Day 17 of Childhood Cancer Awareness Month — with the Founder of Cards2Warriors, Dawn Veselka!

When you meet up with a kindred spirit, whether online, via Zoom, or in person, sparks of connection fly. That's what happened to me and Dawn Veselka, the Founder of Card2Warriors. We found that we are similar in many ways, particularly in our efforts to help others in the best way we know how.

Here is a statement from their About page:

A letter from Dawn...There is something powerful about a card showing up unexpectedly in an isolated illness warrior’s (or caregiver’s) mailbox. It is tangible proof that they are NOT alone, and when it sits on a bookshelf or hangs on their wall, it’s a powerful reminder of the dark days that someone sees them and is thinking about them.

I love that! It's what Bill and I have thought about, executed, and received positive thoughts through cards (and postcards), as well as handwritten notes, for almost three decades of challenging diagnoses. We know how cards and little gifts of "I'm thinking of you" are not only from our family, but from the greater world of friends and strangers, too. We get what Dawn and her foundation are trying to do, basically, in my language, to "manufacture sunshine" for anyone going through serious illnesses and challenges.

While talking early this morning, we both had similar quotes we like to share with others. If you have read my blog for a while (THANK YOU!). Of course, there is the thread of Manufacturing Sunshine, for yourself and others, plus Never Underestimate the Power of a Chocolate Chip Cookie, and Never Underestimate the Power of a Handwritten Note.

Before our Zoom call ended, I asked Dawn to share with me a few parting thoughts to add the this post regarding "card care." Cards2Warriors is closing in on a big number of how many cards they have sent and their future goal: This is what Dawn sent me via email:

We're on a mission to send 100,000 cards filled with messages of love and cheer to inspire hope and perseverance for those living with long-term illness, and rare disease! This month, we will send our 50,000th card, reaching the halfway point to our first big goal of 100,000 cards!

Illness warriors (especially our caregiver warriors) often say "save it for someone who really needs it". Our response is always YOU deserve to feel seen, loved and supported. Everyone's journey with illness is tough, so please sign up. We'd be delighted to drop a little snail mail love in YOUR mailbox!

Cheers to Diane and her mighty team of card writers and senders. If anyone you know needs a card for a warrior, please reach out to them at Cards2Warriors.

Let's bring isolation to a standstill. No one needs to travel rough roads alone with the likes of Dawn Veselka's foundation and leadership to #helpothers!

Terri

Below are examples of three Warrior Cards! Aren't they great?