Monday, August 30, 2010

Charity nabs $30K prize

CHERUBS in the Raleigh News & Observer Newspaper again!

 


Charity nabs $30K prize

Grant doubles budget

- Staff Writer

They're pink-haired and sleep-deprived, but they pulled it off.

CHERUBS, a nonprofit organization run out of a Wake Forest mom's spare bedroom, nabbed a $30,000 grant from APX Alarm Co. on Monday, thanks to 35,000 online votes they campaigned hard - and creatively - to get.

The grant will double the operating budget for the all-volunteer organization, which aids families of children born with an often fatal birth defect called congenital diaphragmatic hernia.


  • CHERUBS, a local nonprofit that helps families of children born with an often fatal birth defect called congenital diaphragmatic hernia, is in the running for two $25,000 grants in the Pepsi Refresh contest. Vote online at refresheverything.com , or at voteforcdh.org .
Since voting opened online in June, the group worked to drum up awareness and votes. That's where the pink hair comes in.

Volunteer and CDH mom Julie Younce of Wilkes County promised to dye her hair pink if 50 people would commit to vote every day for a week.

Her son, her best friend and her daughter soon joined her.

"When you have six kids, people don't typically expect you to have pink hair, so I've gotten a lot of questions about it," Younce said. "Which helps raise awareness, so it works really well!"

The money will be officially awarded to CHERUBS in September, but founder Dawn Williamson already has every penny accounted for. A large portion will go toward research, including work on a database of CDH medical histories that the group has been compiling for 10 years. The rest will go toward supplies for families dealing with their child's long-term hospital stay.

CHERUBS was in the running for the national grant of $100,000, but lost by fewer than 3,000 votes to the Utah Prader-Willi Syndrome Association. It's not the top prize they were aiming for, but in this case, second best is more than good enough, Williamson said.

Their final vote tally was 35,243 votes, according to APX Alarm spokesman Stuart Dean. Williamson chalks much of that up to their hard work and creative campaigning.

CHERUBS even got help from celebrities such as actress Patsy Pease from daytime drama "Days of Our Lives" pitching in on Facebook and Twitter to encourage folks nationwide to vote for CHERUBS.

The organization is still vying for two $25,000 grants from the August Pepsi Refresh contest at refresh everything.com .

Williamson passed on the hair dye, but says she'll get a winged CHERUBS tattoo on her diaphragm if they win one of the Pepsi grants.


Saturday, August 28, 2010

5000 voters for babies born with CDH - can you help?



We have some AMAZING contest opportunities coming up that could raise Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia research, support and awareness to levels that we've only dreamed about. But we will need voters! We are hoping to get 5000 daily votes by next week.

Can you help?
 

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=123312954385123&ref=nf

Join this group and pledge to vote daily to help these babies and families and ask you Facebook Friends to join, pledge and vote too!   Together we can take CDH awareness, research and support from our small charity status to the same level of public awareness and support as Autism, Spina Bifida, Muscular Dystrophy, Cyctic Fibrosis and other well known medical conditions.   The days of CDH being the "invisible birth defect" are coming to end with your help!

Friday, August 27, 2010

Prayers & Quotes for August 27, 2010

Prayers & Quotes for August 27, 2010
If you have a prayer request for a cherub or a family member of a cherub, you can send it to prayers@cdhsupport.org.


Please keep the following in your thoughts and prayers:

19 yr old cherub Daniella who had surgery this past weekend for reherniation and a bowel obstruction, is now on an oscillator and needs our prayers and thoughts.

Newborn cherub on his way, Heath F., could arrive any day now, for mom is showing signs that baby's birthday is near!

Newborn cherub on her way, Savannah Q., is set to arrive by c-section 8/30.

Newborn cherub on her way, Airynn E., is set to arrive this week.

Newborn cherub Mattiaus D., due 9/15 arrived 8/24 and is on a jet vent and very stable. Talk of surgery in the next few days is happening! Please pray for a smooth surgery and an easy recovery for Mattiaus.

Newborn cherub Finley D. arrived 8/12!! Please pray for strength for her and her family. Finley's surgery may take place on 8/30 if she is ready.

Newborn cherub Whitney M., arrived 7/21 and has endured her repair surgery and ECMO. She came off her nasal cannulas and is working on her feeds. Please keep this beautiful little girl in your thoughts and prayers, for she is so close to going home!

Newborn Quinn T. was born 6/22 and is getting so close to going home! Please pray for continued progress for beautiful Quinn! Also keep her mom in your prayers, for she has to have surgery very soon due to gallstones.

Newborn cherub James B. finally got to leave the NICU and is in rehab! Please keep this amazing boy in your thought and prayers and hope he gets to go home soon!

Newborn cherub Elijah V., arrived 7/8. He has had his CDH repair, successfully came off of ECMO and is off his nasal cannulas. He is working on feeds and needs to make progress in this area or a gtube is being discussed.

