WISH GRANTER ITEMS RECEIVED

LIST OF PACKAGES RECEIVED NOVEMBER 11th:
 *SHANNON PHILLIPS- we received the Avengers movie for Josh; the Lorax movie for Joshua; the Vtech tablet and Rugrats movies for Rachael; the Act of Valor movie for Tyler; the Magic Tree House Books for Nate; and the LeapFrog with the Dora game for Gracie! Thank you so much!!!!!

CASEY MOORE- We received Joshua's Bike!! Thank you!

 BROOKE OR NIECY- We received a FL Gators shirt from Amazon Fans Edge with no name for Joseph! We know it was one of you, so thank you!

CHRISTY WEST- We received the Fairy and Princess barbies for Averi! Thank you!

 TONIA MATHIEU- We received the Mario DS game for Avery! Thank you!

DANA PETERS- We received the Spongebob bedding set for Payton! Thank you!

BROOKE MCCARTHY- We treceived the Doc McStuffins for Emalee! Thank you so much!*

CASEY MOORE- We received the lalaloopsy doll house for Katelyn and the helmet for Joshua! Thank you so much!

AMANDA COX- We received the Wreck it Ralph game for Josh! Thank you so much

!NICHOLE KRUGER- We received the star wars legos for Nate! Thank you so much!

CHRISTY WEST- We received the Doc McStuffins for Gracie! Thank you so much!

MARY LOU GRUBOR- We received the Hello Kitty dream house for Rachael!! Thank you so much!

ITEMS RECEIVED 11/14: 
LEAH BURNS- We received Belle for Torrence!! Thank you!! 

CASEY MOORE- We received Snow White for Torrence and the Fijit doll for Emalee! THANK YOU! 

MARY LOU HADSALL-GRUBOR- We received the Hello Kitty Pillow for Rachael!! Thank you!! 

ROXANNE HENDERSON- We received the stamp set for Rylan, unfortunately, it was the wrong gender, so we will give it to one of our girl fighters instead. :) We also received the Mario game and Avengers movie for Scott! THANK YOU! 

KRISTEN BUSH- We received the nerf football and walkie talkies for Connor! Thank you!! 

JILL MCDONNELL- We received the iPod for Joseph!! Thank you so much!! 

SHANNON PHILLIPS- We received the Justice Perfume for Victoria! Thank you!!

  JAN HALASH- We received 2 of the train sets, one for Kaleb and one for Jeffrey! Thank you so much!!

ITEMS RECEIVED 11/19:
RACHAEL SCHNIEDERS- We received the ET Movie for Scott and a Cinderella/4 pack movie that we are unsure of who it goes to. Please let us know! Thank you so much!

MICKI LADENHAUF- We received the elmo toys for Adalyn and the Guess Who game for Averi! Thank you so much!

 KARA DAVIS- We received the Spiderwick books for Nate and the Call of Duty game for Tyler! Thank you so much!!

LESKA OSBAKKEN- We received the adult PJ's for Jessica! Thank you so much!!

BECKY WETZEL- We received the Ninjago legos for Ariel's brother! Thank you so much!

RECEIVED 11/20- 
MARYLOU GRUBOR- We received Caden's Crayola Light Designer! Thank you so much!! 


RECEIVED 11/24-
HOLLY KIMBALL- We received the Barbies with horses for Ariel! Thank you so much!

HILLARY MOORE- We received the Star Wars toys for Rett and the Disney Dance Party game for Emalee! Thank you so much!

MIEKE GEIST- We received the Lalaloopsie for Elias' sister and the Ninjago Encyclopedia for Lucas! Thank you so much!

DEBBIE TEMPALSKY- We received the Hunger Games DVD for Chris' sister, the Monster High doll for Chris' sister and the Race Track for Chris' brother. Thank you so much!!

AMANDA BUESKING- We received the Wreck it Ralph game and Tornado movie for Sam and the iTunes card and 1 Direction DVD for his sister! Thank you so much!!


ITEMS RECEIVED 11/26-

ELIZABETH HOUSWORTH- We received the light up toys for Madison! Thank you so much!

RACHAEL TOTH- We received the Scrabble Junior for Rachael's sister and the Tangled movie for Avery's sister! Thank you so much!

JAN HALASH- We received the 1 Direction dolls for Christopher's sister and Scott's sister! Thank you so much!

