Archive for December, 2009

It was Halloween night and a group of junior high girls were trick-or-treating in Woodinville. Their route took them on 75th Ave SE, a road without street lights and sidewalks.

Though the group was brightly dressed and carrying glow sticks, the driver of a car coming down the road didn’t see them until it was too late.

While the majority of the group was able to get out of the way in time, two of the girls, Melissa Robles and Hailey Vileta, were not so lucky. Both ended up in the hospital with serious injuries and little recollection of the accident.

Melissa broke her leg in two places, sustained fractures in her skull and bruised her liver. Hailey was left with a broken leg, lacerated liver, skull fractures and damage to her eye.

Both girls spent a week in the hospital before being sent home in wheelchairs.

Hailey is currently walking around on crutches and Melissa will soon follow. Full recovery is expected to take another year to year and a half.

The driver who hit them was not cited and alcohol did not play a role.

“It was an accident, plain and simple,” explains Jeff Vileta, Hailey’s dad. “And it could have happened to anyone. We’re just grateful that the girls are going to be OK.”

Both Melissa and Hailey are ninth graders at Leota Junior High, who normally enjoy soccer, tennis, ice skating and other athletic pursuits.

“It’s a bummer because I can’t do sports and I’m going to miss the snow season,” says Hailey. “But, that really doesn’t matter because we’re just lucky to be alive.”

Rather than focus on their injuries and harp on the negatives, the two teens, with help from their parents, have begun a safety campaign called “Stay Alert … Stay Safe.”

The campaign promotes the need for both pedestrian and driver awareness. “We’ve made bracelets and a green traffic sign with our slogan,” says Melissa. “And we’re teaching safety tips to pedestrians.”

Hailey adds, “We realize that there was a lesson to be learned in all of this and we wanted to let others know what happened to us so that it wouldn’t happen to them. It’s so important to be aware of your surroundings and to take steps to make sure you can be seen by drivers at night. And drivers need to be extra careful in unlit areas that don’t have any real sidewalks. People may be walking right next to the road because there is nowhere else to walk.”

The girls hope that the campaign and related events, such as the recent silent auction and dinner organized on their behalf, will raise money to help defray the cost of their medical bills.

While insurance will cover some of the medical payments, the families will struggle with deductibles, co-pays, ongoing therapy, lost work time and unrecoverable expenses while they care for their girls.

“There’s a $25,000 gap in the insurance in what it will cost for Hailey’s rehab,” comments Jeff. “We’re very appreciative of the community and the support they have shown for us during this time of great financial need.”

The girls also hope that maybe they will be able to raise enough money to sponsor a streetlight and/or signs along the road where they were hit.

They recently brought the campaign to their school where an assembly was held to call attention to the need for kids to practice pedestrian safety when out walking on their own.

“It’s all about raising awareness of our choices, both as pedestrians and drivers,” adds Jeff. “We all need to take responsibility for our safety and realize that the choices we make can and will affect others.”

For more information about “Stay Alert…Stay Safe” or to make a contribution, visit www.stayalertstaysafe.com.

Anyone can always donate to DebRA – as their website states: 89.2 cents of every dollar goes towards supporting EB families as well as research for a cure.  DebRA is a great organization – for example, when an EB baby is born, they send out a care package to the family full of wound-care products to try out and other EB necessities that families just don’t know about as they are bringing their new baby home.

The bracelets are only $1.00 a piece and they are a great way to spread awareness.  You could buy a couple dozen and take them to your church, synagogue or workplace and sell them and in turn donate the money back to dEBra.  It’s win-win — raising awareness and raising funds.

Source

Up for Auction are TWO ‘Angels for a Cause’ bracelets which David wore during his “Christmas From The Heart Tour!”

David signed and dated each bracelet after his concerts in Salt Lake City on November 24th and 25th, 2009.

The two highest bidders will each win a bracelet. The highest bidder may choose which of the two dated bracelets he or she wishes to receive.

The second highest bidder will win the other bracelet.

Please click here to place your bid.

This auction will close at 8pm EST on December 12th, 2009.

THE WINNING BIDDERS MUST MAKE THEIR DONATION DIRECTLY TO RISING STAR OUTREACH IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE AUCTION CLOSES.