Newborn cherub Micah P. is still in the NICU and just turned 10 months old. He now is on a trach and continues to get stronger. Pray for continued strength for Micah and that he may get to go home soon.

Newborn cherub Josiah B. arrived 7/1. He had a gtube surgery and was able to go home on 8/15!! Welcome home Josiah!

Teenager Cherub Logan W. is set to have surgery on 9/3 for a pectus repair. Please pray for an uncomplicated surgery and an easy recovery for him.

Cherub Isabel H. is having an issue with a lymph node swelling and finding the cause. Please pray doctors can figure out what is happening.

Cherub Jaxon R. is having tubes put in his ears on 9/8. Please keep him in your thoughts and prayers for a no complication procedure and an easy recovery.

Mom Alicia G., mom to angel cherub Jayden G. is having serious thyroid complications. Please pray that doctors are able to find the cause and help Alicia feel better soon.

Cherub Kiyari M. had another cath lab done yesterday. Please pray for good news and that she doesn't have the complications like she had last time.

Expecting parents to cherub baby girl Addison R., need our prayers for strength and guidance with what lies ahead.

To all our families and friends that are fighting against the flu, colds, sickness…may you feel better soon and have no complications.

To all our cherubs starting school this week and during the next few weeks...may you have a fun and educational school year!


Cherubs on Their Way:

Cherub Heath F., due 9/3
Cherub Savannah Q., due 9/4
Cherub Airynn E., due 9/12
Cherub "baby girl" S., due 9/13
Cherub Aurie B., due 9/17
Cherub baby boy M., due 9/25
Cherub Addison R., due 9/25
Cherub "baby boy" G., due 10/11
Cherub Isaac I., due 10/14
Cherub Axel C., due 10/27
Cherub Abel B., due 10/28
Cherub Boone P., due 11/2
Cherub Zoe C., due 12/1
Cherub Hollis Y., due 12/2
Cherub Flynn L., due 12/10
Cherub Wyatt M, due 12/19

All families expecting a baby with CDH, may you have continued hope and strength for the journey that lies ahead.


Newly Grieving Families:

Newborn cherub Jonathan M., born 6/11 grew his wings on 8/18 due to a pulmonary hemorrhage and his PH. Please keep his parents, Dewald and Laetitia in your thoughts and prayers that they be surrounded by much love and comfort during this difficult time.

To all families affected by CDH and the loss of your precious child, may you find peace and comfort and know you are never alone, for so many people care about you.


Today’s Quotes:

‎"Thoughts are things; they have tremendous power. Thoughts of doubt and fear are pathways to failure. When you conquer negative attitudes of doubt and fear you conquer failure. Thoughts crystallize into habit and habit solidifies into circumstances." ~Bryan Adams (borrowed from Brenda S.)

"Ordinary riches can be stolen, real riches cannot. In your soul are infinitely precious things that cannot be taken from you." ~Oscar Wilde

"The game of life is the game of boomerangs. Our thoughts, deeds and words return to us sooner or later, with astounding accuracy." ~Florence Shinn

"You cannot live a perfect day without doing something for someone who will never be able to repay you." ~John Wooden

Monday, August 23, 2010

Today we won $30,000 for CDH.....

A note from Dawn to our members.....

Today, we won $30,000 for our charity to help more families affected by CDH through research and support services.   This was a summer-long team effort and you are all so AMAZING and it brings tears to my eyes how proud I am of how everyone banded together to help our babies.

We might not have a lot at CHERUBS but there is one thing that we are never low on..... COMPASSION and you are all prime examples of that!

Thank you so very much for all so many of you have done over the past months to raise awareness and votes to help provide more services for CDH families. I hope you are all as proud of what you've done as I am proud of you and most importantly - as proud as the cherubs are of all of us.... those here, those looking down from Heaven.

And thank you so much to the other charities we've worked with and who have helped us to raise votes and awareness, those who worked with us (PWSA especially) behind the scenes dealing with security issues, who posted for votes for our charity too, who cared more about helping as many charities as possible than winning!!! We truly were blessed to be in a contest with other charities of such high integrity and compassion and professionalism!!!

Thank you to the other CDH charities who worked with us and voted with us to try to help more CDH families through the services we hope to offer them:
  • CDH Rainbows
  • The Olivia Raine Foundation
  • Nayeli Faith Foundation
  • SMILE (Chloe Tate Foundation)
  • Real Hope for CDH
  • And ALL the doctors, nurses researchers voting for us in their labs and offices and hospitals across the country!!!!
It takes a lot of love for the cause, integrity and class for other charities to campaign for another to win a large amount of money.   All of these charities voted and posted because they didn't care who the money went to as long as it helps CDH families and indeed it will.   These charities all embody the real spirit of the entire CDH community and we are so grateful for their support of all CDH families and charities!!!!