LISA PADULA- We received a Madagascar movie, but we're not sure who it's for, so please contact us! :)


ITEMS RECEIVED 11/27

DEBBIE TEMPALSKY- We received the NHL game for Chris! Thank you so much!

JACKIE STOUT- We received the 2 games for Toby, the lamp for Payton, the Legos for Adalyn, the Marior for 3DS and American girl doll clothes for Claire, the 1 Direction CD and makeup for Victoria! Thank you so so much!!

MEAGAN CARLINE- We received the Wipe Out game for Joshua! Thank you so much!

CATHY BOLTON- We received the WWE toys for Josh! Thank you so much!


ITEMS RECEIVED 11/28:

JEN RUTLEDGE- We received the Super mario 2 for DS for Jack, the Legos for William, the Lego City Police Station for Elias, the Beverly Hills Chihuahua movie for Brycen! Thank you sooo much!!

JUANITA CELIS- We received the Princess Dresses, accessories and mic for Katelyn, the puzzles for Rachael, the baby alive items for Ariel! Thank you!

AMBER BROWNING- We received the Headbanz game for Xander, the Playdoh candy cyclone for Connor! Thank you so much!

VICKY JUSTEN- We received the Harley toys for Kirin! Thank you so much!!

CASEY MOORE- We received the Doc McStuffins for Laekin! Thank you so much!

MICHELLE/CHRIS WEST- We received the Amazing Spiderman movie for Sean! Thank you so much!

JENNIFER JONES- We received the Star Wars Kinect game for Joshua's brother, the Star Wars trilogy for Joshua's other brother, and the Thomas set for Joshua's little brother! Thank you so much!


RECEIVED 11/30:

JESSICA EDENFIELD- We received the Beyblades for Jack's brother, the Star Wars legos for Nate's brother, the dolls/books for Reef's sister, and the singing toy for Caden's sister! Thank you so much!

DEBBIE TEMPALSKY- We received the Monster High dolls for Madison and the Learning Laptop for Madison! Thank you so much!

JAN HALASH- We received the Ninjago backpack for Lucas! Thank you so much!

LAURA BURY- We received a Fancy Nancy Dog, but we aren't sure who it's for. Is it for Laekin? We have you down for the Fancy Nancy game for DS, so we thought it might go to her. Please let us know!

CASEY MOORE- We received the earrings for Sam's sister! Thank you so much!

LISA CROWDER- We received the Old Navy gift card for Scott's sister and the iTunes gift card for Michael's brother! Thank you so much!

CAROL TAYLOR- We received the Lady Vols stuff for Jessica! Thank you so much!!


RECEIVED 12/3:

STORMY IRISH- We received the play food for Christopher's sister! Thank you!

MARYLOU GRUBER- We received the American Girl crafts for Kahlea! Thank you!

BEATRIZ PEREZ-CHARO- We received the Monster High Doll for Ariel's sister! Thank you!

GAIA STRIANO BONDI- We received the LeapPad Explorer for Reef! Thank you so much!

LAURA BURY- We received the Tinkerbell movie for Laekin's sister and the Lalaloopsy for Madison's sister! Thank you so much!

LUANNE STILLINGS- We received 3 spy gear toys for Eli, the Furby for Bishop and the NBA game for Dejon! Thank you so much!

STACEY SABLESKI ZIERAK- We received the barbies for Makayla and the Beat the Parents game for Connor! Thank you so much!

BRITT CORENE- We received the DVD for Toby's sister and the blocks, rabbit and books for his brother! Thank you so much!


RECEIVED 12/4:

JENNIFER WARREN- We received the Tinkerbell movie for Bethanie and the Twilight movies for her sister, and the Hunger Games for Sean's sister! Thank you!

TAMI CANSLER- We received the UT stuff for Jim! Thank you!

CASEY MOORE- We received the LeapPad game for Brycen, the Toy story movies for Sean, the Robot for Patrick, the 1 Direction doll for Madison,

LAURA BURY- We received Fancy Nancy for DS for Laekin, Toy Story for Xbox for Brody and the Innotab game for his sister! Thank you!!

STORMY IRISH- We received the WWE toys for Christopher! Thank you!!

MICHELLE LOWE- We received the Dream Lites Pillow for Nolan's brother and the Hex bugs for Nolan! Thank you!

BRITT CORENE- We received Fox & the Hound for Adalyn's brother and the Avengers movie for Xander's brother. Thank you!!

