Each month through the end of the year,
we'll feature a special person or team who played an integral role in the 2013
Great Strides walks. We hope you'll find this story to be inspiring as we
continue to make Great Strides in our efforts to find a cure for CF!
Ava, 3, is the inspiration behind the Ava's Angels Great
Strides team. She was diagnosed with CF as an infant, but doesn't let the
disease hinder her free spirit.
Walk: Charlotte,
NC walk held May 18, 2013
Chapter: Carolinas
Chapter - Charlotte Office
Team: Ava's Angels, led by
April Waltz and her daughter Ava, 3, who has CF.
Impact:
Raised $10,000 so far in 2013
Why I Walk
Ava was
four weeks old when she was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis. Prior to her
diagnosis, I had never heard of CF. I did a google search for “cystic fibrosis”
and after reading the first sentence, my life changed forever. I fell to my
knees and just asked God to catch me and hold me.
Ava's Angels was formed
when Ava was just six months old.
How I Fundraise
This year I decided to try something different - I got the business community
involved. I emailed restaurants, spas, retailers, etc. requesting charitable
gift certificates and prizes that could be given to my team's top walkers. It
really worked.
Ava's Angels raised $10,000 this year, more than three
times what we raised last year.
Ava's
Angels, led by Ava, 3, and her mom, April Watlz, raised $10,000 to help support
the search for a cure. April reminds other Great Strides teams to use the
fundraiser as a way to bring people together. “This is about joining a community
and working together for a common goal,” she said.
What I'm
Thankful ForCystic fibrosis has taught me to look at the world
differently. I've learned to live every minute to the fullest. All of those
challenging moments have made me a stronger person. They've taught me to
appreciate all of the happy moments life has to offer. I would not be the strong
person I am today if it wasn't for my husband, friends and family. Ava's Angels
is a joint effort and the accomplishments we've made have been made as a
team.
Tips for Other Great Strides Teams
You have
to take time to make your campaign personal - share a story that makes someone
laugh or tugs at a heart string. When people make donations, write thank you
letters explaining why the fundraiser means so much.
If you are
fundraising via email, keep all emails informative but positive. Limit the
number of emails you send out in your campaign so they don't become repetitive.
The first email is the most important, so really make it count. Remind people
that this isn't just about money; it's about joining a community and working
together for a common goal.
Also remember that people's financial
situations can change. It's important to get people focused on the cause, not
just the money. Get people in your community to feel passionate about the search
for a cure. Every single dollar counts.
My Dream
Ava has a free spirit and I want her to nurture that. I want to be able to
dare her to dream bigger. I want to see her live her dreams, regardless of how
many she has, how they may change, or how challenging they may seem.
Learn More