GReads!: Spreading Kindness: Books For A Cause

Today on the blog I am spreading kindness by bringing awareness to a cause that is dear to my heart, founded by my friend Heather from The Turning Pages: Books For A Cause. Below is her heartfelt story about why she started this cause, and how such a difficult time in her life has propelled her to move forward and spread goodness, no matter the obstacles.

Cancer is no stranger to my own life. I've lost quite a few family members and friends because of it. It's a disease that needs to be cured. I will never stop advocating for causes that builds awareness and funds for research so that we may say goodbye to this awful disease and stop saying goodbye to our loved ones. Please join me in helping Heather to reach her goal.

First off, I’d like to thank Ginger for allowing me the opportunity to share my project, #BooksForACause, with you, her readers. This is a project that is very near and dear to me & a labor of love so to speak. I started #BooksForACause last year in June 2014 - a month after my aunt lost her battle with cancer. This project is to help raise funds for the Stand Up To Cancer Foundation.
Here is my story. . .

The Reason

May 7th, 2014, just one day after her 50th birthday, my aunt passed away after a long battle with cancer. For me, this was my first experience losing a close family member. It hit me hard too, like it would for everyone else, but for me…I lost some of the sunshine in my life.

As I type this, I can’t help but remember her laugh, smile, and overall passion for life. My aunt was one of the happiest people I knew and found a reason to smile regardless of the situation. She loved music and being on the lake and sunsets. Especially sunsets. In fact, right before she passed, she asked to see the sunset and as soon as the sun dipped below the water, she passed.

My aunt was an educator and one of the contributing factors to why I spent 5 years chasing a degree in elementary education. Three days after she died, I graduated from college with that degree and I did it with her smiling down on me. It was a bittersweet moment and one that I will never forget. I hadn’t planned on decorating my graduation cap, but it was my way of having her there with me as I walked across that stage. After all, she’s been there for me through all the other major events in my life; my high school graduation and my wedding.

To me, she was even there for my college graduation. She just had a better vantage point than everyone else there cheering me on.

A month after she passed, I started #BooksForACause.

I realized I could use my blog, my voice, and my passion for reading to help make a difference.
With the help of fellow bloggers and the book loving community, I kicked off the #BooksForACause auction.

So many authors, publishers, and fellow bloggers donated items to the auction & I was blown away by the outpour! Between last June and December, Over $1,000 was raised for the Stand Up To Cancer Foundation! (That’s AMAZING!)

My overall goal is to raise $2,000. And after taking a brief break during the holiday season, I have decided to re-launch the #BooksForACause auction. There are new auction items coming in and I am adding them to the auction page as soon as I get them. There are some great items too!

But this is where I need help.

I need you to help me spread the word. Whether you’re on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Tumblr...no matter the social media site, I need help spreading the word!

I’d love to be able to reach my $2,000 goal by May 7th, 2015 - the one year anniversary of my aunts passing.

If you don’t want to participate in the auction but would like to donate, you can do just that!

Where can you donate?

You can find the SU2C fundraising site HERE & You can access the auction HERE.

Please consider helping me reach my goal. I appreciate everyone who is willing to help any way that they can.

I am also accepting donations for auction items. If you have an item you’d like to donate or you’d like to contact me for any reason, please feel free to email me at hsheffield2011 AT gmail DOT com.
Be sure to use the hashtag #BooksForACause when spreading the word!

Thank you ALL so much for standing up to cancer along side me.

xoxo
Heather
The Turning Pages