As Dance Marathon draws one week closer, here is a story about Vana, another one of the amazing beneficiaries of the B+ Foundation. Please keep her journey as well as those of all of the children and their families who will benefit from your fundraising and participation in mind as motivation and a reminder of the importance of your fundraising and participation in Dance Marathon.
Vana is a sweet 5-year-old girl with a passion for music, dancing (she is currently taking both tap and ballet), writing, and drawing. She also loves all things girly including makeup, fashion, and doing her nails. Her favorite song, much to her mom’s dismay, is “I’m Sexy and I Know it,” and some of her favorite dance moves are spinning and twirling.
After being diagnosed two days after her 5th birthday on April 19, 2011 with ALL (a type of leukemia), Vana is now in the last phase of her treatment and the longest: maintenance. She perseveres through all of the ups and downs of her difficult treatments with a positive attitude. B+ is an organization that has given both Vana and her family an opportunity to be with other families that have been through or are going through similar experiences as well as a support system and source of comfort.
The students participating in Dance Marathon have made both Vana and her 8 year-old sister Alara feel so special. Vana’s family would like to thank the participants for not only the financial aid, emotional support, and cancer research that will stem from DM’s contributions to the B+ Foundation, but also for the vision that the participants’ inspiring example gives their two daughters. Vana’s mother would like to send the dancers this message: “We are eternally grateful for the Dance Marathoners' time, creativity, passion and selflessness not only for us but for families facing a diagnosis in the future. The B+ Foundation will be able to reach more families through this endeavor.”
Thank you for all the work that you are putting in to fundraise for both these families and the B+ Foundation, and for the 30 hours of time that you are dedicating on their behalf. It is appreciated and will have impacts way beyond our scope of understanding. Stay Positive! ☺
