This time last year, we started fundraising for the annual Cure SMA Walk-n-Roll that happens in our area. CureSMA is an organization we were introduced to shortly after Blake’s diagnosis. They do a lot of important and helpful things for families like ours during their most difficult times, all while passionately trying to find a cure for Spinal Muscular Atrophy.

Blake was alive when we started last year; we lost her shortly before the walk. When Jeff and I started talking about this year, we knew things would be different.

It’s been 10 months since Blake died. For lack of a better way to say, people forget.

I think one of the worst things for a grieving parent to feel is their child has been forgotten by others.

So many times we have been told that outsiders aren’t sure what to do. Here are some things you CAN do:

• Buy a Team Blake shirt*. All profits from these shirts go to CureSMA. Even better, you’ll be spreading SMA awareness by wearing them! The shirt design this year was created by our favorites at Modern Vintage Design Studio. They do many different things, so check them out if you’re looking for design work.
• Donate to CureSMA. Bypass the shirts and donate directly to the walk.
• Talk about SMA. We didn’t know about SMA before Blake was diagnosed and we hear the same from sooo many other SMA parents. We know that not everyone is able to donate, but talking is free. You can talk about SMA and carrier screening, (or send people to me; I’ll talk and talk and talk) and help us raise awareness.
• Talk about Blake.  Also a way to help for free, you can share fundraising efforts on Facebook. If you aren’t comfortable doing that, you can share Blake’s story.

There are many of you out there who have supported our family and we appreciate that so much. We thank you for the shares, likes, emails and just for reaching out. The littlest things really mean very much to us. Thank you for helping us remember Blake and keep her sunshine a part of people’s days.

We thank you, so much, for helping us to spread the word so that no other family has to go through what we’ve been and continue to go through.

*This year we have a brand new design with many style and color options. Sizes range from XS-3XL and also include youth. There is a flat rate shipping fee of $5 – no matter how many shirts you buy!