As some of you know, my cousin passed away this summer after fighting Pulmonary Hypertension for 8 years. Amanda was one of my best friends growing up. She is also the reason why I am studying to become a child life specialist. There is truly no way for me to capture how vibrant and loving Amanda was in just words, but I would love to share a little bit about who she was to me.
When I think about Amanda, I think of her boldness and love. Amanda lived fearlessly. She taught me what it means to rise above your circumstances with a fierce determination to live well. She is the strongest person I know. Amanda also radiated joy. Her laugh was contagious, and her sweet smile could light up any room she walked into. My cousin lived big. She was goofy, kind, courageous, and bright. She did not let pulmonary hypertension define her. Instead, I think her story is defined by how deeply she cared for other people. She was a strong advocate not only for herself but also for those around her. One of the ways she did this was by volunteering with North Sar Reach.
On October 2nd, I will be participating in a 5k with my family in honor of Amanda. All of the money we fundraise will go to supporting North Star Reach. North Star Reach is a camp in Pickney, MI that provides free, transformative camp experiences to children with serious illnesses. North Star Reach is a place where Amanda thrived. This camp brought her so much joy, friendship, and freedom. Amanda has always wanted to give back to the people and places that have made a positive impact on her life. After she was no longer able to attend camp, she wanted to give other kids the opportunity to have the same experiences she did, so she became a dedicated volunteer. Now it is our turn to support the place that meant so much to her.
Please consider donating to my fundraising page in support of Team Amanda. Your gift will help North Star Reach continue to provide life-changing experiences to campers and their families, just like they did for Amanda. The Reinhart Charitable Foundation has generously offered to match what we raise at 50%, so if you donate $20, Reinhart matches with $10 which gives North Star Reach a total of $30! Any amount helps :) Thank you so much for supporting us!! Your gifts mean the world to us!
Hear more about Amanda's camp story in her own words here: Amanda's Story
