RAISE THE ROOF AND HELP BARBARA BUILD HER ROOF

My name is Serena and I am hoping to help my dear friend and neighbor, Barbara “B” Holden. I have created this GoFundMe page in hopes of helping Barbara have enough cash to put a roof on her cabin so that she can move out of her small travel trailer and live in her cabin this winter. I think of it as a Latter Day Barn Raising.

Barbara can do the work, as she has already proven by getting as far as she has in building her cabin. She is strong, capable, and motivated. She simply needs the cash to buy the materials such as plywood, lumber, and joists in order to build the roof.

I have gotten to know and love Barbara over the past 2 years and her story is one of courage and faith. Barbara has had recurring cancer since 1986 and she has been fighting it ever since. She has had many other health issues as a result of cancer treatments. This past summer she has had 2 surgeries, one to remove cancerous lesions from her nose, and another to remove a cancerous lesion from her eyelid. These surgeries have set her back both physically and emotionally, but she is not a quitter ! Barbara is also proud to be 36 years sober which is an admirable accomplishment, and one that is not easy to do.

Five years ago Barbara found the property that she had been dreaming about in Park County, Colorado. She decided to cash in everything she had, buy the property, build a cabin, leave the city life, and enjoy the rest of her life in the peace and tranquillity of nature. She started with a driveway on her steep downhill slope, which leads to a meadow of sorts and a perfect spot for a cabin. She bought a truck and a small travel trailer to live in while she built the cabin. She did everything right, which included digging a well, putting in a septic system, building a foundation and structure, and bringing in electricity. At this point she has run out of funds to finish with a roof. She has her own sawmill and does a variety of work with that. She has tried to use it as a business, but unfortunately she has not been able to make ends meet. She has been living in the small trailer for 5 years now, through very harsh Colorado winters. And she is not complaining. She is happy with her choice. She is exactly where she wants to be (minus the roof). The roof would allow her to move out of the small trailer and into the cabin where she could keep warm and dry and finish the work that needs to be done. Most people who know Barbara are amazed and in awe of what she has accomplished, and how tough she is to live on this land.

The most important thing that anyone should know about Barbara is her continuing faith in God. She knows that He is looking after her and she believes with all of her heart that He is guiding her down this path. It is what keeps her going. She has tried to help herself and she prays for God’s help every day. The last time I visited with Barbara she was feeling tired and discouraged. It was at that point, when Barbara broke down in tears, telling me that she had asked God over and over again to help her, that I decided that I would do something positive to try to help my friend by asking for help from the community.

If you feel that you can help by donating, any amount will be greatly appreciated. I thank you in advance for being willing to touch a life, to make a difference, and to give Barbara a chance to live the rest of her days in what she hopes to be her final resting place, this place that she calls HOME.