Maritza’s Personal Appeal
Dear Friends and Family,
I was 14 years old when my one-year-old cousin, Sophia, died of Sudden Unexplained Death in Childhood. Sophia and her older sister, Isabelle, are part of my close-knit family. The use of the word “unexplained” makes dealing with the death of a daughter, sister, and cousin even more challenging. I was overwhelmed when Sophia’s older sister, Isabelle, posed questions no one could answer. One of the first nights after Sophia died, I overheard Isabelle cry out from her room “Sophia where did you go?”
TCR was a powerful healing presence in the lives of my aunt, uncle, and cousin. I have seen firsthand the power to overcome with help from others. In particular, TCR was a place that provided comfort and understanding for my family during a tragic time. Isabelle found solace with other children who could truly understand what it meant to lose a sibling. She could talk about her little sister and be heard, supported and accepted. One of TCR’s greatest challenges is helping ALL families in need, regardless of their ability to contribute financially to the program.
On April 18th, I will be running the Boston Marathon in memory of my cousin Sophia and in support of The Children’s Room. I believe in the importance of support for grieving families and I have seen firsthand the power to overcome with help from others. Having run a half marathon last year, I know how wonderful it feels to dedicate yourself mentally, physically, and emotionally to a goal that results in achieving something important.
| Please support me in achieving my goal of raising $7,500, enough to support four children in the program for one year. To donate securely online to help me reach my goal, please include my name in the comments box. |  |
Alternatively, a check may be made out to The Children’s Room and sent to: The Children’s Room, 1210 Massachusetts Avenue, Arlington, MA 02476. Please note on the check that your donation is in support of my fundraising efforts.
With gratitude for your support,
Maritza
To understand more about my family’s story and their path to healing, go to http://www.isabellesdream.org.