In its second year, Christmas Shop for Cure JM will have about double the number of vendors than last year. Organizer Kristine Alderfer also this year has increased her goal for the fundraising event to help find a cure for Juvenile Dermatomyositis. “I want to be conservative, but I would say my goal is $5,000,” she said. Her goal last year was $2,000, but the event raised $4,000 for Cure JM. “Every penny went to the Cure JM Foundation, and it all goes to research,” she said. Christmas Shop for Cure JM will be from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nov. 2 in the Sacred Heart School gym, 135 N. Harrison St., Warsaw. There is no door fee for the fundraiser. “Last year people said it was the best first-time event they’d been to and I was really happy about that,” Kristine said. Juvenile Dermatomyositis is a debilitating connective tissue disorder that affects approximately 17,000 children in the world. Kristine and Alan Alderfer’s daughter, Katherine, 7, was diagnosed with Juvenile Dermatomyositis at 4 years old. From the outside, she looks like a normal, healthy child. On the inside, however, her body is fighting the autoimmune disorder. “She’s doing better, however, she’s still getting IV treatments at Riley Hospital every four weeks. We are still battling this disease every day. It’s been challenging lately. We pray she goes into remission some day, but don’t even say that word anymore, until there’s a cure. We really do need to find a cure for this,” Kristine said. To raise money for the cure, she’s made some improvements to this year’s Christmas Shop. “I think this year we will have better raffle prizes, better games for kids and clowns,” she said. At last year’s Christmas Shop there were 14 vendors. This year, she’s lined up at least 27. “I’m trying to get more of an artisan approach. We have more handcrafted (items) like honey, lip balm, bath products, hair accessories, handcrafted wooden cutting boards which are gorgeous,” she stated. Vendors include Thirty-One, Scentsy, Usborne Books, Pampered Chef, NYR Organics, Tupperware, Wildtree, Tastefully Simple, Premier Jewelry, Norwex, Spice Merchants, Boutique Exchange, The Olive Branch, Sassyfrass, Bella Boutique for Kids and more. There will be a bake sale again this year, as well as a lemonade stand and hot dogs. “Last year it was enormous and it raised a lot of money,” she said. “We’ll also have gluten-free products.” Martin’s Super Market will have doughnuts at the event. New this year, photographer Lacie Fouts will be on hand to take Christmas photos of kids or families. “I think it will be really reasonable,” Kristine assured. Zoyo will be selling frozen yogurt, while Courthouse Coffee will sell coffee. McKenna Farms from The Farmers Market also will be on hand. “They do really great dips, mustards and other items like that,” she said. Dental Solutions will be on hand, while Danita Keirn from Total Body Ignition LLC will offer bioscans. “I think that’s pretty cool that she’s going to be there,” Kristine said. For more information about the device used in the bioscan, visit the website http://quantum-health.us/BioScan.php All vendors at the Christmas Shop are donating a percentage of their sales from the Christmas Shop directly to Cure JM. “It’s a family event. Children are welcome. Children can be in the Kids’ Zone while parents are shopping. There’s a minimal cost but it’s all for the cause. There’s no door fee to attend,” Kristine explained. Team Katherine Cure JM wristbands will be sold at the fundraiser. There also will be a live remote radio broadcast. She expressed her thanks for all those willing to be a part of the fundraiser, including Sacred Heart because it donated the use of the gym for it. “It’s nice because they let us use it at no charge and that helps us a lot,” she said. She also praised the event board members who volunteer for it. She said it’s a huge testament about them that they give their time without pay. Juvenile Dermatomyositis is called an “orphan disease,” she explained, because it affects so few children it’s not on the radar screen for big companies to give to. People like the Alderfers and events like the Christmas Shop are how funds for research for a cure are raised. Besides fundraising, the Alderfers also are involved in studies about the disease at the National Institute for Health in Washington, D.C.; the Laurie Children’s Hospital in Chicago; and Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis. Katherine was one of five Riley children whose Christmas card design was picked for this year’s Riley Holiday Cards campaign. Her face and card also are the picture for the campaign. “We’re super excited about it,” Kristine said. More information about the Christmas card campaign can be found online at Rileyholidaycards.com For more information about Cure JM, visit its website at www.curejm.org
