given a prime location at the registration table for the pre-dinner portion of the evening. It was wonderful to have so many new, and familiar faces around for the evening.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyImQycFFW59lcqTljpXrKbLI1SOY8fuYhooWWl_sjMYPG63l8syXBEadqdlLxT9HqD-YS0CDUB6svgy6E5B54NLsmRuOHpdGGly65ZDcm13OwRTnpIyzKvLtaAhQ7km7HF7OrCHKcSVU/s1600/cabin+fever+02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyImQycFFW59lcqTljpXrKbLI1SOY8fuYhooWWl_sjMYPG63l8syXBEadqdlLxT9HqD-YS0CDUB6svgy6E5B54NLsmRuOHpdGGly65ZDcm13OwRTnpIyzKvLtaAhQ7km7HF7OrCHKcSVU/s400/cabin+fever+02.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
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Alysha entered the evening very close to a major goal. Since her first visit to the Society in March of 2011, close to $900 had been raised through bracelet sales. She had set a goal of $1000 dollars raised in less that one calendar year. Prior to the auction, it was announced that Alysha had less than eighty dollars to go before reaching her target.</div>
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We are very pleased to announce that, by the end of the Cabin Fever Reliever, Beads For Memories had surpassed the $1000 mark for the year! The big round of applause from all those at the Cabin Fever Reliever was a huge moment for Alysha, and her mother. The Cabin Fever Reliever crowd donated a total of $230 in this one night alone! Alysha and her family would like to thank everyone who contributed their time to making bracelets, materials to create them, and all those who purchased a bracelet (or a whole bunch) from one of the events Alysha was at over the past year. This evening was a wonderful exclamation point on an incredible year.</div>
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Alysha's name will be added to the Major Donors wall for 2011 at the Alzheimer Society offices in June, and she will be the youngest individual ever named on the wall. Alysha couldn't be more thrilled.</div>
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Below are a couple of friends who dropped by to pose with Alysha at the event.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Alysha, and Kerry Bruce from the Society</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">'Aunt' Joan McConnell and Alysha</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">This is certainly not the end of the road for Beads For Memories, or </span>Alysha<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> and family. We continue to be involved with Alzheimer's fund raising, including the month of February at </span><a href="http://beadsformemories.blogspot.com/2012/02/white-oaks-fundraiser.html" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">White Oaks school</a><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">. As always, if you'd like more information on the project you can contact </span><a href="mailto:awlovespets@rogers.com" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">awlovespets@rogers.com</a><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">. if you would like to read about </span>Alysha's<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> inspiration for the work that she does, you can read </span><a href="http://beadsformemories.blogspot.com/2012/01/alzheimers-beads-and-alysha.html" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">my first post.</a>CoolHeadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05770695914715485273noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6586946782396044492.post-33778762815493050272012-02-03T18:24:00.000-08:002012-02-03T18:27:35.232-08:00Bracelets: RevealedI was speaking to someone today about Alysha's efforts and her website, and I was asked a very practical question: What do these bracelets look like? Seemed like a fair question, but I didn't have one on me to show the person in question. So, for those who haven't been to an event, here are the kinds of bracelets we've made for the fundraiser.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmcXEU3XRoGC4uA9Ryesh1pwlOzcppuZwsFnrXPYicoIbLL9_e0RhZsL7fPek0aQnxqJE-gMwfmJQUkIGiTyiOG7zmGxe37wXczQIKiqphXhZxTpbcfl0QhNVeEYmVMg4ZLZeoMQCEvs0/s1600/bracelets+line.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmcXEU3XRoGC4uA9Ryesh1pwlOzcppuZwsFnrXPYicoIbLL9_e0RhZsL7fPek0aQnxqJE-gMwfmJQUkIGiTyiOG7zmGxe37wXczQIKiqphXhZxTpbcfl0QhNVeEYmVMg4ZLZeoMQCEvs0/s640/bracelets+line.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVi8BxZ7qubfZgHFArhcXpM7NoJXYI3Jk9KYeF27s6FN3QlViYyhXXXnjBtRFBrhUzlBqUGwFrao01OOOCKbgOTIHz1olelUHB8Rz2WCVxYrwf5vrczapLf4qLZvfj4PZmrkiwt8QnyBw/s1600/bracelets+curled.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVi8BxZ7qubfZgHFArhcXpM7NoJXYI3Jk9KYeF27s6FN3QlViYyhXXXnjBtRFBrhUzlBqUGwFrao01OOOCKbgOTIHz1olelUHB8Rz2WCVxYrwf5vrczapLf4qLZvfj4PZmrkiwt8QnyBw/s400/bracelets+curled.jpg" width="400" /></a>They are all 6 inches long, and made of either glass, plastic, or wooden beads. The quarters are there for size comparison. Unless someone has specifically requested it, there are no two exactly alike. Beads from several different sources at different times keep the variety coming. We also have 5 semi-regular beaders (bracelet makers?) in the family, who each have their own style. It is quite surprising how many combinations you can come up with without really thinking about it. <br />