LEANNA FARMER KELPINE- We received Madden 13 for Dejon! Thank you!

JEN TOTH RUTLEDGE- We received the iPod touch for Vinny! Thank you!!

LUANNE STILLINGS- We received Disney Dance Party for Ivee! Thank you!!


***

ITEMS WITH NO NAMES:
We are receiving items without the senders name or the name of the child who wished for it. PLEASE be sure you put some type of identifier on these to help us out! We have a LOT of wishes for the same type of items, so please be sure to send ethier your name or the child's name.

*None at this time.

The Story Behind Our Organization

 

Amanda tells the story of how it all began......

 

Spring 2008 was just like any other season in my life, nothing to write home about. That was until I met 4 year old Joshua Edmondson. With a hat on you would never be able to tell that he is sick; he's spunky and loud and outgoing. He's definitely good for a lot of laughs! Remove that hat and you notice that he has an amazingly smooth, bald and beautiful head. When Joshua was two years old he was diagnosed with a severe autoimmune disease that attacks his hair follicles along with other parts of his body. Not long after that diagnosis, his family was hit even harder with a worse diagnosis- a rare bone marrow disease that effects one in one million children. There is no research or cure for this disease. Joshua travels across the US in hopes of find better ways to manage his pain that the disease causes. As he continues to grow, his doctors continue to diagnose. Last year his doctors added Crohn's Disease and Blau Syndrome to his ever changing list of set backs. You would think that through the endless tests, surgeries, chemo infusions and steroid pulses that it would be impossible for Joshua to find that gorgeous smile and contagious laugh of his...but I've found the exact opposite to be true. Joshua laughs and he plays and he grows and he just wants to be like every other little boy. The reality is that Joshua will never have the chance to live a 'normal' life. From his courage, inspiration and grace was born the Battle for a Cure Foundation.

 

You see, every time that Joshua is in the hospital he ends up on the oncology floor because his body cannot tolerate the germs that the other children bring in. It was on that floor at Dell Children's Hospital in Austin, Texas that my life changed forever. Joshua is not the only bald little boy with tubes and machines...the reality is that there are TOO many children spending their childhoods on that hospital floor. The more research I did about childhood cancer the sicker I became. "How", I thought, "can the world not be doing MORE about this?!?" Looking at Joshua, looking at the little fighters, I decided I had found my purpose in life. The purpose of the Battle for a Cure Foundation is to send HOPE through gifts and love, and to find a CURE for childhood cancer.

 Little DannyRan Matthews received one of our first Hope Baskets (later changed to boxes).

The Battle for a Cure Foundation sends HOPE through Hope Boxes to children fighting cancer and their siblings. A Hope Box contains toys and gifts to help lift the spirits of the kids and families. This year (2011) we sent about 200 Hope Boxes through our Christmas Hope Program to children fighting cancer all over the U.S. as well as countless Hope Boxes through our Kimberly's Hope Program.

In 2012, our new campaign called the CURE Movement will make it's way across the US as a means to fund clinical trials in hopes of finding a CURE for these amazing little kids. As our organization grows, it's very humbling for me to stand back and witness the blessings that are being poured out over all of our families and little fighters. You will never know true inspiration until you have spent time with a child and a family that is fighting childhood cancer; you appreciate every single breath, every single step, every single miracle, every single laugh and smile...you embrace and appreciate all things in life, big and small.

Little Danny and Amanda celebrating his end of treatment by releasing balloons.

When asked by a friend to give an original quote for her to use in a presentation for her college class, this is what I sent in. I want to inspire the younger generation to be world changers! You can do ANYTHING you set your mind and heart to do!

 

"Each of us has a responsibility given by God to love, care for and help our fellow man. Each of us holds within us the strength, power and intelligence to make a difference in this world. You cannot wait for others to do what you have been called to do. There’s no one else like you; the world is waiting for the original. Step out each day, speak up for what is right and leave your mark on this world; a stamp of love, compassion and joy."

 

 

Through love and courage,

Amanda Harbin-Bartlett

Founder/President

Battle for a Cure Foundation

www.battle4acure.org

 

2011 CureSearch Walk Battle4aCure Teams!!

As most of you know, Battle4aCure was born and raised in Austin, Texas. However, our love and efforts extend all over the WORLD.

Every year in the US, CureSearch holds walks to raise money for Childhood Cancer Research! And Every Year that it has been in Austin, TX, Battle4aCure has participated in this event! 2011 will mark our 3rd Year...and we're hoping to make it our BEST year!

