“We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.”
(Winston Churchill)
In the book I co-wrote with my daughter Kaileen, The Belief Road Map, I define financial fitness as:
… being able to financially provide for yourself and others. It includes living within your means, in alignment with your priorities, and in a way that does not put financial strain on savings. It is being informed and educated about finances, as well as giving to charity and causes – when possible and when it resonates with your heart.
Today is Tax Day, which symbolizes financial fitness as citizens all across the United States settle their financial responsibilities with the government. Last year we took this opportunity to start a new tradition at Happy Living! Every year on Tax Day, we will feature a charitable organization and ask the members of our cherished online community to come together in support of it, giving what they can, when they can.
After careful thought and consideration, our first featured charity was DonorsChoose.org. This year we have chosen Kids4Cure.
About Kids4Cure
Paul and Christian Carey, the founders of Kids4Cure, are two brothers on a mission to find a cure for ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis) in honor of their mother, Lorri (Knox) Carey. Lorri was diagnosed with the disease in 2004, at only 38 years old. She is, as she puts it, “one of the lucky unlucky ones” as the disease is progressing relatively slowly in her case, and she has far exceeded the 2-5 year life expectancy. In the end, though, ALS will take everything from her – her ability to eat, walk, talk, and even breathe. Like her sons, Lorri is dedicated to raising awareness and funds for ALS – that’s why, in 2014, she accepted the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge. You can watch, LIKE & SHARE her inspiring message here.
ALS, more commonly known as “Lou Gehrig’s Disease,” is a fatal illness without a known cause or cure. It kills an estimated fifteen Americans every day[1]. Since Lou Gehrig’s own death, over 74 years ago, more than 405,000 people have died from this horrible disease.
ALS is a fatal, neurodegenerative disease that attacks nerve cells and pathways in the brain and spinal cord. When these cells die, voluntary muscle control and movement dies with them. Patients in the later stages of the disease are totally paralyzed, yet in most cases, their minds remain sharp and alert.
After Paul and Christian’s mom was diagnosed with ALS in May of 2004, they established Kids4Cure as their platform to raise awareness of this deadly disease, and money for both research and patient services to support sufferers, their careers and families. So far, they have raised more than $750,000, but the boys say, “We will not stop until a cure is found.”
It is time to find that cure.
Help Raise Money
You can help Paul and Christian on their mission to find a cure for ALS in two ways.
- Give what you can when you can by donating directly… http://kids4cure.com/donate/
- Join the Free Membership at Happy Living to receive blog posts delivered to your inbox, along with updates about our books, speaking engagements, and more! And get your family and friends to join too because for every new membership from April 15 through April 30, 2016, Happy Living will donate $2 to Kids4Cure. By spreading this news you’ll help us raise lots of money for further research into a cure.
Help Raise Awareness Too
If you are inspired to take on any kind of challenge for Kids4Cure that would be awesome, but the good news is that there are no ice buckets required for you to help raise awareness of ALS! By simply spreading the news far and wide that Happy Living will donate $2 to Kids4Cure for every new Free Membership from April 15 through April 30, 2016, you’ll be joining the mission to find a cure. Together we can raise awareness, and money to find a cure for ALS. Together we can show our support for those brave people like Lorri and her family who live every day in the shadow of this horrific disease.
[1] http://www.alscounts.com/deaths.html
Image via Tim Mossholder | This post may contain affiliate links, which means if you click and then purchase we will receive a small commission (at no additional cost to you). Thank you for reading & supporting Happy Living!