This last week I got a friend request from a coworker. I dont know him that well but I accepted anyway. Today I saw him and while we were talking he joked with me saying you sure ask for a lot of money. What do you do with it? I felt this was an opportunity to explain the what the foundation does but it quickly became a lesson in what the foundation is about as I spoke. Not sure if I ventured that way or what. Anyway, on my profile I do ask for a lot. Its not what I want to do but it just has to be. The page doesnt reach the audience we expect but my profile posts will reach many. I keep my regular supporters on my profile because its my way of appreciating them. Simply getting to know them. There are women AND men alike who are my strongest supporters. And they are moms, dads, aunts, uncles, and even cancer families themselves. They have real issues in life just like me. With jobs, family, car troubles, you name it, they are just normal people like you and me. How are they different? They choose to support the kids. None of us are able to cure cancer Lord knows Ive been angry my fair share of times about that. But since we cant there is other things we can do. Bekahs idea was to send the medical supplies to those who need them like they were given to us. Of course the Bekahs buddys have evolved over the last, almost two years, but the concept is still in tact. I know it looks like all I want is money. It truly isnt but Ive created this foundation on the basis of transparency and honesty. So we dont ask for sponsors until we have addresses for the kids, or addresses for the families. And we dont add in the cost of supplies into the sponsor price because I have learned I have supporters who are more interested in purchasing supplies than just a $6.20 donation or a $3 donation. I explained to my coworker what Ive learned in the last 22 months. I also explained how this foundation has grown and evolved. Then he asked the widely curious question. Where did the name come from? Its always been a question but its my favorite part really. Bekah & Friends Foundation was named by Bekahs dad, Mike. After the idea of a Foundation was real for Bekah (her reaction was awesome to the whole process as we talked), her dad came up with a name and said we can call it BFF. It was his explanation that made Bekah light up. If I remember right her words were, yeah thats cool dad! Without a 14 year old girl named Bekah, a child Im very proud of and proud to call my child, there is no foundation. With Bekah not physically able to be here it is her friends (supporters) that will give her the chance to live on by doing the things she would have done. And for the Foundation part, that has kind of taken on a life of its own. That is where I come in. Ive worked so hard, made many friends, and many enemies, and all for the sake of creating, building, and maintaining a reputable foundation that bears the names of my youngest child, Bekah. As my volunteers say, you are the foundation. Sometimes I hate that cuz I feel it leaves out the people who have helped me grow but in a sense I do understand it. So thats the story. There was a time in my life not long ago, I was a single mom and a widow. I made my own money, paid my own way, paid my bills, Bekah and I struggled at times but we were doing ok. Now in the last two years, Ive had to lay down that pride and independence and rely on others to help me. Whether they were helping me pay bills cuz I had to care for Bekah, helping me send out Bekahs Buddys, sending an Angel to a broken hearted family, or trying to obtain the supplies needed to simply make it happen its not easy for me. But Ive learned to shift my attitude a bit. At first I used to sit and cry and be mad that I even had to ask for money, and now (Heather can vouche for this) I jump up and down, laugh, holler, and get excited at the response we get today. Im not the classic Founding Director.....I am not ashamed to show the world who made this possible. I even have supporters who warn me ahead of time and say I dont want public thank yous cuz Im not afraid to post a thank you and tag em in it to show the world they are AWESOME!!! LOL. I dont dress up, Im not a pretty lady, Im just Kris, a mom, grandma, wife, truck driver, and Co-Founder of a Foundation and I do it simply for one reason. To allow my Bekahs heart to continue living, to do good things here on earth. Drawing the cards up like she used to, her grandma does now. Giving the medical stuff to those who need them like they were given to us. Making sure everyone, no matter their horrible situation, and childhood cancer is pretty awful, can find a smile, even if just for a minute. Ok Ill hush up now. Good night all!
Posted on: Wed, 29 Oct 2014 02:04:53 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015