Transforming Darkness Into Light
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Help us turn darkness into light...
Laura’s Story
Laura was a dancer, physical educator, mentor and coach. She was the most spirited person you could ever meet, free of judgment and so full of the love of life. Laura touched thousands of people's hearts, offering inspiration and love to everyone she met. It gives many of us comfort to think about the positive ripple effect of her energy spreading around the globe and beyond.
Her passing in early 2021 has been a source of so much sorrow for so many. It feels like a dark cloud has enveloped us on top of the challenging times many of us are already facing. However, if you knew Laura, you would know that she would want this dark energy to be turned into light. She would not want us to wallow in misery. She would want us to emerge even more determined to live life to the fullest, savoring every moment, and showering ourselves and others in love.
After spending over a month seeking answers to her health problems (extensive testing, consulting multiple doctors, and spending nearly a week being monitored in hospital) and still receiving no clear indication of the cause, a doctor finally diagnosed her ruptured appendix. Laura was then rushed into emergency surgery in Bali. She endured serious invasive surgery procedures, blood transfusions, endless complications, constant pain and a long stay in the Intensive Care Unit – all the while accumulating crippling medical bills. But despite all the care she received, it was not enough to save her.
Those who knew Laura can only imagine the utter frustration she would have felt in her hospital bed, connected to countless tubes and unable to move. This was the antithesis of what life was about for Laura. She felt alive when she moved. Movement was life itself for her – energy expressed in its purest form.
The Fundraiser
In consultation with Laura’s mother, father and husband, we therefore set up this fundraiser. Its ultimate aim is to transform this darkness into light, and to grow something beautiful from this heartbreaking tragedy. We want to create a lasting legacy that Laura would be proud of.
We have set our fundraising target at 50,000 Canadian dollars. The funds you help us raise will be used as follows:
--75% of the money raised will be donated to the newly-formed LAHF Scholarship for Young Dancers. This is a scholarship fund formed in cooperation with the Franklin Method (www.franklinmethod.com) with the aim of funding physical education for underprivileged dancers. This is a cause close to Laura’s heart and its aim is to give more young dancers access to the specialist training and techniques Laura was so passionate about. It is strictly non-profit and the website will be launching very soon with more details on how the funds will be distributed.
--A maximum of 25% of the money raised will go towards helping to pay for the huge medical bills that Laura incurred during her time in hospital. This fund was initially established just to cover these costs – and we promise to honor our commitment to pay for medical fees with any donations made during this period.
Our heartfelt thanks
We are incredibly grateful for any and all support. Even a few dollars can make a huge difference, as it all adds up.
Please feel free to share this campaign with your friends and networks. We would also appreciate any additional ideas you have for getting the word out there.
Together, we can turn this darkness into light and ensure that Laura’s legacy will live on through dance and movement.
Laura’s Story
Laura was a dancer, physical educator, mentor and coach. She was the most spirited person you could ever meet, free of judgment and so full of the love of life. Laura touched thousands of people's hearts, offering inspiration and love to everyone she met. It gives many of us comfort to think about the positive ripple effect of her energy spreading around the globe and beyond.
Her passing in early 2021 has been a source of so much sorrow for so many. It feels like a dark cloud has enveloped us on top of the challenging times many of us are already facing. However, if you knew Laura, you would know that she would want this dark energy to be turned into light. She would not want us to wallow in misery. She would want us to emerge even more determined to live life to the fullest, savoring every moment, and showering ourselves and others in love.
After spending over a month seeking answers to her health problems (extensive testing, consulting multiple doctors, and spending nearly a week being monitored in hospital) and still receiving no clear indication of the cause, a doctor finally diagnosed her ruptured appendix. Laura was then rushed into emergency surgery in Bali. She endured serious invasive surgery procedures, blood transfusions, endless complications, constant pain and a long stay in the Intensive Care Unit – all the while accumulating crippling medical bills. But despite all the care she received, it was not enough to save her.
Those who knew Laura can only imagine the utter frustration she would have felt in her hospital bed, connected to countless tubes and unable to move. This was the antithesis of what life was about for Laura. She felt alive when she moved. Movement was life itself for her – energy expressed in its purest form.
The Fundraiser
In consultation with Laura’s mother, father and husband, we therefore set up this fundraiser. Its ultimate aim is to transform this darkness into light, and to grow something beautiful from this heartbreaking tragedy. We want to create a lasting legacy that Laura would be proud of.
We have set our fundraising target at 50,000 Canadian dollars. The funds you help us raise will be used as follows:
--75% of the money raised will be donated to the newly-formed LAHF Scholarship for Young Dancers. This is a scholarship fund formed in cooperation with the Franklin Method (www.franklinmethod.com) with the aim of funding physical education for underprivileged dancers. This is a cause close to Laura’s heart and its aim is to give more young dancers access to the specialist training and techniques Laura was so passionate about. It is strictly non-profit and the website will be launching very soon with more details on how the funds will be distributed.
--A maximum of 25% of the money raised will go towards helping to pay for the huge medical bills that Laura incurred during her time in hospital. This fund was initially established just to cover these costs – and we promise to honor our commitment to pay for medical fees with any donations made during this period.
Our heartfelt thanks
We are incredibly grateful for any and all support. Even a few dollars can make a huge difference, as it all adds up.
Please feel free to share this campaign with your friends and networks. We would also appreciate any additional ideas you have for getting the word out there.
Together, we can turn this darkness into light and ensure that Laura’s legacy will live on through dance and movement.
Organizer
Alex Mayhew
Organizer
Toronto, ON