August 31: Bikini Car Wash Fundraiser COMPLETE!

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

To everyone who helped me out, supported me, and donated I am so grateful. You all helped make this goal for me possible.

Planning a charity was actually a lot of work! I never knew it would be so hard to find a place to even hold a car wash but luckily after calling dozens of places The Haney Pub in Maple Ridge helped us out and let us use their parking lot, which was great because it was on a busy road and they helped us out even by letting us borrow their supplies. 
We did the car wash for 3 hours and in the end we made $685.00! Which is amazing and mind blowing I can't even think of words I'm at such a loss still.  

This fundraiser was a huge hit, I am so grateful for all the support that was given in memory of my brother. My friends for supporting me, even if they couldn't make it out to help they still told me they'd donate and that I am in their thoughts, my family for sticking by my side and helping me wash all those cars, even my sister who is currently on the other side of Canada was still cheering me on and was there in spirit, the strangers who took a few minutes of their day to let us wash their cars and explain to them why we were holding the fundraiser and the story of my brother, their generous donations that left me speechless every time, and even the sun for shining down on us and gifting us with beautiful weather to wash cars in! 
After all of this I am very anxious to send in the money and a letter to SIDS organization, I am sure it will help some families dealing with losses and help research progress. 

I think my brother would be very proud of us all, how everyone managed to come together for a couple hours and support one another with support and love. It felt so rewarding to be doing something for someone else for a change, knowing that all the work we did is going to help someone who needs it. We are hoping we can make this an annual thing now and do it every August, we'll come back bigger and better! This goal is probably the most rewarding I have done so far and it makes me so glad that I have decided to do this, it's truly turning my life around and showing me people can make a difference even if it is one step at a time (or a month).
I can't say thank you enough to everyone and for everything they did to help me on this day.
Thank you.

Tomorrow I start my September goal, but until then I am going to take a long long well needed nap. Fighting!
Savi

Now here are a few pictures we took at the car wash

Us hard carwashing ladies!

 Best friend Jess, hosing down some cars!

 Cass's friends came to help! Thanks Jordan, Kiana and Erik

 Our great advertisement

 No matter how many times I told Nanny to stop she worked her butt off washing cars, crazy old lady!

 That's a serious washing face

Had a little bit too much fun with the pressure washer 

 Mom wearing a shirt in memory of Eric

 Family!

 Was scared to wash this car, it was so nice!

August 1 Goal: Car Wash Fundraiser for SIDS

It's August 1st which means, time for me to move on to my next goal!
This goal is something I am looking forward to very much and think it will be very fun to do.
(I will also be explaining at the end of the post why I have not written a completion for my guitar goal.)

When we receive something feelings that flood through your body are nothing but positivity, you feel warm and cared about, happy that someone has taken the time to show their love for you, it truly is a great feeling and sometimes we want to do something nice back in return to show we value someone just as much. But sometimes we don't think about other people, like a stranger. It doesn't mean you're a bad person, we're all human and we can't please and help everyone we meet, I know for a fact I don't. That's why there's always great chances to help out like charities or fundraisers for different type of organizations let it be something like supporting a kids soccer team or raising money for a cure to cancer.
I myself have taken part in a few fundraisers here and there to help raise money for certain things because it gives you a different kind of feeling to know that you're giving to someone who may need it, and sometimes that's a present to yourself all on it's own. There has never been a charity that has hit close to home though, that I myself have truly been able to relate to and help others with. So thus this months goal; Car was fundraiser for SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome)

What is Sudden Infant Death Syndrome?
SIDS is when babies ages one month to a year old die in their sleep for unexplained reasons. I have been asked this question countless times in my life and I'm sure I will be asked every time I mention my brother.

January 30th 1998 was the year my brother passed away from SIDS. He was one and a half years old.
It is an unforgettable morning. My mother waking us all up to get us ready for the day to suddenly panicking and yelling into the phone to a doctor that he wasn't breathing and desperately trying to bring him back to life. I had taken on a protective role at the age of five and had grabbed my younger sister and hid her with me under a blanket on a rocking chair while everything chaotic happened around us. So young we didn't understand what was really going on at the time, we were left at a family friends house until we were taken by my father to the hospital where they had told us that my brother had passed away. It's something you never forget, but it's something I wouldn't want to forget. It was my brother after all and I will always keep him in my heart and mind forever.

Now, on September 25th we always celebrate my brothers birthday, last year my mom, sister, and I got matching tattoos in remembrance to him. But this time I want to do something that will not only celebrate his birthday but also help others who may have loss their babies to SIDS and also let more people get familiar and aware with what it is, I myself am surprised how many people do not know about SIDS but I'm sure if our family hadn't fallen victim we may still not clearly understand what it is.
Ergo, fundraiser for SIDS. With help from some dear friends, we will be organizing a bikini car wash for people to come and get their vehicle washed by donation and all proceeds will be going to SIDS research. I am doing this in August instead because September in BC it starts to get a wee chilly and I don't think the people who are volunteering want to be freezing their bottoms off in bikinis or swim trunks.
I'm very excited to start my own fundraiser as I have never done this before yet it has always been a goal and I do hope I can help some people become aware and help some families with recent losses.
I hope whoever is reading can either help volunteer in any way, maybe bring your car down so we can wash it, or it will inspire you to help your community in some way. I'll also post a link where you can make donations to SIDS research, any penny helps!

The event will be taking place in Maple Ridge, BC, Canada at the Haney Public on Friday August 31st 12pm-3pm. Check out their site and please drink responsibly if you decide to stay and have a drink after your car is squeaky clean!

http://www.haneypub.com/

http://www.sidscanada.org/

Fighting!
Savi



Now for an explanation about my guitar goal. I am disappointed in myself that I haven't been able to complete that goal. Sometimes things have to be put on hold in your life and this was one of them. Life had gotten hectic with two jobs and dealing with university. I'm not sad that I haven't completed this goal, because hey that's life and sometimes it's going to hold you back from things but that doesn't mean I won't have another chance to complete it, it is a goal for a reason and one day I plan on teaching my self still, so in a way I am happy that I will still have this opportunity, I'm not sad. So don't worry if you fail on a goal you can always try again. I've already completed two goals that I kicked my butt at and those felt so accomplishing and I'm still going to keep kicking my butt to finish the other ones, there is no way I am stopping I just felt it deserved an explanation as to why I did not write a completion post. Don't hate me! ^^; When I do get back to that goal I will be sure to write about it! Until then I'm going to keep on going with my others because I can do this and you can to!
Fighting!