Two great conversations with two great women painted the perfect picture of the abrupt pivot needed to pull off a huge fundraiser that has raised thousands. Darlene Olsen and Leisa Grimes happily shared the details of past, present and future Creative Tables fundraising.
Oct. 15 would have been the 13th live event held at Arcola鈥檚 Prairie Place where hundreds of women could gather to celebrate, commemorate and raise funds for women who have suffered the effects of fighting cancer.
Olsen explained her history of over 25 years of involvement with the Look Good Feel Better program offered by the Canadian Cancer Society that has been operational for 28 years. Interestingly, she has been a part of Mary Kay Cosmetics for almost 42 years and around 30 years ago, someone in that organization was diagnosed with cancer which was the catalyst for Mary Kay becoming involved.
Today, this company gives support in both money and tonnes of product to women suffering physically, emotionally and spiritually. Mary Kay Ashe believed in women so devoted herself to supporting women going through distress, abuse and/or illness in creating the Mary Kay Ash Charitable Foundation.
Olsen explained funds from every one of her fundraisers goes to the foundation where she specifies that 100 per cent of proceeds are to be given to the Look Good Feel Better program. Not only does the foundation administer all the proceeds for Olsen, they provide tax receipts for any donation over $20 and will support her efforts in many other amazing ways.
Although neither Olsen nor Grimes have personally experienced the effects of cancer, they both have been greatly affected through the suffering and loss of friends and family.
鈥淚 have been able to participate in the Look Good Feel Better program in Regina where women battling cancer are transformed but the emotional transformation is what blows me away,鈥� Grimes said. 鈥淚f I can make a woman feel better, every minute is worth it.鈥澛�
With physical appearance being so much of a person鈥檚 identity, having to shave your head can bring true emotional trauma along with all the other physical pain. 鈥淭hese ladies (fighting cancer) don鈥檛 get a choice in it, I get to make that choice in an effort to help raise money and awareness.鈥�
Olsen put out a challenge to herself and nine others to try to raise $1,000 and to shave their heads on Oct. 15. The participants can raise more or less, but shaving their heads is truly a sign of support and solidarity for the cause while raising funds to add practical help. If you are one of the hundreds of women who have let your hair down at a Creative Tables event and just cannot imagine not supporting this event, please reach out to one of the participants for instructions on how you can support them this year.
鈥淧eople looked forward to this evening. They loved the atmosphere and it was never the exact same every year, we always did something different,鈥� Olsen said. 鈥淐reative Tables will not go back to the same way it was. I know that in eight months (when we would be doing most of our planning) things will not have changed enough that we can do the same thing, next year will be different too.鈥�
鈥淲e must have a theme, a goal, a purpose in our lives. If you don鈥檛 know where you鈥檙e aiming, you don鈥檛 have a goal.鈥� Mary Kay Ash.
Please join Darlene Olson, Nicole Currie, Leisa Grimes, Auldene Craig, Patti Baumgartner, Deb Wallace, Ty Currie, Mike Parker, Amber Evans and Joel Mryglod reach their goal.
For more information you can contact: [email protected].
