A MESSAGE FROM Kelly's SMM Fundraising Page
Friends and Family,
Many of you supported me in 2019 when I trained to run a 200 mile Ragnar relay with a team of 12 mothers to raise money for Steel Magnolia Moms (SMM) — a non-profit serving mothers of children with special needs. That California relay was cancelled due to wildfires, but in early 2020, shortly before the Covid-19 shutdowns, we successfully completed the 200 mile race in Arizona.
On October 6th this year, Elizabeth Elder, founder of SMM and my dear friend, Ragnar teammate and roommate, lost her 11-year-old daughter, Annabelle, due to complications from Leigh Syndrome. Annabelle went into the hospital for what we all thought would be routine fluids, but gained her angel wings instead. Annabelle was and continues to be the light that ignited a flame for Elizabeth to spread a fire with this incredible organization that provides love, resources and encouragement in our city. Today, SMM has over 1,000 members in Houston and continues to grow rapidly.
Steel Magnolia Moms is an official "Run for a Reason" (RFAR) charity of the upcoming Chevron Houston Marathon. I was not planning to run this time — let’s be honest, I am a better cheerleader than runner! But when sweet Annabelle got her angel wings, I decided I can do this on short notice — in memory of Annabelle, in honor of Elizabeth, and in honor of Kit who made me a Steel Magnolia Mom. And so I am running the Half in January and asking if you will support me with a donation to SMM!
Funds raised will help SMM continue to grow within our community, allowing us to support more moms of children with special needs. Specifically, SMM is expanding our Happy Camper and Head to Heart programs to promote emotional and physical well-being for our member families. Funds raised will also go towards building a more robust website where we can share useful information with the public, and privately and securely share important health information with members, enabling them to find the answers and support that they need in their journeys.
Participating as an official RFAR charity of the Chevron Houston Marathon is helping SMM raise awareness for disabilities, thereby moving our community towards a more inclusive and compassionate society. Will you join us and will you help me run alongside Elizabeth, to thank her for her service to the special needs community, in memory of Annabelle, and in honor of Kit? Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your support!
Kelly
P.S. — Most Ragnar donors never got their free hug from Kit thanks to Covid-19, but we'll throw in free Kit hugs for RFAR donors! ;)
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