Thank you to the celebrities who helped us during this contest by posting and tweeting and even taking photos for us;  Patsy Pease (Days of Our Lives), Charles Shaunessy (The Nanny, Days of Our Lives) and Simon van Kempen (Real Housewives of New York) and local radio DJ "Bob the Blade", Miss Durham County Jaquetta Taborn-Moss and Miss Raleigh, Wendy Petty!

A special thanks to our CDH Vote Warrior team - this special task force of CDH moms and dads worked for days on end this week tirelessly for our children!!!  Those who held FB events to raise votes - you all raised the most CDH awareness and we are so proud of you1!!!  Those who submitted videos and photos. ALL of our amazing CDH parents and grandparents, aunts, uncles and friends who went above and beyond to help us help more CDH families! God bless all of you for your limitless support this summer!!!

Thank you EVERYONE!!!!


And most importantly, thank you to APX Alarm... without whom we would not have had the opportunity to raise CDH Awareness to tens of thousands of people all summer long and to meet the amazing people we've met along the way and had the chance to raise funds to help CDH families. There will be lots of tears and hugs at the press conference! :)


The press conference / award ceremony will take place on September 14th here in North Carolina. All members are welcome to attend! Location details will be posted next week. There, we will also draw for the $1000 raffle and announce the winners for the "contests within a contest"!

Thank you all again, so very very much!!!!!!!!!!

Sincerely,
Dawn M. Williamson
CHERUBS President & Founder

A peak into the chaos of CHERUBS Central....

Located in beautiful Wake Forest, NC just outside of Raleigh, hidden in the spare bedroom of a house in suburbia is our international headquarters...


CHERUBS President & Founder, Dawn Williamson



It's chaos, but it's organized chaos and here is where the magic happens and where we help over 3300 families affected by Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia.

PRESS RELEASE: Local Nonprofit Organization Wins $30,000 In National APX Gives Back Contest To Help Raise Awareness and Research Funds for Devastating Birth Defect



Local Nonprofit Organization Wins $30,000 In National APX Gives Back Contest To Help Raise Awareness and Research Funds for Devastating Birth Defect

08-23-2010

Raleigh, NC - CHERUBS, a non-profit organization founded to help families of children born with Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia (CDH) learned about a contest on Facebook through a member expecting a baby with CDH.

Alarm company, APX, based out of Provo, Utah is known to be very generous to the non-profit community. This contest was yet another way that this company gives back. 5 lucky charities won $30,000 and another charity walked away with a grand prize of $100,000.

CHERUBS was one of the lucky charities who won $30,000 but they were also the 2nd in the nation, losing out of the first place prize by less than 3000 votes.  They raised over 35,000 votes through Facebook during the summer and came in a very close second-place.

"It was a very close race all along and we tried our best but we just didn't have the resources and manpower to pull it off this year.   But we gave them a run for their money and we won $30,000 for our cause so we definitely came of this contest as very big winners!" says CHERUBS President and Founder, Dawn Williamson of Wake Forest, NC.

The race wasn't without it's fair share of drama and suspense.   "There were some technical issues with the application software that didn't allow our charity to post links like others charities but that just made us work harder!  We bounced back between 1st and 2nd place throughout the contest so it was very nerve-wracking to say the least.  We had celebrities posting and tweeting for votes for us.  Doctors and researchers in their labs voting for us.  Kids made "vote for CHERUBS" signs and their parents took photos that we used throughout the contest.   Even soap star Patsy Pease took a photo with her son, who was born with CDH, to raise more votes.  We did raffles, passed out flyers, voter recruiting contests and we even had members dye their hair pink and blue to get more votes.   I myself even promised the charity members that I would get a tattoo if we won 1st place so on the bright side, I'll be avoiding that now!" says Williamson, laughing but she has since decided to get that tattoo if CHERUBS wins in the Pepsi Refresh grant contest that they are also currently competing in.

The APX Gives Back contest was made possible through a software application on the popular social media site, Facebook. It began on May 3rd with Facebook users nominating their favorite charities in 5 regions. On June 14th, the top 15 charities from each region made it to Phase II, where the votes were reset and the real competition began. The charity with the most overall votes on August 21st to be awarded $100,000, while the other charities in the remaining regions with the most votes will receive $30,000 donations.  CHERUBS won first place in the Eastern Division.

“We are so excited that we had the opportunity to be in this contest and to be in the company of so many other wonderful charities! We have learned so much about other causes and became friends with many, including members from the Prader-Willi Syndrome Foundation (the 1st place winning charity).   We also made wonderful friends and collaborations with other charities Now I Can, Military Moms and Wives of Brazoria County, Handprints of Hope and Quest.  No matter who won in this contest, we all came out as winners. This has been a wonderful platform to raise awareness for all of our causes” said Williamson.

The charity will be presented with an award check on September 14th, when the president of APX will fly out from Utah to present the $30,000 to Mrs. Williamson and other charity board and members at a press conference here in the Triangle.

