My team
My Story…
Exciting News!!!! 🌟🏃♀️ This August, I will be participating in the Falmouth Road Race, and I am thrilled to be running for a truly wonderful cause: Vineyard Havens. This incredible charity provides all-expenses-paid vacations to Martha’s Vineyard for families battling cancer, allowing them to rest, reconnect, and create cherished memories together.
Having spent many summers on Martha's Vineyard, I know firsthand how the island can create beautiful memories for families. Our annual trips have become a beloved tradition for my family, with over 40 of us gathering each year to enjoy special moments together. This tradition holds a particularly significant place in my heart, especially after losing my aunt to cancer five years ago. The moments we spent together on the Vineyard will live with me forever.
To participate in the race, I need to reach a specific fundraising goal. I chose to support Vineyard Havens because of its meaningful mission and the joy it brings to families during challenging times. I would be incredibly grateful for your support in this endeavor. If you feel inspired to contribute, please consider donating to Vineyard Havens.
Thank you so much for your support! It truly means the world to me and to those who benefit from this amazing charity.
Description
A cancer diagnosis, along with its vigorous treatment protocols, can be traumatic for both patients and caregivers. The American Cancer Society (ACS) estimates that as many as 1 in 4 recent cancer patients have PTSD while caregivers can also develop PTSD. According to the ACS, one study found that almost 1 in 5 families with teenage cancer survivors had a parent with PTSD. It is Vineyard Haven’s mission to ease the trauma, isolation and fear of cancer for patients and families by replacing thoughts of cancer with the joy, peace and happiness that comes with a very special week away.
The Jimmy Fund Clinic assesses their current patient-families for a respite week away based on both medical criteria (i.e., ability to travel) as well as “family backstory” which includes financial means, level of trauma (from diagnosis through surgery, treatment, relapse, etc.) and overall desire to “get away from it all.” These families are then referred to Vineyard Havens for intake where we match the family to an amazing beach house and begin to help the family’s dream about their week away on Martha’s Vineyard. For some families, monopoly on the back porch and grilling out on the deck is sheer joy and more than enough.
One teenage boy with relapsed leukemia, a first generation American, had only lived in apartments with a stove - never an oven - so his dream was to bake real chocolate chip cookies in a real oven at the beach house. For others, they want to try everything: fishing, clamming, a sailboat ride at sunset or a biplane ride around the island. But no matter which kind of respite families choose, they all share a few things in common: each family gets a beautiful beach house for the week, professional family beach photos, round trip car ferry tickets, and a refrigerator stocked when they arrive to their vacation home - all paid for by Vineyard Havens.
Recent Donors
| Donation date | Donor name | Donation amount |
|---|---|---|
| Mar 06 | Nate | $28.10 |
| Mar 04 | Penny | $55.35 |
| Mar 03 | Jenn Kingston | $22.65 |
| Mar 03 | Anonymous | Undisclosed amount |
| Mar 03 | Liv Kingston | $109.85 |
| Mar 03 | Chris & Tricia Hetherington | $55.35 |
| Mar 03 | Tim, Missy and Ellie | $55.35 |
| Mar 03 | Caroline Fleming | $22.65 |
| Mar 03 | Chrissy & Charlie Nolan | $55.35 |
| Mar 03 | Liv Kingston | $50.00 |
