Lauren’s Gift is LKNConnect’s Outstanding Non-Profit for the month of April. Read about Lauren’s story and how to volunteer.—EH Stafford, Managing Editor
Annual 5K Butterfly Walk/Run Fundraiser
The 5K Butterfly Walk/Run is the largest fundraiser event for the Lauren Marie Kimsey Foundation for Synovial Sarcoma. This event has been held at Aquesta Bank Headquarters in Cornelius, NC each year. Over the past few years the foundation has raised a total of $75,000 from this event alone. This year the foundation had high hopes of hitting a goal set at $50,000 with more than 300 participants. Participants include walkers, runners, cheerleaders and virtual butterflies.
Each year the race begins with the release of live butterflies and is filled with many more fun activities for participants of all ages. Festivities in the past have included a butterfly tent with live butterflies, amazing animals on site from Zootastic, face painting, princess sightings, food vendors and so much more.
4th Annual 5K Butterfly Walk/Run is canceled
The 4th Annual 5K Butterfly Walk/Run was scheduled for May 16, 2020. The board members of the Lauren Marie Kimsey Foundation for Synovial Sarcoma made the difficult decision to cancel the event this year due to the Covid-19 challenges that we all are facing. Our top priority is always the health and safety of everyone involved so we felt this was the best decision.
The event will be rescheduled for May 2021. Our goal is for this event to be the largest 5K Walk/Run event in the Lake Norman area. Canceling this event will create a large void in the foundation’s fundraising for the year. The foundation will rely on online donations to make up for the cancellation of the event.
Looking forward to the annual golf tournament
We are hoping to gain more sponsorships from the community for the annual golf tournament in October. The foundation will also be planning other creative ways through social media to raise funds to donate to Levine Cancer Institute for synovial sarcoma research.
Working to build awareness
The foundation will work diligently in 2020 to build awareness for the foundation and synovial sarcoma. We plan to hold virtual board meetings during this difficult time. The foundation has created a new website to communicate our mission for finding a cure for synovial sarcoma and financially assisting families during treatment.
For more information
To donate, volunteer, or learn more check out the website at www.laurensgift.com.
Jennifer Grissom, Board Member
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