Founded in 1995 by Mrs. Williamson and based here in the Triangle, CHERUBS is the world’s first and largest CDH organization with over 3300 members in 38 different countries and all 50 states. Dawn is the mother of Shane Torrence (1/28/93-9/11/99), born with left-sided CDH and multiple birth defects. Shane spent his first 10 months in the pediatric intensive care unit of Duke University and had many other hospitalizations and surgeries at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

“I miss my son every single day; CDH took him from me and robbed him of any type of normalcy during his short life. I lost the chance to watch him grow up and grow into a young man; learn to ride a bike or drive a car; go to college or get married or have children of his own,” said Williamson. “No mother’s arms should ever ache for a child she can no longer hold. Shane was an amazing little boy that was always happy despite the fact that he spent so much of his life in the hospital. CDH devastated our family.”

Williamson made it her life’s mission to help other families affected by Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia. If there is any doubt of faithfulness to this mission you need only to read the glowing reviews families around the world have posted all over the internet about how CHERUBS has helped them through their darkest days, see all the services listed on their web sites or count the over 11,000 fans they have on Facebook.

Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia occurs when the diaphragm fails to fully form, allowing abdominal organs into the chest cavity and preventing lung growth. It affects 1 in every 2500 babies, representing approximately 1600 babies in the United States each year, half of which do not survive. Some of the other half, like Williamson’s son, who only lived until the age of 6, end up suffering through life with lasting health problems such as feeding aversions, gastrointestinal problems, asthma, allergies, scoliosis, or long-term pulmonary problems.

In the U.S., there are annually more victims from CDH than tornados, hurricanes and lightening strikes combined. There are more children born each year with CDH than there are children born with Cystic Fibrosis or Spina Bifida, and although there is no known cure or typical treatment, there is still a significant lack of research and awareness in the public and medical communities about CDH. According to a Congressional Bill the charity is hoping to get passed for CDH Research, the estimated total annual economic impact of Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia in the United States is in excess of $800,000,000 while annual grants allocated by the National Institutes of Health for CDH at several research facilities is currently estimated at less than $5,000,000. Through this contest and other efforts, CHERUBS hopes to raise more awareness and funds for research and family support. “These babies are dying by the hundreds and there is no known cause. The survival rate is only 50%. This just cannot be acceptable” says Williamson.

“This contest has not only allowed us to dramatically raise awareness about Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia but it has offered us the opportunity to raise more money for our charity than we ever have before. This $30,000 prize doubled our annual budget and we are so grateful to APX and to everyone who voted for us.” For a small charity powered by volunteers, donations and fundraisers and run in a spare room of Williamson’s home to save funds, $30,000 will indeed go a long way. “We have over 3300 members and all of our services are free to CDH families. We run a very large web site with forums for families to gain information and support 24 hours a day, an annual international Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia conference, the world’s largest CDH research database, we send care packages to new and expectant parents and so many, many other services on less than $35,000 a year. Our budget averages about $10 of assistance per family, which is ridiculous but we somehow pull it off. Winning this contest will do so much for our ability to help more CDH families!” says Williamson.

Proceeds from the contest will benefit CHERUBS Research and Support Funds, and Williamson is hoping that the contest will bring out many supporters and media to help gain recognition for both CDH and the organization’s efforts.  "We raised so much Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia awareness in this contest!  We introduced CDH to tens of thousands of people and that is more awareness than CDH has ever had in history.  We are so proud of that!" says the beaming Mrs. Williamson

The fight for funds for CHERUBS isn't over yet, they have also have 2 projects currently in the Pepsi Refresh contest;   $25,000 for financial help to families facing hospitalizations with their children to cover travel costs and $25,000 for CDH materials for hospitals.   "Both of these projects desperately need funding and would make a world of difference for families affected by CDH".

CHERUBS welcomes the community’s support and votes. If you would like to help this organization you can vote and learn more about Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia at http://www.voteforcdh.org

CHERUBS will also gladly accept any donations to help further their work. Tax-deductible donations can be made on-line at http://www.cdhdonations.org or mailed to CHERUBS, 3650 Rogers Rd #290, Wake Forest, NC 27587.

To help raise more awareness and money for the organization, as well as funds to continue research and outreach, CHERUBS will be hosting a key fundraising event this fall. The CHERUBS 2010 Masquerading Angels Ball will be a formal event held on October 30th at the Durham Hilton near Duke with celebrity guests, a live band, casino and an auction. More information on this event is available at http://www.cherubsangelball.org

“There is still so much research that needs to be done. In 2010 this birth defect should not still exist, much less still have so many unanswered questions and so little research,” said Williamson. “CHERUBS wants to be able to help as many families as possible, because we understand the hurt and confusion that comes along with having a child with CDH. We want to spare other families from the devastating effects of CDH and we will keep fighting, keep researching and keep raising awareness until the cause and prevention of CDH is found.”


