Journaling the Sock Monkeys for the Cure Saga

When I decided to participate in the Michigan Breast Cancer 3 Day Walk again, I knew I was probably going to have a challenge in terms of fundraising. I walked first in '02, then '04, and raised the money (but was unable to walk) in '06. Donations totaled over $13,000. I raised that money primarily by contacting friends, family, and "the network" of folks with whom I work. The prospect of contacting them again didn't set well with me.

So how can I raise the money if I'm not asking folks for donations? There are options:

• Self-fund the $2,200 required to participate. (Okay. Move to #2.)
• Ask folks to donate, in spite of my discomfort. (Nope. I like being comfortable.)
• Create a blog where folks can click to my 3Day donation page by clicking http://08.the3day.org/goto/wendyshepherd-appelle. (Crafty, but will it work?)
• Hmmmm. Crafty sounds good! Why not make things to make money... and sell these things to fund the walk?

NOW we're cookin'!

One of the "products" will be pillow slips for the small camp pillows that folks use in the tents on the walk. In 2004, my team made fleece pillows, stuffed with fiberfill. Very popular, sold lots... and spend a LOT of time on sewing and shipping. Pillow slips are quick, easy, pretty, and a definite way to go.

The other goodies will be primarily primates... of the sock variety. Sock Monkeys for the Cure is a series of lovely sock monkeys who are dressed in pink outfits, machine and hand stitched, and NOT for children to play with! I am naming them for the people for whom I walk, including:

• Fran, my mom - who died at the age of 55 of breast cancer
  
• Pearl, my grand-aunt, Dad's aunt - a 30+ year breast cancer survivor, who died at the age of 89 from another cancer (NOTE: SOLD ON EBAY 1/20/08)
• Ruthe, my aunt, Mom's sister - who died in her 60s of ovarian cancer (NOTE: SOLD ON EBAY 2/23/08)
  
• Lawrie, my uncle, Mom's brother - who is a 30+ year breast cancer survivor!
• Lillian, my grand-aunt, Mom's aunt - who had a double mastectomy in the early 1960s and lived many more years, as a survivor (NOTE: SOLD ON EBAY 1/31/08)
  
• Nilda and Denise, two of my friends who died of BC in their early 30s, each leaving a husband and two children behind
• Lynda, my best friend's friend who is a survivor, who is a dynamo, and who has always supported my walks! (NOTE: SOLD ON EBAY 2/13/08)
  
• Rose, another friend who is a survivor and whom I met during the training for the 2006 walk
  
• Lorraine, a dear friend's mom, who was diagnosed in 2007 and is in treatment (NOTE: SOLD ON EBAY 3/4/08)
  
• Dawn, another sweet friend of the same best friend, who has had too many battles with too many cancers (NOTE: SOLD on ebay in less than 12 Hours!!!!)
  

So, there you go. It's a start. I'm waiting and hoping that someone buys Pearl in the next 2-1/2 days! Two friends have already ordered their own sock monkeys, based on her picture!

I'll update this blog with stories about the sock monkeys, and maybe some links for you to view. Every day I find something new and interesting about sock monkeys and the folks who create and collect them. I like this sock monkey world. Hey - with Carol Duvall in it, what could be wrong? In fact, if you are looking to see how to make your sock monkey, click here for a description from her show on HGTV!