Behind the Button

Erin Ott "each step I take will be for her" | Susan G. Komen 3 day Walk Arizona

When Erin visited the Buttons of Hope website - she was a stranger now her story(s) and her passion are out there for everyone to see. Erin tells me she loves her buttons - but it's really not about the buttons so much as its about what those buttons say about the powerful stories she has to share. I love it when the light goes on and someone finds the photo button fundraising idea. When I see someone like Erin proudly wearing her buttons I know that while they are a powerful fundraising tool more than they are helping her be the change she wants to see in the world...wow!

From Erin...I would love to offer you my story, so here it goes:

"I initially signed up for the Susan G Komen Breast Cancer 3-Day (Arizona 2009) as a challenge to myself to commit to a wonderful cause and to better myself and those around me. I learned of the walk from my boss and her daughter-in-law.  I immediately said where do I sign up???? I registered and started walking a little each day...and then a little more and a little more...[if you've never done a Komen 3 day Walk it is one of the most physically demanding fundraisers]

My aunt is a TWO time breast cancer survivor, and multiple women and men that I work with are survivors.  So I started walking and started asking those around for donations.  Fundraising was tough, but I just kept asking and emailing and posting on facebook and finally I reached my goal of $2,300!!  Then something happened that made this walk much more personal than I ever thought imaginable.  My mom was diagnosed with breast cancer.  Her surgery date will be just days before my 3-day journey and each step I take will be for her.  My camelbak is decorated with buttons of hope so all who see me walk down the street will know who I walk for...I walk for my aunt, I walk for my co-workers, I walk for my sisters, and I walk for my Mom, my best friend for life!"

If you'd like to support Erin please leave a comment for her at the end of this blog post and / or if you like you'd care to contribute to her Susan G Komen 3 Day fundraising page - to make a contribution to Erin simply click on the button of Mom (really try it works)!

 

Over 10,000 buttons - every one has a story and every story is different!

If ever there was something that defined what Behind the Button is all about...
well this takes the cake! I know there's a story behind every button (I've personally made by hand well over 10,000) sometimes the story is shared / sometimes not but either way there's a story here like that of twin sisters Ellie and Grace Potvin.

For me the stories are more than curiosity - as I'm making the buttons I feel like I get to know these people (it's the eyes) and I wonder if I could be as brave as the people on these buttons and my customer/friends who order them. I stumbled upon this video of Ellie and Grace from just last month September 2009 - knowing what was (and is) going on at that time I doubt I could ever be as brave as these little girls or Amy the camerawoman ~ Godspeed team Potvin!

If you'd like to wear a button in support of Ellie see button gallery here

I have the best customers in the world! Michele Kwok | Team in Training

One thing about my customers they are filled with passion! It blows me away when I see what they are doing for causes like Team In Training's fight against leukemia and lymphoma.

What an awesome surprise - So today one of my favorite customers Michele Kwok dropped me a note on the Buttons of Hope Facebook fanpage to page (become a fan) follow up on her quest to run the Chicago Marathon in honor of her Dad ~ some of you might remember me writing about her story "My Dad will be running with me the whole way" - Michele is going to to fly! in April. Michele was looking for a fundraising idea that would help her honor her Dad and meet her Team In Training fundraising goal!

Clearly Team Kwok is a rousing success.....yeah Michele, yeah buttons!

Buttons help keep Ellie Potvin in your mind as well as your heart!

It is with a heavy heart that I write what is at best an update on a sweet little girl's condition. As many of you know I befriended Ellie, her twin sister Grace and their parents Tim and Amy last year within days of Ellie's cancer diagnosis 

The MojoRiding cycling team - I wrote "I Specialize in Kindness" and many others joined together to ride the 24 Hours of Booty in support of Ellie's just beginning fight with cancer (rhabdomyosarcoma) - after more chemo and heartache than any child or family should endure things brightened late this summer as Ellie's cancer took a breather (as I wrote here "winning her fight"). But that joy was not long-lived as within weeks the cancer was back and once again Ellie and her family are immersed in the misery of cancer treatment and life altering decisions.

I made some new buttons picking up on Amy's new battle cry TEAM POTVIN - and I wrote to her that "I guess I don't know what to say so I make buttons" - Amy I'm sure had a little chuckle about that, that's just who she is. But I also know that the buttons I've made have been at times a badge of honor for the Potvin's and I know that Ellie likes seeing other folks wearing "her picture". So more or less I wanted to update this story and to thank everyone who has ordered buttons I hope you are wearing them and that they help keep Ellie in your mind as well as your heart. The Potvin's encourage everyone to wear buttons to support Ellie both in spirit and financially - it does make a difference ($2 from each button goes to the The Ellie Shoal Potvin Supplemental Needs Trust)

If you'd like to (please do) read more about Ellie and all the support she is receiving please visit her CaringBridge site (please leave a message of support) or her website Lift Up Ellie. And if you'd like to show your support by wearing a button or pinning one on your purse, golfbag or knapsack you can find them by clicking here at Buttons of Hope. Thank you for keeping this brave little girl and her beautiful family in your thoughts and prayers. makehope