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The bracelets are all made on embroidery floss, and tie on. Like a friendship bracelet, they are designed to be worn until they fray off on their own. This helps keep our costs and 'manufacturing' time down (and our customers coming back), so we can make the hundreds and hundreds required to keep the project going.<br />
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If you are interested in being involved by making a purchase or donating materials, please leave a comment or contact <a href="mailto:awlovespets@rogers.com">awlovespets@rogers.com</a> for information. More information about Alzheimer's and dementia can be found at <a href="http://alzheimerlondon.ca/">alzheimerlondon.ca</a>.<br />
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Thanks for your interest.<br />
<br />CoolHeadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05770695914715485273noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6586946782396044492.post-10935458035136328572012-02-02T12:16:00.000-08:002012-02-02T12:16:51.953-08:00White Oaks Fundraiser<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFzxbKess5ygInEjWBlYnH8Bpc5xUX70uokrFNNKinKIBSpjcqTkBnW46jG2kbcfV000JF2JetrpGgqiENeC8Kb7DOZqxDZhBr20xvqC37b2wocTWSTQAshfFYIf4grDCnhftUKFhWO_I/s1600/bench+with+beads.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFzxbKess5ygInEjWBlYnH8Bpc5xUX70uokrFNNKinKIBSpjcqTkBnW46jG2kbcfV000JF2JetrpGgqiENeC8Kb7DOZqxDZhBr20xvqC37b2wocTWSTQAshfFYIf4grDCnhftUKFhWO_I/s320/bench+with+beads.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">After a whole year of fundraising with the </span><a href="http://www.alzheimerlondon.ca/" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" target="_blank">Alzheimer's Society</a><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> around London, </span>Alysha<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> has brought her bracelets back home to White Oaks School.</span><br />
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Starting February 1st, the staff have given permission for her to set up shop in front of the Junior Office.</div>
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Bracelets are selling for fifty cents each, and there are plans for raffles of other handmade jewellery in the next three weeks. If the total from the White Oaks students exceeds $250.00, there will be a <a href="http://beadsformemories.blogspot.com/2012/01/meaningful-message.html">chair plaque</a> in the Alzheimer's Society's conference room with the message "White Oaks Public School Cares". </div>
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The Vice-Principal was kind enough to pose with Alysha as the very busy month begins.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8uv97HHFKNFpra1BsavVHO8FX_eUF3nOn1Y-xyXloqp5_-EVl3H6mQwmb6H4WsIrjQRAE_aTymgGL9u7ioIgwiXUAL3zhH4DaOH0VqtamsCxA4Sm4E8i3T_O6fOF_HK4ABhyphenhyphenr30kehMc/s1600/alysha+and+VP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8uv97HHFKNFpra1BsavVHO8FX_eUF3nOn1Y-xyXloqp5_-EVl3H6mQwmb6H4WsIrjQRAE_aTymgGL9u7ioIgwiXUAL3zhH4DaOH0VqtamsCxA4Sm4E8i3T_O6fOF_HK4ABhyphenhyphenr30kehMc/s640/alysha+and+VP.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Alysha and Mrs. S Sartor of White Oaks P.S.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">If you want to know the reasons behind </span>Alysha's<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> efforts you can read about it </span><a href="http://beadsformemories.blogspot.com/2012/01/alzheimers-beads-and-alysha.html" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">here</a><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">. If you would like to contact us about ordering bracelets, or helping out in another way, please e-mail us at </span><a href="mailto:awlovespets@rogers.com" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">awlovespets@rogers.com</a><br />
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</div>CoolHeadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05770695914715485273noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6586946782396044492.post-50090599353071427832012-01-30T17:32:00.000-08:002012-01-30T17:32:22.253-08:00A Meaningful MessageThe Alzheimer Society's headquarters in London has a conference room for meetings and presentations. Our family first toured the facility in March of 2011, and we were guided around by Jackie Ellefsen when Alysha brought her initial donation.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6fjba_sU9KlyB0LO8X_R-DdFfHn3CEl9nlkmexz6qR6VAxcX_Jb9kE-XNDQfvwKHE6j1cifVhkIM8vn6JS74zncfuyqWQzmGVB6ckRh47LTA94ThJk-EsLtkUIXPjXCbOcQXMDlV1vw0/s1600/alysha+and+Jackie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6fjba_sU9KlyB0LO8X_R-DdFfHn3CEl9nlkmexz6qR6VAxcX_Jb9kE-XNDQfvwKHE6j1cifVhkIM8vn6JS74zncfuyqWQzmGVB6ckRh47LTA94ThJk-EsLtkUIXPjXCbOcQXMDlV1vw0/s320/alysha+and+Jackie.jpg" width="228" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Alysha and Jackie</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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It was during this visit that Jackie mentioned the plaques that adorn several of the chairs in the room. Alysha discovered that a donation of $250 or more would allow her to place a plaque with a message of her choice on one of the chairs. The idea of having a permanent message really motivated our (then) eight year old daughter, and when we discussed it, she was enthusiastic about making her next goal a two hundred and fifty dollar donation to the Society.<br />