About CHERUBS

CHERUBS is a 501(c)3 organization located in North Carolina. CHERUBS serves families of children and adults born with Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia (CDH). As of June 2010, CHERUBS has over 3300 members in all 50 states and 38 countries. Board Members include the founding father of in-utero surgery, genetic counselors, epidemiologists, pediatric surgeons and parents of children born with CDH. CHERUBS is a volunteer-run organization and a United States Internal Revenue Service recognized 501(c)3 Non-Profit Organization.

http://www.voteforcdh.org
http://www.cdhsupport.org
http://www.cherubsangelball.org







Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Soap star Patsy Pease from Days Of Our Lives helping local charity in national contest to win $100,000 for critically ill babies

From MyNC.com - http://wake.mync.com/site/wake/Community/story/54414


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WAKE COUNTY, N.C.

CHERUBS is a local charity, based in Wake Forest. We are currently battling between 1st and 2nd place in a national contest on Facebook for $100,000.

Patsy Pease is the celebrity spokesperson for CHERUBS, having a son who survived CDH.Patsy has been helping us through Facebook to get votes.

The Raleigh News & Observer did a piece on us in Sunday's paper.

The APX contest ends THIS week. We need all the local support and help that we can get. $100,000 would more than triple our charity's small annual budget—we help families in 38 countries so we need funds desperately for research and family support. CHERUBS also has 2 projects in the Pepsi Refresh contest

Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia is a birth defect that occurs in 1 in 2500 babies; as common as Cystic Fibrosis and Spina Bifida. Over 600,000 babies have been born with CDH since 2000—it has taken the lives of over a quarter million of these children. It occurs when the diaphragm fails to fully form, allowing abdominal organs into the chest cavity and preventing lung growth. 50% of these babies do not survive. The cause is not known. CHERUBS is the world's first and largest CDH charity and was founded right here in the Triangle in 1995 after my own son spent his first 10 months in the intesive care unit at Duke and then many subsequent hospitalizations at both Duke and UNC until he passed away at age 6. Please consider doing a piece on this story—we so need the votes and awareness for CDH. Thank you so much for your time and assistance

Monday, August 16, 2010

CHERUBS in the Raleigh News & Observer!

http://www.northraleighnews.com/2010/08/15/3721/charity-eyes-online-grants.html

Sunday, Aug. 15, 2010

Charity eyes online grants

Public can help by voting

- Staff Writer


Dawn Williamson's spare bedroom is getting crowded.

Fifteen years running a children's nonprofit organization from that bedroom means bookcases wedged in the corners and boxes stacked from floor to ceiling along one wall, plus a desk and a table and medical journals and tote bags and fluffy costume angel wings.

Oh, and there's a bed in there too.




  • If you'd like to help local nonprofit CHERUBS win three grants to help in their work with families of children born with an often fatal birth defect, go to voteforcdh.org for links to CHERUBS' entry in all three contests. Or you can vote in each contest separately at apxgivesback.com and refresheverything.com.

"We're a group of moms and dads and grandparents," Williamson said. "Our budget is practically nothing."

CHERUBS, Williamson's all-volunteer organization that benefits children born with an often fatal birth defect called congenital diaphragmatic hernia, is competing for three grants that require them to rack up online votes to win. The extra cash would allow them to put more money toward research awareness and parental support - and free up enough of their existing budget to rent some shared office space.
"It would triple our annual budget," Williamson said. "That would be huge."

CHERUBS is facing off against competitors from across the country. Anyone can vote, and Williamson hopes more people will - CHERUBS is currently low in the rankings for two $25,000 grants from the Pepsi Refresh contest, but battling it out with a Utah charity for the top prize of a $100,000 grant from APX Alarm Co. Williamson has set up a website, voteforcdh.org, that links to all three contests. Her highest hopes are for the APX contest, though the organization is an underdog.

Williamson founded CHERUBS in 1995, after her own son was born with congenital diaphragmatic hernia. The condition means the baby is born without a fully formed diaphragm, leaving a hole inside the child's chest. The internal organs get pushed through that hole, crowding the heart and inhibiting lung development. About 50 percent of babies with the condition die, Williamson said. Her own son spent months at Duke Hospital after he was born, and eventually died at age 6.

Williamson's experience has helped shape the organization's work. They send about 200 tote bags a year across the country to parents of children born with congenital diaphragmatic hernia. In those bags are all of the things Williamson wishes she'd had when her own son was in the hospital, from informational pamphlets to hand sanitizer.

With the grant money, the organization would be able to provide assistance with travel expenses to parents having to commute to the hospital or stay at hotels to be near their child. They also would use the money to put together information kits to send to hospitals for parents whose child has been diagnosed with the condition, because there is often little or no information available.

Williamson is working to get legislation reviewed that would up the amount of funding awarded to the National Institute of Health to research CDH causes and cures.

Troy Miller found the organization in 2001, when his daughter Dallas was born with the condition. CHERUBS provided information and a much-needed connection to a community of families who had gone through a similar situation.

