Testimonial- Stephanie tells how she raised money for a friend with cancer

I met Heather two years ago. About 5 months after she was diagnosed with breast cancer, at 29 years of age. We became fast friends in an instant, and though she was sick, and fighting for her life, our friendship was never about the cancer. 5 months ago Heather woke up paralyzed on her left side. What the doctors thought was a stroke turned out to be a brain tumor. Another day, another battle. Heather simply stepped up to the plate to do what she needed. Brain surgery, intense physical therapy to get the left side if her body working again, radiation, more chemo. And not one complaint. And like many friends and family members of loved ones who are very ill, I felt helpless.

I live 2000 miles away and have an extremely crazy and unpredictable job where I am constantly traveling. I wanted to do something, and the only thing I could think of doing was to call upon my circle of friends to donate money to help ease the burden of the fact that Heather would be out of work for quite some time.

So I sent out an email to a bunch of friends back home in KC. Problem was that I was in Houston- so I had to ask people to either mail checks to my home, or to my hotel, or to drop it off on the desk of a friend back home. Lil’ complicated. That is when one of my friends sent me information on setting up a giving site on GiveForward.org. Genius! This would take care of my logistical issues, allow me to share photos of Heather so people could put a name with a face and allowed me to be updated regularly as to what had been raised. I was so pleased with the process, and the staff, who took time to answer my questions and gave me pointers on how to raise more awareness, which equaled more money!

I was able, in 3 weeks. To raise $2000 for Heather! And I can also say that I feel that I did not use all of the resources to their full advantages. Due to work commitments, I just let the site do everything for me. I think I could have easily raised twice that with more work from me. The best part was that Heather knew nothing about the fundraising until I gave her the check. She cried- but happy and thankful tears for a change. GiveForward.org enables ordinary people like me something, at a time when doing something, no matter how small, can mean everything!