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There were no more sales to be had from her schoolmates, so we began to think of other places that might be interested in Alysha's bracelets. <a href="http://www.jewellerywerx.com/" target="_blank">Jewellery Werx</a> in Lambeth was kind enough to allow her to take advantage of a discount on their beads, and to have a box on the counter for sales of the bracelets. The <a href="http://www.alzheimerlondon.ca/" target="_blank">Alzheimer Society</a> invited her to their volunteer dinner and their Walk For Memories and encouraged her to sell them there. She set up shop in our front yard on summer weekends and got up early to set up a table at a neighbour's garage sale.<br />
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Bracelets we selling for either fifty cents or a dollar now, depending on what kinds of beads were on them, but it still took over three hundred individually hand made bracelets to get close to $250. Again, this was a family affair, as beading needles, and boxes and jars of beads took over the living room.<br />
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But before the end of September, Alysha was able to take a second donation down to help those at the Alzheimer's Society, as they helped those with this disease. Alysha took some time to decide what message she would leave as a permanent reminder to anyone who used 'her' chair in the conference room.<br />
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If you would like to get involved in Beads for Memories, either by placing an order, or donating supplies, please e-mail Alysha at awlovepets@rogers.com.<br />
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If you want to read the inspiration behind all of this activity, it's<a href="http://beadsformemories.blogspot.com/2012/01/alzheimers-beads-and-alysha.html"> in this post here</a>.CoolHeadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05770695914715485273noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6586946782396044492.post-8658665861674435682012-01-29T18:11:00.000-08:002012-01-29T18:11:43.275-08:00Alzheimer's, Beads, and Alysha<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">This </span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">website is the result of almost a year of work from Alysha Wisniewski and her family. I am Alysha's father, and I am going to begin by telling her story in my words. Let me assure you that, though my ability to tell the story this way is mine, the story itself, and the inspiration for it, are Alysha's alone.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The first thing that you need to know, is that Alysha and Aunt Roz were very great friends. From the very first day they met, Roz simply gushed about how wonderful and beautiful Alysha was, and hung on every word she said. She would tell Alysha's parents and grandparents what a wonderful child she was, and how great it was to have her around.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Alysha was equally in love with Roz. Their meetings would be highly anticipated, Alysha asking at every holiday and family gathering if Roz would be there. They always sat beside one another at dinner, and cuddled up together while the family talked. Every chance they got, they were and inseparable pair. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">As time went on, Alysha grew up. From five years old, to six, and seven, she and Aunt Roz never wavered in their love for one another. As she grew older, the rest of our family had to explain the sad truth about Roz to Alysha. Her favourite aunt was sick. In fact, Roz had been sick for some time, most of the time that Alysha had known her. Crazy, flamboyant Roz was very slowly slipping away. Alzheimer's disease was taking away Roz's ability to function like a regular person, bit by little bit.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Its a difficult thing to explain to an adult what having Alzheimer's means. It is not an illness that shows its wounds in a way that grown people can cope with. This is doubly so for a child. When Alysha began to learn that Aunt Roz wouldn't remember things the same way anymore, she didn't shy away. Now, if Roz needed help finding her way to and from the bathroom, Alysha was her escort. If Roz asked the same question three times in ten minutes, Alysha answered with a smile. If Roz let the wrong word slip out of her mouth, her first apology was to Alysha. Both of them were trying to make the best of a bad situation, and neither had the language to explain themselves, only hug and smiles.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Alysha and Roz's Story continues after the break.... </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">If you know an Alzheimer's sufferer, you know that the story almost always leads to some even crazier stories about how little the person in the throes of the disease resembles the one who was there before hand. You know too, that as that person becomes harder for the family to understand and relate too, so too does the Alzheimer's sufferer have trouble relating to those people and things that used to be close to them. It is, in my experience, a gut wrenching kind of loss, even while the person is still standing and breathing front of you.