This year we had a friend of ours, Ashley, asked if she could have a Battle4aCure team in the Denver, CO area...we said OF COURSE!

Below you will find a list of ALL of the Battle4aCure Teams participating across the US this Year! Be sure to check back often for New Battle4aCure Teams!

AUSTIN, TX
9/24/11
The Austin, TX Team Page
Team Captain- Amanda Harbin-Bartlett
amanda@battle4acure.org


DENVER, CO
8/20/11
The Denver, CO Team Page
Team Captain- Ashley Green
ashleygreen86@gmail.com


OKLAHOMA CITY, OK
9/17/11
The Oklahoma City, OK Team Page
Team Captain- Sheila Wilson
sw8706@gmail.com


If you would like to start a Battle4aCure Team in Your Area please contact amanda@battle4acure.org! Wondering if there's a walk in your area? Click here - List Of CureSerach Walks - to find out!

Mark Your Calendars!

Check it out! Battle4aCure t-shirts 2011! We can't wait to see you wearing them and helping us raise awareness! The link to purchse is on our website.

Later this week we'll be announcing the date of our spring Garage sale to help us raise money to continue shipping gifts to kids all over the US fighting cancer. Thank you in advance for helping us make this a success! Stay tuned to our Facebook page for announcements!

Battle4aCure on K-LOVE

Battle4aCure was honored to be featured on K-Love's Make a Difference Monday about our Christmas Hope Boxes and Kimberly's Hope Program. Have a listen!

Why is it called "Kimberly's Hope"

Since we have expanded our Kimberly's Hope program beyond Christmas, we have had quite a few volunteers contact us wanting to know "Who in the world is Kimberly?"

I'm very excited to share this with you:

Kimberly Shaw was a sister, a daughter, a mother, a friend and a cancer fighter. She was an incredible person!

At just 25 years old she touched so many lives! Everywhere she went she shared the love of God and she told everyone she met that she refused to give up hope because she knew with all of her heart that God was going to give her a miracle.

She believed in our program and she was one of our biggest supporters. Her HOPE was to give love and smiles to all of the children fighting cancer. She wanted to extend the love that people had shown to her during her fight with cancer to the littlest fighters of all. She cared deeply for all of the children that she met through us.

To say that Kimberly will be missed is an understatement. We think about her every minute of every day; she's in every song, every butterfly, every whisper of wind on a sunny day.

She will never be forgotten and we know that she is in heaven, surrounded by tons of children, smiling down on all of us and the love that has been given in her name!

I know that she has been on the welcoming committee of all of the children that have earned their angel wings since her passing. She was an outstanding mother to her 1 year old son Barrett, and we know without a doubt that she carried that love and compassion for children on to the next life.

Kimberly earned her angel wings on August 27, 2010. She lives FOREVER in our hearts.

Please continue to keep Kimberly's son, Barrett, in your thoughts and prayers.

Upcoming and Current Events

Right now our Kimberly's Hope Valentine's Day program is in full swing! You can 'adopt' a little fighter for Valentine's Day and send them a card and a small gift (teddy bear, book, etc.).

You can also sign your little fighter up for our Kimberly's Hope program so they can be adopted throughout the year! Contact Mariesha with your child's name, age, address and sibling information to sign up.

Please contact Mariesha at fightcancer@battle4acure.org to 'adopt' a fighter or to sign up your little fighter!

Our Sewing for a Cure project is also in full swing! We are taking donations of cotton fabric to be sewn into handmade quilts to auction off on our facebook page. Our goal is to raise the remaining money we need to file our 501(c)(3) paperwork. Each adult quilt will start at $100 and each child's quilt will start at $50. We hope to have the first group of ten up for auction before Valentine's Day. This deadline depends on how many fabric donations we receive over the next week. If you would like to donate fabric or have questions about this project please email Mariesha at mars@battle4acure.org

AUSTIN, TEXAS: We are also in the beginning stages of planning our Spring Yard Sale! Our Winter Yard Sale raised over $700 for toys and shipping! We are hoping our Spring Yard Sale will bring in even more funds for our shipping costs and toy costs!

To Donate items for the Yard Sale please contact Amanda at amanda@battle4acure.org or Sarah at sarah@battle4acure.org. We are accepting any and all items!

Date is TBD. We'll post as soon as we have something set!