Many of you know about Remember the Rainbows and my connection to it.  For those of you that are not familiar with the story, here’s a re-cap:

Back in 2001, while training for the Breast Cancer 3-Day, I met a woman named Shelley.  Little did I know at the time how this chance meeting would influence the course of my life.  Shelley’s best friend had a little boy named Collin who was battling leukemia.  Diagnosed at the tender age of 15 months, Collin spent just about his entire life receiving chemotherapy treatments and even underwent a bone marrow transplant.  After beginning school, learning to read (his dream) and meeting his new baby brother, Collin passed away in October 2003 at the age of six.  It is incredible to think how many lives Collin touched in his short life.

After Collin’s death, we found there are many excellent organizations that provide support to the child and family during an illness, but that support virtually disappears when the outcome of an illness is not what the family had hoped for.  Armed with that knowledge and a desire to do something to honor Collin’s life, Shelley, I and two other friends, Sally and Fran formed Remember the Rainbows in 2004.

Remember the Rainbows is a 100% volunteer run, 501(c)(3), non-profit organization.  We are unique in that we are an outreach program for Georgia families who have lost a child to pediatric cancer.  Remember the Rainbows picks up where other organizations must leave off by providing families with opportunities to laugh and play together; allowing them to bond and learn to live as a changed family.

To date, we have hosted four summer retreats, two family picnics, New Years party and various other events.  All of these events are offered to families at no cost. 

We continue to grow as we welcome new families every year and add new events each year.  We strive to accept every family that applies, however, finances are limited.

I hope that you will consider making a tax-deductible donation to Remember the Rainbows.  I have set a personal goal to raise $2,500 but hope to exceed it!  In addition to cash donations, we are always looking for volunteers.  If you’re interested in volunteering, please feel free to call or email me.

For more information about Remember the Rainbows, please call or email or visit www.remembertherainbows.org.

Thank you in advance for supporting a cause that is dear to my heart.
Best,
Jennie

Pictured above:  My buddy Alexa and I at the summer retreat in July 2008.  Alexa and her sister Jaelyn lost their big sister Dani in 2004, four years to the day that this picture was taken.  They miss her very much and look forward to our Remember the Rainbows events.  I have 100’s of pictures from our events with smiles just like this.  It’s the little things that make these families smile and feel special that mean so much.