As she steps up to speak you see a person you can't help but admire. She is smart, witty, engaging and well spoken with an infectious smile. Below the surface she's a little nervous about giving a speech, but you can't tell. On the surface she has nerves of steel and is very determined as she proceeds to deliver her speech to an audience of hundreds.Meet Lillian Diuble, she's eight years old. And the speech she delivered was to an audience of participants, organizers and supporters at the 2010 Foundation Fighting Blindness VisionWalk. One of the reasons they asked Lilly to speak is because her team raised so much money so fast (over $17,000 last year). Lilly and her team ("Lilly's Friends") will be walking again in this years VisionWalk. VisionWalk is the national signature fundraising event of the Foundation Fighting Blindness.
VisionWalk is a cause very near and dear to her and her family. Although you don't notice anything but her smile, Lilly wears glasses and hearing aids, because she is hearing and visually impaired. Her probable diagnosis is Usher Syndrome. Usher Syndrome is a progressive disease causing most that have it to become blind and deaf. Currently there is no cure for Usher Syndrome. But Lilly, her family and fundraising team are more determined than ever to change that.
Lilly has been subjected to more than her fair share of exams and treatments since age two. And recently she learned that a new lesion appeared on her right retina and another lesion is developing on her left. This means, according to her mother Angie, that the degeneration is progressing. But Lilly marches on, literally, to the 2011 VisionWalk raising money as she goes.
As owners of Serendipity Cards & Gifts, Craig & Kate, are very fortunate to know Lilly and her family. Lilly is the daughter of Scott & Angie Diuble, of Manchester, and Angie is a Physician Assistant who works with Kate a registered nurse. Working together in the emergency medical field allowed Angie and Kate to meet and become friends. After meeting Angie you know where Lilly gets her strength and determination. She's a mom who is very passionate about her family and finding a cure or treatment for her daughter's condition.
Upon finding out about Lilly, Craig and Kate immediately wanted to help. If you have kids, as do Craig & Kate, your heart just pours out for what Angie and her family must go through. You can pretend to know what they go through but we don't really know and never will unless you have a child affected like Lilly. You don't meet special people like Lilly and her mom, Angie, often in life. And that's why we are inspired to help.
This month on Monday, April 18th Serendipity Cards & Gifts in Adrian, Michigan is having a fundraising event to help Lilly raise money for the Foundation Fighting Blindness VisionWalk and "Lilly's Friends" team. This monthly event is called "18 On the 18th" and the concept is simple. Customers and supporters of Lilly come in on the 18th and shop and Serendipity Cards & Gifts donates 18% of every sale to "Lilly's Friends". Come in and enjoy refreshments, register to win prizes and help support an eight year old little girl and her fight to cure or treat her condition.
If you are interested in helping but can't join us on the 18th or want to donate directly to Lilly's team you can do so by going to VisionWalk and clicking the Support Lilly's Friends button. Also, Serendipity Cards & Gifts will be selling rubber bracelets for $5 and POP Eyes to be posted in store with your name for a $1. You can also find out more about the Foundation Fighting Blindness and VisionWalk by clicking these links. This year's VisionWalk is at Kensington Metropark on Saturday, May 14th .
Come and help this eight year old little girl with her fight.
Have a question? Contact us at:
Serendipity Cards & Gifts
1416 S. Main St., Ste 500
Adrian, MI 49221
517.263.6979
info@serendipitycardsandgifts.com
http://www.serendipitycardsandgifts.com/
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Note: Next month's 18 On The 18th partner is American Cancer Society/Relay for Life.
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