Pay it forward!

I have a beautiful friend who was diagnosed with stage 4  breast cancer early on. After dealing with her own battle she decided to start a non profit organization to help other women like herself. I met this person from another friend who also had cancer. This young lady had the most beautiful spirit u could image, she often spoke of the organization and donated her time and services. The organization is called Shay Sharpe's Pink Wishes. Every year Shay  holds these beautiful black tie fundraisers to support her cause. My friend Dana would tell me about the events and how nice they were and that I should come. Thus far there has been three events, the objective of the foundation is to grant wishes to terminal cancer patients under the age of 40. What a wonderful idea I thought! So I told my friend I would definitely attend the next. Dana was also the 1st recipient of one of these grand wishes. Her wish was to take her family to sea world and Shay saw it fit to make her wish come true. FFW a bit a year has passed and I lost my beautiful spirited friend to this horrible disease. At this time I hadn't met Shay personally but I had been supporting her cause because I supported Dana and I was hurt tat I'd lost my friend. I promised my friend I'd attend the next function with her, but she hadn't lived long enough for me to do so. So here we are another year was approaching, and I'd keep my promise to my friend, I'd go to the fundraiser anyway, unknowing my very best friend had also just been diagnosed with this horrible thing as well. So when I  got that news, I immediately told my bestie to contact Shay, and that she could help her with questions or anything she may need to know. My bestie (Charlene)  friended and started following Shay on fb. Charlene has her surgery and is doin well (cancer had been removed and was on the mend)

Its funny how small the world is, Charlene's daughter (my god daughter) wanted to get a breast cancer tattoo in support of her mother, they go to the shop, while Charlene is waiting, she strikes a conversation with the tattoo artist about wanting to do a coverup, and that she followed a young lady  (SHAY) on fb whose cover up she had been admiring.. NELLIE the tattoo artist says "If u hang around, u can meet her shes on her way" Nellie was the artist who did Shay's cover up! Isn't that something!! So she stays, they meet and she tells Shay how she knows of her (me) mind u Shay and I still at this point never met in person. She knew who I was and they took a photo and from this something wonderful was born.

I told Charlene that we should go to the fundraiser and that's what we did and although I knew what Shay was doin, I could have never prepared myself for the event, the stories, the women... I knew walking away that night, that even though I'd been donating,  walking and supporting breast cancer, I KNEW I HADNT DONE ENOUGH!

Wheels were turning, I knew I could do more, that I needed to do more so Charlene and I decided to put together a fundraiser and we'd raise money to help Shay grant a wish. So I put the ball in motion, I contacted friends who could possible help with this task. I contacted an old high school friend who promotes parties and ask how could I go about this I explained my cause and he granted my wish! He DONATED a space and promoted our party. Then I contacted a photographer friend, a dj, and graphic designer for a flyer, other folks with small businesses to help with the cause. ALL DONATED THEIR SERVICES. SO NOW WE ARE HAVING A PARTY!!!

yes that my bestie Charlene

So we paid it forward by having this free event and it turned out to be a success, Shay was overwhelmed and a blossoming friendship was born, all because of my beautiful friend Dana who isn't even here to know she is still spreading joy!

here are some pics from our event

http://www.shutterfly.com/progal/album.jsp?aid=768a5498cf34f3b2ca35

and to learn more about Shay and her awesome foundation please visit

www.shaysharpespinkwishes.org

support, donate and help someones wish come true!!