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On behalf of VOBOC (Venturing Out Beyond Our Cancer) I wish to extend to you our sincerest appreciation to Stitchy Lizard Embroidery & Promotional Items for your most generous donation of bandannas to be included in our Vo-Pak backpacks that are given to new adolescents and young adult patients on their first day of cancer treatment.
As a cancer patient when you lose your hair – it's hard to hide the fact that you have cancer. Sensitive to this, VOBOC set out to find a suitable head piece item to detract from a patient's bald head. Your excellent team of professionals leaped to our aid to help design and guide us to produce perfect bandannas that met all of our needs. The bright orange of the bandanas with white decorative motif compliments our lion logo, which represents the courage that it takes to battle cancer. Thanks to your generosity we've added the bandannas to our Vo-Pak backpacks. The feedback that we've received so far is very positive. The young patients love them. We've been told the bandanas are "styling and cool" and the 5 McGill University teaching hospital oncology units that VOBOC serves are seeing them everywhere. One of the nurses told us that "by wearing something flashy on their head, it allows a patient to accept the stares – they know that the stares - at least in part, are due to the fabulous prints of the bandanna."
VOBOC is a charitable organization which supports Adolescents and Young Adults (AYA) by delivering free tools and resources to help patients navigate through their cancer experience. Last year VOBOC delivered over 100 Vo-Paks to oncology units to give to their new patients (15-29) who were just beginning cancer treatment and VOBOC granted over 40 last Special Requests to AYA patients in palliative care and gave away gift certificates and prizes to over 150 patients so that they could venture out beyond their cancer. In addition, VOBOC supported three retreats and conference for over 200 AYA patients. In total last year VOBOC helped and touched the lives of over 400 young patients and their families here in Montreal.
Stitchy Lizard's donation of 250 bandanas is a tremendous gesture of support for the work that we do. We are most honoured by your gift for the young AYA patients who find themselves in the battle of their lives. Please relay to the entire Stitchy Lizard team our sincerest thanks for your enthusiastic support and generosity.
Our sincerest appreciation,
Doreen Edward,
Founder and President |
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A very special thanks to Stitchy Lizard, who have generously donated the Gutsy red bags you will be toting around town until next year!
The team at Stitchy Lizard was so awesome to work with to get these done, and as you can see the result is fantastic… We were blown away when we picked up the finished bags at their cute office (which has a deceivingly large embroidery facility in the back) in Liberty Village – it's behind Brazen Head, you should go visit and say hello and thank you to Francine, she's so lovely!
Alas, we just wanted to take a moment to share the exciting news that we are thrilled to have Stichy Lizard on board with A Gutsy Affair this year! It's going to be our best event yet!
click here to read about it. |
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October 18, 2011
Francine Di Giacomo
Stichy Lizard Embroidery & Digitizing
171 East Liberty Street, Suite 137 Toronto, ON M6K 3P6
Dear Francine,
On behalf of Distress Centres, I would like to express our sincere gratitude for your generous support of our fourteen—annual B.A.D. Ride (Bikers Against Despair). Despite rain in the forecast and a damp beginning for some, by the time motorcyclists arrived at the start venue, the day had evolved into perfect riding weather. And, what a day it was! In total, there were approximately 900 vehicles and 1300 participants who raised $175,000 in support of the life-sustaining programs offered by our agency. As always, because of the significant contribution of our sponsors, we are proudly able to say that 100% of the dollars raised by our riders goes directly to support service delivery. Thank you for making this possible.
Please know that you have truly made a difference...every fundraised dollar has been put directly into use on behalf of our most vulnerable members of the community. The very technology that provides the helpline infrastructure, our multi-language access and many of our new program initiatives have all been paid for by B.A.D. Ride dollars.
The B.A.D. Ride continues to be Distress Centres' number one community outreach event. And, you have played an essential role in its success. When we say "There's a life on the line", we mean it. . Thank you for being a link in our lifeline so that we can provide a lifeline for those in need.
Yours truly,
Karen Letofsky
Executive Director
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For the 3rd consecutive year Stitchy Lizard has chosen to support the Toronto Distress Centres. One of their major fundraising event is the B.A.D. Ride. This year the ride wil be on Sunday May 30th, 2010.
All embroidery for this event is donated and done by Stitchy Lizard.
Check out their website for more information.
www.thebadride.com
About the Distress Centres:
Since 1967, Distress Centres has been providing an around-the-clock emotional safety net for community members who are socially marginalized, distressed, in crisis, victims of violence or suicidal. Last year, more than 120,000 calls were answered on our help lines. Through our Survivor Support Programme, hundreds of other individuals received face-to-face grief counseling in the tragic aftermath of a death by suicide or homicide. Distress Centres was also able to provide service to countless professionals, organizations and concerned citizens through the training and consultation provided by our Community Outreach Programme. Each and every service is provided free of charge to participants. In an attempt to ensure easy access to our crisis lines, we have a TTY line for the hearing impaired and employ a 151 language–interpreter service. |
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Stitchy Lizard has donated T-Shirts and magnets in support of Thomas.
Thomas Bourke is a 6 year old boy born with cerebral palsy, a brain abnormality that restricts movement and coordination of his muscles. He requires assistance to sit, crawl and walk and has difficulty speaking and using his hands to feed, dress and hold a writing instrument. While there is no cure for cerebral palsy, specialized therapy aimed to increase movement and function will improve a child's quality of life and is most successful when administered at an early age.
Thomas' diagnosis arrived shortly after his 1st birthday and since then he has engaged in many forms of therapy, attended specialized nursery schools and camps and traveled to China to undergo stem cell treatment. Life at home continues to be consumed with learning opportunities that engage his mobility and augment his communication and life skills. While Thomas' days are unconventional and challenging and often require him to be away from home, he is fortunate to have opportunities that allow him to consistently develop and meet his potential.
The Hope for Thomas is to achieve a future that allows him to be as independent as he possibly can.
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Stitchy Lizard has donated reusable lunch bags to Prince Edward School for their Wasteless Wednesdays. Every student received a reusable lunch bag.
click here to read about it. |
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The uniform worn this year (2010) by Boxing Ontario Youth athletes is sponsored by Stitchy Lizard. Stitchy Lizard wants all the athletes to keep warm with their Boxing Ontario toques
click here to read about it. |
