Beyond being completely overwhelmed by the kind messages I’ve received over the past 72 hours, I’ve also been amazed by the number of you who have independently started researching and strategizing.  (One of you dear people has even donated to the NAF in my honor. I’m not going to put your name on blast but I know who you are and I love you.)

I’ve received useful information on possible ways to stave off symptoms as well as information on cutting edge gene splicing research.  My mother-in-law has set up a call with Brian Clement from Hippocrates Institute. They’ve done exceptional work treating other diseases, so I’m more than willing to get feedback on how they may be able to help someone like me.  Bottom line: I’m all ears.

I am also absolutely planning on channeling all of this love and support into a fundraising opportunity. The question is how.

There are several “awareness” fundraisers that the NAF plans every year, and spreading awareness is certainly important, but I think I need to fundraise with a different objective in mind — finding a cure.  That requires a little more leg work on my end. I need to make sure any dollars I raise go directly to research grants, clinical trials, etc.  Since I know there are those of you who are reading this who have more experience in the world of charitable fundraising, I welcome your guidance and counsel.  It’s sort of unchartered territory for me.

Once we choose the right channel for those fundraising dollars, the next step will be to devise an easy, effective way to fundraise well-beyond ourselves.  The ice bucket challenge was brilliant in raising awareness and was also one of the most successful (if not most successful) charitable giving events ever.  I want to raise buckets and buckets of research dollars, with or without ice cubes. I just need to devise the plan…

In the meantime, there’s something you can do at this very moment that will not cost you a dime extra if you are already shopping on Amazon: designate the National Ataxia Foundation to receive charitable donations when you shop.  Next time you shop, start your shopping experience at smile.amazon.com and select National Ataxia Foundation as your designated charity.  (If you are already using AmazonSmile to contribute to a different charity, as I was, you may change your charitable contribution in your account settings.)  Once it is selected as your charity of choice, NAF will receive a donation for any eligible purchases. It is completely seamless with your regular Amazon account and, if you forget to start at smile.amazon.com, Amazon will even ask if you want to be redirected.  Easy peasy.  You may learn more about the Amazon Smile program here.

Please keep sending me your thoughts and ideas. I promise you I am reading every note and considering every idea.  If you have a good thought on where to direct our fundraising, or how to make this as successful a fundraising event as possible, please speak up.

Otherwise, knowing me, there will be dress up involved, in which case, you’ve been warned.

Love, Amy