"It's good to know that you're not alone," Miller said.

After 27 days in intensive care, Dallas passed away on Nov. 7, 2001. Miller is now a volunteer with the organization, on call for parents who need someone to talk to.

"It's not heavily publicized, and the grants would mean that there could be further publication of what it is, to get the name out there, and provide more money for research," Miller said.

The deadline for voting in the APX Gives Back contest is Aug. 21. In the meantime, Williamson is crossing her fingers and continuing to work out of her Wake Forest home, where it's not just the guest bedroom that's crowded anymore - lately, the attic has been drafted for storage, too.

 

New Raffle - Win $1000 by voting for CHERUBS in the APX Gives Back Contest!



Yes, our charity is giving away $1000 THIS week!  

Why? Because we need your votes to win $100,000 for CDH Research and Support!!!!!
  • You can participate from ANY country. You must be 13 or older!


How do you enter the raffle?
  1. Vote for CHERUBS in the Eastern Division in the APX contest at http://www.facebook.com/apxalarm?ref=mf
  2. Go to our contest FB page at http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=117557684963297 and click "Attend"
  3. Post Voted! (and only that) on the event wall and you're entered into a drawing to win $1000!

NOW, WE HAVE MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOU TO SUBMIT MORE RAFFLE ENTRIES!!!!!  GREATLY INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING $1000!!!!!!


1. Repost on Facebook! (good for 1 more submission per day)

* Post: I just voted to help CDH babies and entered a chance to win $1000 by helping @CHERUBS - The Association of Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Research Awareness and Support to raise $100,000 for CDH Research and Support! http://tinyurl.com/win1000cdh (tag us in that post)* And then, on the event page instead of posting Voted! Post Reposted!

2. Tweet on Twitter! (good for 1 more submission per day)

* Tweet: @cherubs #voteforcdh I just voted to help CDH babies and entered a chance to win $1000! http://tinyurl.com/win1000cdh* And then, on the event page instead of posting Voted! Post Tweeted!

3. Post on your blog or site. (good for 1 more submission per day)

* Post this attach link and all text on it to your site or blog.* And then, on the event page instead of posting Voted! Post On-Line! with a link to your site or blog

4. Post an FB page or group. (good for up to 10 more submission per day)

* Post - I just voted to help CDH babies and entered a chance to win $1000 by helping @CHERUBS - The Association of Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Research Awareness and Support to raise $100,000 for CDH Research and Support! http://tinyurl.com/win1000cdh (tag us in that post, must type and not copy and paste or the tag won't work!)* And then, on the event page instead of posting Voted! Post: CDH Awareness! with a link to the FB page or group* Up to 10 CDH Awareness! entries per day! Must be for 10 different pages or groups!

5. Recruit FB friends to vote. (good for up to 10 more submission per day)

* Get your FB friend to vote and attend on our event page just like a normal vote but have them post "Voted! Recruited by ______________" (your name)* And then, YOU can post another comment on the event page posting "I recruited ________________ today!" (their name).* Up to 10 Recruited by ! entries per day! Must be for 10 different friends and your FB friend can only be recruited once by 1 person!


Yes, we check the authenticity of raffle entries. :)

The APX Gives Back Contest - $100,000 for CDH Research & Support

http://www.facebook.com/apxalarm?ref=mf

FacebookContest sponsored by APX Alarms. CHERUBS is currently battling between1st and 2nd place in this National contest! Money raised will be usedfor Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Research and Support services!

Here is how to vote at APX:
  1. Go to http://www.facebook.com/apxalarm?v=app_121215224555298&ref=mf
  2. Then click LIKE.
  3. Next click the "Start nom and voting"
  4. Click on the blue logo for Eastern charities5. Scroll down (load more if necessary) and find CHERUBS and endorse us!

Don't forget that we are in the Pepsi Refresh contest too!  http://www.refresheverything.com/search/?q=cherubs

For more on CHERUBS and CDH, visit http://www.voteforcdh.org/

The following charities are supporting us in the APX contest so please let's show them our support too!!!! :)
  • Eastern - CHERUBS of course. :)
  • Pacific - Handprints of Hope
  • Central - Military Moms and Wives
  • Mountain - Now I Can Foundation
  • Canada - Quest Theatre Society

http://www.facebook.com/apxalarm?ref=mf


http://www.voteforcdh.org
 
cherub Landon Kelly
 
cherub Braden Holt
 
cherub Aaron Younce
 
cherub sibling Nyah Kelly
 
CDH survivor Jessica Barry!
 
CDH survivor Sofia Carman!
 
CDH Survivor Jason Collins!
 

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Prayers & Quotes for August 11, 2010

Prayers & Quotes for August 11, 2010
If you have a prayer request for a cherub or a family member of a cherub, you can send it to prayers@cdhsupport.org.