Awareness Bracelet Craze

Ever since Lance Armstrong started the silicone wristband craze with the release of his yellow LIVESTRONG wristbands, millions of people worldwide have discovered a new and effective method of supporting their favorite causes. Today, there is almost every color imaginable to be found on these ubiquitous silicone bracelets each one performing their part in raising awareness for a multitude of diseases and causes. What does the future hold for this latest fad to take our society (and a plethora of others worldwide) by storm?

Fashionable Fad

Although silicone wristbands have become incredibly popular, it is exceptionally difficult to argue that they are the height of fashion. Even with the cachet factor, it is essential to remember that they are made of rubber. Very few consumers are choosing to wear their awareness bracelets to the ball or senior prom. However, this does not translate into these wristbands as being unfashionable either. Indeed, silicone wristbands have become a fashionable fad.

A fad, by definition, is a short-lived fashion something that is embraced very enthusiastically for a short time, especially by many people. Undoubtedly, many people have enthusiastically embraced silicone bracelets. But, just how short lived is this awareness bracelet craze?

From Fad to Mainstay

Simple market analysis reveals to us a dichotomy in the silicone wristband industry. Retail sales are beginning to lag, yet manufacturers are producing silicone bracelets in record quantities, with no end in sight. How is this possible? Simple. The fad is fading but a new, effective, and inexpensive mainstay has taken its place the custom silicone wristband. Silicone bracelets have already proven themselves effective for fundraising. Now, their fully customized cousins are proving even more effective at targeting a variety of smaller causes, and they are making a dramatic push into corporate promotions and trade shows. Custom silicone wristbands are being adopted by small non-profit organizations, large corporations, and everything in between as a powerful tool for spreading their message, promoting their brand, and announcing new products or even entirely new businesses. Is the key chain a fad? Is the coffee mug, pen, calendar, mouse pad, or T-shirt a fad? No, these items are here to stay. Custom silicone wristbands are here to stay as well. Customized bracelets are more than just a simple promotional or fundraising item. They are walking billboards. Human nature dictates that we share anything that we have received free with practically everyone we meet. If we have purchased a custom silicone wristband to support our local sports team, church youth group, or favorite small charity, human nature often dictates that we share this good deed as well.

The Bottom Line

The bottom line is that custom silicone wristbands can and will be used by all types of organizations large and small. They are an inexpensive and incredibly effective marketing tool that puts an exciting twist on word of mouth advertising and viral marketing. Organizations are beginning to realize that an investment of mere pennies per wristband has the potential to reach dozens of prospective customers with each fully customized bracelet introduced into their target market. In addition, local schools, churches, and small non-profit organizations recognize the benefits of bolstering school spirit or spreading their message while raising funds at the same time. So, if you are looking for the silicone bracelet fad to fade any time soon, look again. Custom silicone wristbands are not only here to stay, you can expect to see even more of them as everyone from small local churches to huge corporate conglomerates jump on board. With the possible combination of colors, messages, designs, and even sizes being infinite, creative minds everywhere will be looking to harness the power of the custom silicone wristband.

Written by:  Kathleen Brand

The Bracelet is a simple yet elegant symbol of the fight against HIV/AIDS.

The Bracelet, our signature cuff-style bracelet designed by Isabella Geddes da Filicaia and manufactured in Italy, is a 1/4-inch band with a raised AIDS ribbon on the side. Inside is a small plaque inscribed with “Until There’s A Cure®.” The cuff bracelet, a beautiful symbol of awareness and remembrance, comes in several metals and in three sizes.

Today we also offer several other styles of bracelets, including our new ID bracelet with cord, our African art bracelet, and our jelly bracelets, which are available in many bright colors.

A symbol which serves as a bridge uniting people to fight HIV/AIDS, The Bracelet increases awareness, compassion, understanding, and responsibility.

You can buy The Bracelet:

• At http://www.until.org/order.shtml
• By sending a check or money order for the total cost of themerchandise, tax, and shipping to:
  

  Until There’s A Cure Foundation
  560 Mountain Home Road
  Redwood City, CA 94062-2515