Supporting Kiyren Norris, in memory of Tamara

Facebook urged me to start a birthday fundraiser since I'll be celebrating 43 in a few weeks. I started one to support the Leukemia Lymphoma Society (as I do most years) and thought I would go in a slightly different direction this year. September is blood cancer awareness month and as many of you know, I lost one of my childhood best friends to acute myeloid leukemia. After her passing, I often use the month of September to remember and honor her memory, as her birthday was a week after mine and we often spent that time together. Sadly, Tamara and I stopped celebrating our birthdays together as she didn't make it to our 39th birthday in 2017. What she did do, however, was bravely fight leukemia three separate times, enduring countless rounds of chemo, a stem cell transplant and a bone marrow transplant in hopes for continued remission. While the LLS is a wonderful organization that I hope you consider donating to- I have decided to raise money this year for my niece, Kiyren, the exceptional daughter of Tamara.

Kiyren was turning 8 when Tamara was first diagnosed in 2008. Despite her mom's illness, hospital stays and diagnosis, she went on to be an honor student, cheerleader, finishing a certification in cosmetology, a member of the National Honor Society and a college student at Cleveland State University while attending Wickliffe High School. She just entered her senior year at Cleveland State, where she is majoring in business with a minor in dance. Kiyren is an amazing student, a brilliant young woman, a talented dancer, a kind heart and an inspiration to "just keep swimming"

This September, and in honor of her beautiful mother, I would like to raise money for Kiyren as she wraps up her senior year of college and spreads her wings. I hope she carries our love with her and knows she has an entire village of people looking out for her and rooting her on as she continues to forge her own path.

Please consider donating to us this September. If you prefer to use apple pay or venmo (Jessica-Francis-30), please send to me and I will ensure the money is gifted to Kiyren. Thank you for your support this September. May we all continue to carry Tamara's light and let it inspire us in life as a way to beautifully keep her memory alive.