Please keep the following in your thoughts and prayers:

Soon to arrive cherub Finley D. is going to be induced this week, 8/12! Please pray for strength for her and her family.

Newborn cherub Jonathan M., born 6/11 is the NICU and fighting severe pulmonary hypertension, please pray for strength for Jonathan and his family.

Cherub Justin S. is need of prayers. He has underwent a very tough surgery to fix his reherniation. He is now post op day 7 and struggling with getting back to feeling himself. Please keep Justin and his family in your prayers.

Newborn cherub Whitney M., arrived 7/21 and has endured her repair surgery and ECMO. She is currently working on coming off the vent and has also received her first cuddles!! She is also working on her feeds. Please keep this beautiful little girl in your thoughts and prayers.

Newborn Quinn T. was born 6/22 and is getting so close to going home. She is working on her feeds and is almost off her oxygen. Please pray for continued progress for beautiful Quinn!

Newborn cherub Josiah B. arrived 7/1. He is working on eating and continues to make great progress towards going home. Send Josiah good eating vibes!

Newborn cherub Elijah V., arrived 7/8. He has had his CDH repair and successfully came off of ECMO. Please pray for strength and continued healing for Elijah, as he is retaining fluid and his oxygen requirements keep going up.

Newborn cherub Noah A. was born 5/25 and he was released from the NICU on 8/3 and is now HOME!!! Welcome home Noah!! Keep praying this little guy continues eating well and gaining weight!

Newborn cherub Niklas E., arrived 7/7and got to go home on 8/2! Welcome HOME Niklas! Pray he continues thriving at home!

Newborn cherub Micah P. is still in the NICU. He now is on a trach and continues to get stronger. Pray for continued strength for Micah and his family.

Teenager Cherub Logan W. is set to have surgery on 9/3 for a pectus repair.

Newborn cherub James B. may finally get to leave the hospital and go to rehab! Please keep this amazing boy in your thoughts and prayers and hope he gets a bed soon in the rehab facility.

Baby cherub "boy" K. is back in the hospital, for his patch is sitting to high and causing respiratory failure.

Expecting parents to cherub baby girl Addison R., need our prayers for strength and guidance with what lies ahead.

To all our families and friends that are fighting against the flu, colds, sickness…may you feel better soon and have no complications.


Cherubs on Their Way:

Cherub Finley D., due 8/13
Cherub Heath F., due 9/3
Cherub Savannah Q., due 9/4
Cherub baby boy D., due 9/15
Cherub Airynn E., due 9/12
Cherub Aurie B., due 9/17
Cherub baby boy M., due 9/25
Cherub Addison R., due 9/25
Cherub Isaac I., due 10/14
Cherub Abel B., due 10/28
Cherub Zoe C., due 12/1
Cherub Coleman H., due 12/3

All families expecting a baby with CDH, may you have continued hope and strength for the journey that lies ahead.


Newly Grieving Families:

Newborn cherub Osmund "Oz" K., was born in the morning on 7/21 and earned his wings in the evening of 7/21. Please pray for comfort and strength for this family.

Newborn cherub Shelbi R., was born in the morning of 7/26 and earned her wings in the late evening of 7/26. Please pray for comfort and strength for this family.

To all families affected by CDH and the loss of your precious child, may you find peace and comfort and know you are never alone, for so many people care about you.


Today’s Quotes:

"We are, each of us angels with only one wing; and we can only fly by embracing one another.” ~Luciano de Crescenzo

"Hope never abandon you; you abandon it." ~George Wineberg

"Within each of us is a hidden store of energy. Energy we can release to compete in the marathon of life. Within each of us is a hidden store of courage. Courage to give us the strength to face any challenge. Within each of us is a hidden store of determination. Determination to keep us in the race when all seems lost." ~Roger Dawson

"Anything is possible. You can be told that you have a 90-percent chance or a 50-percent chance or a 1-percent chance, but you have to believe, and you have to fight.” ~Lance Armstrong

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

Vote for CHERUBS in the APX contest and Pepsi Refresh Contest! Get a FREE t-shirt!



CDH Contests

The following are CDH related events.   Visit their websites to learn more about the events and how to participate.


Cherub Braden Holtcherub sibling Nyah Kelly  cherub Landon Kelly




APX Gives Back  - $100,000 for CDH Research & Support



Facebook Contest sponsored by APX Alarms.   CHERUBS is currently battling between 1st and 2nd place in this National contest!    Money raised will be used for Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Research and Support services!


Here is how to vote:

1. Go to http://www.facebook.com/apxalarm?v=app_121215224555298&ref=mf
2. Then click LIKE.
3. Next click the "Start nom and voting"
4. Click on the blue logo for Eastern charities
5. Scroll down (load more if necessary) and find CHERUBS and endorse us!

You can vote once EVERY day! Repost in honor or in memory of your cherub!



