At the ages of nine and eleven, most children are children.  They do not often see beyond their own desires because they have not yet experienced the many lessons that life encompasses.  Matt  and his two friends Shae and Dariana are not like “most” children; they are like “many” children who have witnessed the suffering and pain of a mother fighting the battle of breast cancer.  Early in 2005, as Susan's battle intensified, these three children teamed up and decided to become part of her cure and her hope.  Together they designed “BOOKMARKS for Mom;”  “Courage, Faith, Recover, Achieve, Strive, Hope” for a cure.  Six words to inspire others, to open our eyes, to become aware and to never look at a rainbow the same way again.

 

What began as a small way of helping to raise money and awareness to aid in finding a cure for Inflammatory Breast Cancer, has become a $11,000.00 plus fund run by two thirteen-year-olds and a eleven-year-old determined to make a difference. 

 

Matt,  Shae  and Dariana are each mature beyond their birth years.  They are as enthusiastic and dedicated to this project as any adult, but with the willingness of children.  They make their own phone calls to area businesses to organize events, often standing outside these businesses to collect donations. 

 

Matt is outgoing, and warmhearted with an infectious personality.  Shae is smart, thoughtful and somewhat of a perfectionist. And Dariana is full of enthusiasm, outgoing and never afraid to be herself.  These individual qualities along with those of determination and unselfishness that they all three share are what bring Courage, Faith, Recover, Achieve, Strive, and Hope to so many in our community.