WIGS FOR KIDS Testimony

Hello friends! As you may know, the Wigs for Kids Day at the Zoo is this coming Saturday, July 26th! This is their 9th annual walk and this walk is the only major fundraiser that Wigs for Kids does annually.  Unfortunately, the requests for wigs is up by 35% this year and Wigs for Kids is expecting to get about 200 requests from kids for hair by the end of the year.  The wig is really a "hair replacement system".  The hair is adhesively bonded to the scalp so kids can swim, do gymnastics and live life like a "normal" kid.  Because of the sophistication of the wigs, each wig is $1800.00!  Sounds like a lot, doesn't it?  But when we all put our efforts together, we can truly make a difference.  So what can you do? You can register to attend the walk at www.wigsforkids.org and you can even join the Mom Squad team!  Woohoo!  Anyone who raises/donates $100 will get a $100 gift card from Mr. Chicken so it's a win-win for everyone.  If you're thinking about going but can't afford to register, perhaps you can consider donating your hair.  Wigs for Kids will also be having a cut-a-thon that day and are looking for anyone willing to donate 12 inches of non-processed hair.  Anyone who donates their hair will get in for free that day!

Just to convince you further of the necessity to come, we have an awesome testimony from Jenn Martin.  She is one of the top fundraisers for this event.  Read her story below!

I often times pray to get the things that I want. I pray the bus is running late so I can catch it. I pray for an easy day at work. I pray this coffee will wake me up soon. I admit. I do this much more so than I should. I have come to the realization that I am incredibly selfish and completely blind to bigger issues out there in our world.

There are kids dealing with cancer treatments, burn victims who lost everything, and kids struggling with various medical issues. I cannot even comprehend what they are going through. The more I think about it, the kids who are struggling with their issues in my eyes are tough, courageous, and determined. However, they may not always feel like this. I have a feeling they might feel more defeated than anything else. I am involved because I want to change this. No child should feel like this. I want to change my selfish ways and give back.

This is the very first year that I have been involved with the fundraising process with Wigs for Kids. I have donated my hair in the past, gosh probably 15 years ago and now, it is that time again. I was researching local salons for hair donations and found the Wigs for Kids information through my research. It just so happens that Wigs for Kids is doing a 5K at the zoo. Never knew such a fundraising event existed, to be quite honest. But then again, I never gave it a thought due to my vanity ways.

 

I am a sucker for going to the zoo (been zoo members since 1996) and have run a few 5k's in my lifetime. So what better way to help? I have a lot of hair I do not need but someone else does! On the day of the Zoo Walk,  I am mostly looking forward to meeting all those who feel the same way I do. I am looking forward to the new me. But most importantly, I'm looking forward knowing some child out there is smiling because of me. That is the coolest part about this whole process.

 

The Wigs for Kids organization sends a positive message to the Cleveland community. It gives hope to those who have none. They work to give kids better lives. A lot of times, charitable organizations seem to pop up when disaster strikes or when our local worlds are shaken. Wigs for Kids, however, is different. It's been their ongoing mission to help children for years. There is something GREAT to say about the stability of this nonprofit. Their stability in the Cleveland community tells me that they are doing something right and doing right in a child's heart.

 

As a mother myself, there is nothing more satisfying than seeing a smile on a child’s face. And with any type of donation, a smile is inevitable. My hair will be gone but the gratitude that a child will receive will be priceless and never forgotten.

I know I gave you the long-winded version. But simply, this is why I'm doing this. I just want to make a child smile again, new hair and all. :) They deserve to live a life without embarrassment.

Jenn Martin

 

I truly hope all of our Mom Squad friends will consider joining us THIS Saturday, July 26th for the 9th Annual Wigs for Kids Day at the Zoo.  We're looking forward to seeing you there and putting a smile on a child's face.  God bless you!

Let's Get Up and Move

Are you having a hard time fitting in exercise?  You are not alone......  A study done by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that less than 1/2 of Americans engage in the minimum-recommended amount of physical activity of 2.5 hours a week.  That's an average of 21 minutes per day, 7 days a week.  You may be asking, "what does that look like"?  It simply means moving at a moderate level, raising your heart rate between 65% - 85% of your maximum heart rate.  Don't know what that means? ...... Make sure your heart is pumping and your breathing has become more rapid.  Even if you can't fit all 20-30 minutes in all at once, that's okay, you still receive benefits by doing two or more shorter burst of exercise throughout the day.  Think of exercise as leading an active lifestyle.

A simple way to be active is walking, something you don't have to think about.  So when you are sitting at your desk for long periods of time, get up and take a quick walk to clear your head, move a little bit, and give you more energy.  Another good time to walk is if someone really makes you mad, walk away and go "blow off some steam".  This usually gives you time to process everything and think more rationally before you say something you wish you would not have (maybe more of us should park our cars on the side of the road and walk a bit after someone cuts us off!).  Take the stairs whenever possible and see if you can beat your quickest time going up them.  Or try driving part of the way to your destination, park the car, and walk the rest of the way?  Exercise can even be fun with the whole family.  You can go for pre or post dinner walks, crank up the music and boogie down, and during TV commercials challenge each other to do squats, push-ups, and sit-ups/planks.  Work in the yard and garden, play in the back yard, and walk or run for charity together. 

                                                      

Walking and exercise have many benefits.  They help you feel full of energy, relieve stress, improve sleep, and build strength and endurance making your body more efficient.  Therefore, helping you feel good about yourself.  Fighting colon and breast cancer are some benefits of walking that you may not realize, but it also helps with obesity, diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, and even depression.  I know it's easy to spend a lot of time sitting in front of the computer or television, and it's the same for our kids too.  So let's take advantage of spring time, the warmer weather, and longer days of light to fight the urge to slouch on the couch.  Instead, let's get up, move, connect with our friends and family, make exercise part of our lifestyles, and last, but not least, set an example for the kids in our lives!