The following charities are supporting us so please let's show them our support too!!!! :)
Eastern - CHERUBS of course. :)
Pacific - Handprints of Hope
Central - Military Moms and Wives
Mountain - Now I Can Foundation
Canada - Quest Theatre Society



cherub Jessica Barry

Pepsi Refresh Contest - $25,000 for CDH Information Kits for Hospitals

Having your unborn or newborn child diagnosed with a life-threatening birth defect is devastating.  It is even more traumatic when there is little information on the diagnosis.  Our mission is to provide every major hospital in the country with informative kits that will provide information and support at the time of diagnosis of Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia (CDH).

Cherubs are people who were born with Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia, a severe and often fatal birth defect that occurs as often as Cystic Fibrosis and Spina Bifida.  Every ten minutes a baby is born with CDH - adding up to over half a million babies since 2000.

Money won in this grant will be used to send kits to 100 hospitals - but we are hoping to stretch the budget and get discounts on printing to be able to send out 250 kits!





How will the 25K be Used?



$ 3,500 100 copies of "Stories of Cherubs" Vol. I
$ 3,000 100 copies of "Stories of Cherubs" Vol. II
$ 600 100 CDH Educational Posters
$ 4,000 2000 "Parent Reference Guide" Booklets
$ 2,500 3000 Informational CDH Brochures
$ 2,000 4000 CDH Awareness Ribbon Pins
$ 7,000 3000 CDH Newsletters
$ 300 100 thick boxes to hold the kits
$ 1,200 Shipping 100 kits

Budget Notes: All items are designed by us to defray the cost of hiring graphic designers.


You have 10 votes a day - please make sure to go visit and vote for some of the other amazing kid's charities in this contest, including:


cherub Aaron Younce


Pepsi Refresh Contest - $25,000 for Financial Support for CDH Families





The CDH Family Assistance Fund helps families with the expenses incurred traveling for medical care for very high-risk pregnancies and critically ill newborns. Often families have to travel 100's of miles to hospitals that are equipped to handle babies born with Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia (CDH) and that provide ECMO, a heart and lung bypass machine, if needed. Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia occurs when the diaphragm fails to fully form, allowing abdominal organs into the chest cavity and preventing lung growth. 50% of babies born with CDH do not survive.  The cause of CDH is not known, but it is as common as Cystic Fibrosis and Spina Bifida. Every 10 minutes a baby is born with CDH - adding up to over half a million babies since 2000.   The hospital stay for a severely affected baby can be as long as 1 year. With the medical bills and emotional stress that these families go through, we want to offer a little help with making travel easier and affordable.


How will the 25K be Used?



$ 10,000 500 $20 gas cards
$ 5,000 10 $500 airline grants
$ 5,000 250 $20 grocery store gift cards
$ 2,500 125 $20 restaurant gift cards
$ 2,500 50 $50 hotel gift cards


Budget Notes:  Most pediatric hospitals are affiliated with the Ronald McDonald House, which provides lodging for many of our families. Our request for hotel gift cards are for those traveling long distances overnight to reach a hospital or those rare times when a Ronald McDonald House does not have an empty room.

cherub Sofia Carman


Help Raise Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Awareness and Win Prizes!!!



This is a contest inside a contest! CDH Awareness Kits and T-Shirts that say "I am a CDH Hero! I helped to 1000's of babies born with Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia by raising money for CDH Research and Support!" will be awarded to the people who (1 prize each):

1. Whoever has the most "attendees" on their Vote for CHERUBS in the APX contest FB event.
2. Whoever has the most active wall on their event by getting people to vote and then post that they voted.
3. Whoever is the most creative off of Facebook to raise votes! Handing out flyers, have a "vote in" at work or school, talk to your church, etc. (take photos!)

Awards given by voting done on CHERUBS forums on August 22nd - 30th. All members can log in and vote on who should win the above 3 awards.

If CHERUBS wins the $100,000 prize, all 3 winners will ALSO win (valued at over $350!);

  • 2 tickets to the Angel Ball
  • "Stories of Cherubs Vol. I"
  • "Stories of Cherubs Vol. II"
  • CDH Baby Book
  • "Cooking with Cherubs" Vol. II
  • 4 personalized t-shirts each with their cherub's CDH Awareness ribbons on them
  • the above prizes of a CDH Awareness Kit and contest T-shirt!
What a great and fun way to raise awareness and funds for a good cause!!!!!


cherub Jason Collins



Get a FREE "Vote for CHERUBS" shirt!!!!


Vistaprint.com is a wonderful printing web site that often gives away free items! 

You just upload photos and add text to shirts, signs, cards and more!   Upload your own cherub's photo and add the words "Vote for CHERUBS" or "Vote for CDH"!  It's very, very easy!  

Make sure to send us photos of you in your shirt!  :)

You can download free graphics below by clicking on them.   You can also download all the kids graphics to the right.



CDH Awareness Ribbon

Save the Cherubs
Vote for CDH

CHERUBS



Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia




Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Contests
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