My Nonprofit Reviews
Kathy_S
Review for Brain Aneurysm Foundation Incorporated, Hanover, MA, USA
Kristen's Legacy of Love embodies the meaning of selfless giving and compassionate love. Kristen Shafer Englert passed away on November 24, 2013 from a ruptured brain aneurysm, just three weeks after she delivered a beautiful son. The emotions during a three week period ranged from euphoria at the birth of a beautiful baby boy to despair at the loss of a beautiful young woman. Kristen loved children and they loved her. She worked in a preschool and was completing her Master's degree in Education( that degree was awarded posthumously). Our hearts were broken. We needed to make some meaning out of such a tragic life altering event.
Giving helps with healing! Contacting the Brain Aneurysm Foundation for information and support was the catalyst for us to begin a never ending campaign to raise awareness, promote research, intervention and prevention. A Chair of Research in Kristen's Legacy of Love name would be the ultimate tribute. We held the First Annual Kristen's Legacy of Love 5K race/1 mile walk on May 18, 2014. Close to 300 registrants, local sponsors and dedicated friends and family joined and contributed. We raised close to $26,000. This was just six months after our loss. The second race on May 17, 2014 was equally successful raising almost $22,000. All funds raised were for the Brain Aneurysm Foundation, a premier non profit organization established in 1994. Plans for our third race have already begun, with a similar Sunday in May 2016 anticipated. May has been our chosen month for our event as May was Kristen's birthday month. The monies raised have been dedicated to research grants for well deserved recipients. Their dedication to cure and treatment will save lives and preserve life quality.
If we are blessed to receive monies from My Giving Story for the Brain Aneurysm Foundation, it will benefit many. According to the BAF '1 in 50 people have brain aneurysms. It is estimated that each year 25,000 people will suffer a ruptured brain aneurysm. Almost half of those affected will die'.
Kathy Shafer
