Fundraiser Set for Winona Lake Girl with Rare Disease
Posted
David Slone-dslone@timesuniononline.com
Shop for Christmas and help raise money to find a cure for a rare debilitating disorder that’s affected 17,000 kids around the world.
“Christmas Shop for Cure JM” is 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nov. 3 in the Sacred Heart School gym, 135 N. Harrison St., Warsaw. Participating vendors are donating a portion of each sale to Cure JM.
At 4 years old, Katherine Alderfer, now 6, was diagnosed with Juvenile Dermatomyositis. From the outside, she looks like a normal, healthy child. On the inside, however, her body is fighting the autoimmune disorder.
“She’s OK,” said Kristine Alderfer, Katherine’s mom. “We made a lot of progress, but we started backsliding in August. We started going back to Riley (Hospital for Children). We hope to begin moving forward again.”
At Riley, Katherine is hooked up to an IV and receives medications through her surgically implanted port-a-cath. The disease causes her pain, weakness and severe fatigue. She can’t go in the sun because the sun is a major activator of the disease.
The “Christmas Shop” came about when someone asked Alderfer if she wanted to do a Thirty-One party, with the profits going to Cure JM. Kristine decided she wanted to do something bigger than that. As the word got out, more people started calling her and wanted to help.
The 14 vendors participating as of Monday afternoon include Thirty-One, Scentsy, Usborne Books, Pampered Chef, NYR Organics, Tupperware, Wildtree, Tastefully Simple, Premier Jewelry, Norwex, Shaklee, Satori Boutique, Boutique Exchange and Crocheted Cuties.
“I’m still working on two to three others at least,” Alderfer said. “I’m trying to get more to come who do cash and carry. We’re also having a bake sale, the kids are doing a lemonade stand and we will have hot dogs. There will be lots of things for kids like face painting, games, crafts and carnival games.”
Cure JM T-shirts and bracelets also will be sold for a donation.
She said there is no cost to come to the event. There also will be door prizes.
“My biggest thing is we want to raise awareness for this disease,” Alderfer said.
All the money raised will go for research to find a cure for this disease, she said. As a parent, you’re helpless to help your child with the disease except to raise awareness.
“Sacred Heart was kind enough to let us use the gym at no charge. That was great for us because I knew we did not have enough space elsewhere. Our children also go to school there,” Alderfer said. “My biggest concern is we’ll have some great products there, but we need to have people come and shop.”
As a goal, she said she’d like to raise at least $2,000 in the first year for the event. Since the Sacred Heart students raised $530 recently for Cure JM, Alderfer said it’s possible the Nov. 3 event can raise $2,000.
It’s at a great time for people to come and do their Christmas shopping, she said.
“It’s a great place for guys to go and buy for their significant others,” she added.
For more information about Cure JM, visit its website at www.curejm.org