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Often the patient goes to a home, and there is a period of time where nothing makes much sense, and then there are dark suits and dresses, and someone at the front of the room talking about life and death and memories. Roz is in a nursing home now, and her story might not have much more to it, except that nobody told Alysha that it had to be over yet. My girl was very sad and very lost at the idea of losing her aunt this way. After being told that Roz really didn't take any guests anymore, and wouldn't know her anymore, I can only guess what went through Alysha's mind.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">What came out of Alysha's mind, after she thought about the sadness that came with thinking about aunt Roz, was that she should do something to make a difference. She had made a simple beaded bracelet on embroidery floss, some time before it had anything to do with any kind of 'project'. She brought this bracelet to us, her parents, and said 'Can we make more of these, so I can sell them, and give all the money to the people trying to cure Alzheimer's?" </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">And that's what she did. She made some more. We printed her a sign. She asked permission to bring them to her classroom. Twenty-five cents each. She would put them in the class and tell her classmates what they were selling for, why it was important that money be raised for Alzheimer's. My wife an I thought if she ended up with maybe five, or ten dollars, we could take it to the Alzheimer Society of London. There she could meet people and find out a bit about what they do to help people who have Alzheimer's right now. A good lesson. Perhaps a way to grow a little bit from a difficult experience.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">If that little project had gone as planned, I would not be writing about it now. Within two days, the twenty or so bracelets were all sold. Alysha summed up all her courage, got some help writing an announcement, and read it to the whole school in the morning. Now everybody wanted one. Alysha, and mom, and dad started making bracelets every night. Somehow, over the first weekend, we built up a reserve of over 100 bracelets. No problem. Then she came home with over fifteen dollars in the change jar by lunchtime, and the mad rush started again. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Credit, at this point, goes to what happens when a family all chips in. Without mothers and grandmothers and aunts and grandfathers making an effort, the whole thing grinds to a halt for lack of any product to sell. With our family and Alysha's friends all volunteering to make a few (or a lot in some cases) of these simple little strings of beads, the story would have ended there.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">But there was a frantic flurry of help for this cause. This new idea had taken on a life of its own, and no one who we told about it wanted it to falter. The end of February came, and all of the proceeds were tallied. Family, and friends, and teachers, and even a custom order from a custodian all added up. At the end of the month, the Alzheimer' society received $212.50. From a little tiny glass bracelet in the hands of my eight year old daughter, through over 800 more bracelets in the course of one month, we had reached the end. To all of us, this seemed to be a very big number. It was an amount that we were happy to present to our local Alzheimer's society and and amount they were happy to receive.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Alysha was the youngest volunteer they could remember, and over and over again, she would be asked who came up with the idea, and who wanted to do this. Over and over again, we would answer that it was Alysha's idea alone, and that she was very proud of what she had been able to do. And that's the end of the story. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Alysha and her wares at the Walk For Memories</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Actually, it's just the beginning. The rest of the story already has several more chapters, and you've already found the best place to hear the rest of it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Come back to Beads For Memories, as it follows our daughter's efforts to raise money to help those with dementia and Alzheimer's disease.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> If you are interested in helping out, special orders, or donations of materials for bracelets can be made at <a href="mailto:awlovespets@rogers.com">awlovespets@rogers.com</a> If you would like to learn more about Alzheimer's and dementia, the <a href="http://www.alzheimerlondon.ca/" target="_blank">Alzheimer's Society of London-Middlesex</a> has their own website.</span>CoolHeadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05770695914715485273noreply@blogger.com2