YES, FREE!

Ok, so here’s the scoop…

…You’ve probably seen our blog posts, tweets, or myspace posts (if not, keep reading), right? Well, here’s the latest on “one part Faith, Two Parts Sugar:  

As you know we’ve started a team and are recruiting people to join.  It’s free to join (although we welcome donations) and anyone who signs up on our team will receive a FREE CUPCAKE and limited edition “one part Faith, Two Parts Sugar” t-shirt (with any donation)!  So, all you have to do is join, make a donation, then show up the day of the race to collect your goodies!  Again, donations are not only welcome, but encouraged. We are also getting our local Macy’s involved, which we hope will help.  There are a few other avenues we are approaching as far as incentives for joining our team. If you are new to this blog post, here’s a little bit about why we are getting involved with the Arthritis Foundation…

…I just recently learned a little bit about Juvenile arthritis. In learning about this disease, unfortunately there was a face to go along with it.  There is a little girl I met who was diagnosed at a very young age with Juvenile arthritis.  Her name is Faith, appropriately.

In honor of Faith, Two Parts Sugar is on a quest to raise money for children just like her.  We have started a team and are trying to recruit members to walk with us on May 17, 2009. You can join our team and find out more here.   Here’s a little more informatiton about the event and our little hero Faith…

For those of you who may be unfamiliar with this disease, as I was, it is basically this:  Juvenile arthritis (JA) refers to any form of arthritis or an arthritis-related condition that develops in children or teenagers who are less than 18 years of age. Common Symptoms of Juvenile Arthritis include pain, swelling, tenderness and stiffness of joints, causing limited range of motion.  It can also cause joint contracture, which results from holding a painful joint in a flexed position for an extended period. More so,it can cause damage to joint cartilage and bone leading to joint deformity and impaired use of the joint. As well as altered growth of bone and joints leading to short stature.

So, Faith.  She just turned 9 and has been suffering from Juvenile arthritis for years now.  She can’t participate in many sports because her movements are limited due to severe pain caused by this disease.  She loves to swim and ride horses, which is easier on her joints.  Faith is currently undergoing a new treatment which is very expensive and includes an at home shot every weekend that is administered by her parents.  While this treatment does have some side affects, the good outweigh the not so good.  Her father told me that this shot now gives her the ability to crawl. Yes, crawl. She is perfectly able to walk and move about somewhat like you and I, but crawl, not recently.  She has a one year old little brother who she has not been able to crawl around with.  After getting the first dose of this treatment, she got down on her hands and knees and looked up at her father and said…

…Look daddy, now I can crawl with Aaron.

Ok, I have two children of my own, so I’m a bit emotional when it comes to this stuff.  Hearing his story brought me to tears.  I decided I had to help.

After discussing it with the Two Parts Sugar crew, we decided to take the first step.  We contacted our local chapter of the Arthritis Foundation to see what we could do to help.   We are hoping to use our cupcakes to raise money for the foundation and for our dear little Faith. Please wish us luck in our quest to do so.