Raising funds for DS research & trying to win iPad for Matthew's preschool

Hi everyone!
I might have bitten off more than I can chew by getting involved in a fundraiser for the plus15 campaign. Lately I've been itching to do more as an advocate for Down syndrome. This opportunity came along and I seized it! The fundraiser is also a contest and the top fundraiser wins an iPad, which appealed to my competitive nature. Then I had a great idea to try to win the iPad and donate it to Matthew's preschool so that kids with other special needs can benefit from using it too.

I spoke to Matthew's speech therapist about it and there are many possible uses of the iPad in their therapies or even in some group activities at school. So here I am with a May 21 deadline to raise as much as I can for important cognition research for Down syndrome AND win an iPad for the school.

Please consider helping me. Any kind of help, whether by donating or simply spreading the word via blogs, twitter, fb, or word of mouth, is greatly appreciated!

Here's a link to my blog post about it. For fellow bloggers, I also have a button you can grab to post on your blog.
http://billandria.blogspot.com/2011/04/supporting-cognition-research-via.html

On my blog post, I also included NIH funding data that I gathered from a testimony written by Dr. Brian Skotko and the NIH website to compare funding of various medical conditions, including Down syndrome, from 2008 to 2010. It's very sad to see the disparity.

Here's a link to the fundraising page.
http://www.crowdrise.com/plus15/fundraiser/billandria

Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU for reading this and helping out in whatever way you can. You are all awesome!! **HUGS**

That is wonderful. I saw this on my iphone this weekend and haven't studied it yet. I love RR, but DSRTF is near and dear to my heart as well. I am excited that you are doing this. I have a feeling Mary C will be too. She does a Romp for Research every year in New York.

Kayla

We have a garage sale benefit tomorrow and Sunday, May 14 & 15. Hoping that the 50% chance of rain is an error and that the weather forecaster meant 5% chance. All proceeds will benefit the DSRTF's plus15 campaign. :-)

I was super happy to donate! I hope your garage sale goes well too.

Awesome work Ria!! I hope the rain holds off and you get a good turn out for the garage sale!

Thanks for praying for no rain everyone! Unfortunately it showered and misted both days. I still consider it a successful garage sale though despite the rain and the cold. We raised $686.45. And we still have a lot of stuff left and will be adding more things for a 3rd garage sale day on May 21. Coincidentally, it's kinda symbolic since it'll be the 21st (21 chromosomes) and it will be the 3rd day we are doing it.

There are some pictures on my blog about the May 14 & 15 sale. http://billandria.blogspot.com/2011/05/2-day-garage-sale-benefit-for-down.html

Thanks for your prayers and cheers everyone! We really appreciate it!

ME's mom wrote:

I was super happy to donate! I hope your garage sale goes well too.

Thank you so much for your donation! **HUGS**

By the way, if anyone is interested in keeping track of our progress, our fundraising page is http://www.crowdrise.com/plus15/fundraiser/billandria. It's been fun for me to watch the meter move toward our goal, which we may or may not hit. But I always say "aim for the moon and if you don't get there, you'll still be among the stars." And taking a page out of Special Olympics, "Let me win but if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt."
Have a great day everyone!

billandria wrote:

By the way, if anyone is interested in keeping track of our progress, our fundraising page is http://www.crowdrise.com/plus15/fundraiser/billandria. It's been fun for me to watch the meter move toward our goal, which we may or may not hit. But I always say "aim for the moon and if you don't get there, you'll still be among the stars." And taking a page out of Special Olympics, "Let me win but if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt."
Have a great day everyone!

I love your spirit Ria! You are awesome! I hope you do win!! Cheering you on! Love you, Di

ME's mom wrote:

billandria wrote:

By the way, if anyone is interested in keeping track of our progress, our fundraising page is http://www.crowdrise.com/plus15/fundraiser/billandria. It's been fun for me to watch the meter move toward our goal, which we may or may not hit. But I always say "aim for the moon and if you don't get there, you'll still be among the stars." And taking a page out of Special Olympics, "Let me win but if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt."
Have a great day everyone!

I love your spirit Ria! You are awesome! I hope you do win!! Cheering you on! Love you, Di

Thanks! Love you too!
-Ria

Awesome job Ria!

mary c wrote:

Awesome job Ria!

Thanks Mary!

Update: we raised $2,211 for Down syndrome cognition research (+15) AND won an iPad, which will be going to Matthew's preschool where it can benefit many more kids with special
needs, and maybe open more doors for the preschool.

I'm so excited and happy!! Thanks to everyone who cheered for us & prayed for us.

More details here: http://billandria.blogspot.com/2011/06/wish-upon-ipad.html

That is great news! WTG!!!!

Kayla

Congratulations!

mary c wrote:

Congratulations!

Thanks. :-)

mary c wrote:

Awesome job Ria!

Thanks. :-)

Thanks everyone! We feel blessed and fortunate that it was the right time and set of circumstances that allowed us to put ourselves in a position to raise research money. Thanks to all of you who encouraged us, showed your support, and sent positive thoughts our way.

That's wonderful news, Ria!!! I'm so glad your efforts were a success!

Erin's Mom wrote:

That's wonderful news, Ria!!! I'm so glad your efforts were a success!

Thanks. :-)

Congratulations!!! WONDERFUL!!