Putting my money where my mouth is.

A few weeks ago, I went on a wee tirade about how I felt like people care more about animals than they do about their fellow man.  Especially when that fellow man (woman, or child) has a disability.

I said this then, but I’ll say it again now: having a child with developmental delays made me look at, think and feel differently about people with disabilities.  I don’t like the way they are treated and I want to do something to help, just to  help change things.  Because there are a lot of totally cool, amazing people who also happen to have disabilities.  It would be so great if we could all see the totally cool, amazing parts FIRST.

So, when my friends Paul and Jessica posted on Facebook a few weeks ago that their infant daughter Joy had been born with Down Syndrome and that they were forming a team to raise money for our local chapter of the Down Syndrome Association through their Buddy Walk, I was like, “I’m going to do that with them!”  So,  that day I joined Team Peace, Love, & Joy.  We’re walking for this cutie:

And as you may have guessed, (like her big brother Jay, pictured below) she is totally awesome and amazing!  She is exactly what & how God made her to be!

I’m walking for Joy and for persons like her with Down Syndrome in my area because the funds we raise will stay in our area to help them!  Funds are used for scholarships for therapies and services that will  improve their quality of life.  Families can get scholarships for important therapies – speech, OT, physical therapy – and other important things you might not think of like private special needs swimming lessons and iPads to work on speech therapy at home.

Emily and I decided back in May when we were at Mom 2.0 that we wanted to do more to use this blog for good!  So today, that is what I am doing.  To help us reach our team fundraising goal of $3,000, I’m asking each and every one of you to donate $5 to our efforts – become one of our $5 Friends!  Team Peace, Love, & Joy is 77% of the way there!  I hope Mommin’ It Up readers can put us over the top by being our $5 Friends!  Here’s how you can help!

1) Click here to go to my fundraising page
2) Click on “Donate to Team Peace, Love, & Joy”
3) Click “other” for the donation amount and enter whatever amount you want
4) Submit your donation & process through PayPal

All donations are of course tax-deductible.

Emily and I have between us given $65 to this cause.  So once again, we are not asking you to do anything we wouldn’t do many times over. Please join me in my passion for helping our friends and neighbors with disabilities!  Let’s make a difference!  I’ve already raised over $500 thanks to generous friends and family, and I hope to add to our team total  and  put  Team Peace, Love, & Joy over the top with your help.  It would mean so, so, so, so, so, SO MUCH to me if you would help me in this effort.  THANK YOU for reaching a hand out to improve the lives of a lot of totally awesome people in our area with Down Syndrome!