NEWS SOURCE: Quilt4Cancer Frank Halden
Vermont widower launches Quilt4Cancer.org to raise funds, awareness for cancer research and education; Sets ambitious goal of $25 Million for first project, an Internet quilt raffle
CRAFTSBURY, VT (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — Quilt4Cancer.org, whose objective is to “eliminate the tragedy of cancer in our lifetime,” was officially launched today at an event in Derby, Vermont. An advocacy, education and fundraising organization focused on providing support in the fight against cancer, Quilt4Cancer also announced its first fund raising project: A Web-based raffle of a hand-crafted quilt created by organization founder and cancer widower, Frank Halden, of Craftsbury, Vermont.
After the death of his wife, Hallie-Jo Collins, in 2003, Halden worked through his grieving process by creating a quilt – a craft he had learned from her. Usually while watching NFL Football, Halden completed the quilt, called “Indian Puzzle,” over the course of 5 months. During that same period of time, approximately 250,000 more people in the United States had died of cancer.
Halden realized through making of the quilt that some good had to come from his family’s loss. He decided to set out on a project to raise money and awareness in the fight against cancer using a medium whose reach was as broad as cancer itself, the Internet. With the help of a not-for-profit sports facility, I.R.O.C. in Derby, Vermont, where he referees indoor soccer, Halden created Quilt4Cancer.org. Starting November 1, 2005, raffle tickets can be purchased on Quilt4Cancer.org for a price of $25.00 each. The drawing will take place on April 30, 2006.
A native of New York City, Halden has lived in rural Vermont since 1978, were he has been a salesman for agricultural equipment and feed products. Halden and his wife raised their family in the picturesque town of Craftsbury, where Hallie-Jo primarily worked at home and pursued quilting and sewing as a hobby and as a small business.
“Nothing gave Hallie-Jo more pleasure then crafting quilts, and her creations are a part of many families in New England and beyond,” said Frank Halden, founder of Quilt4Cancer.org, “While creating this quilt was therapeutic for me, unless I can bring greater good, its value will be diminished.”
Halden and his supporters hope to make the raffle an annual event and to explore ways to use the quilt metaphor to further support cancer research and education. Chief among Halden’s goals is to work to educate young people about the health risks of smoking.
“Like so many in our generation, my wife smoked her entire life and there’s no doubt in my mind that smoking is what killed her,” Halden said. “Lung cancer is just one of the fronts in this battle against cancer and we plan to use this organization to help educate young people about the risks of smoking in hopes that they never start.”
More information: www.Quilt4Cancer.org
News issued by: Quilt4Cancer / Frank Halden
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Original Story ID: (957) :: 2005-11-1101-003
Original Keywords: Frank Halden, Quilt4Cancer, Derby, Vermont, fundraising organization, fight against cancer, Indian Puzzle, raffle Quilt4Cancer / Frank Halden
NEWS SOURCE: Quilt4Cancer Frank Halden | Published: 2005-11-01 13:28:00
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