Courage Tiger's Road Trip Day 89: 4 Days Left!

I am checking in from New Mexico today! We are almost halfway to raising our goal and are relying on you to help us out. New Mexico does not have any programs at the moment but they have the chance of having a NICU program with a little help from you. The Beads of Courage NICU program brings comfort and support to families that are coping with the stresses of having a premature baby. Your contribution during Bead Challenge can sustain 38 NICU programs that are currently offered

by Beads of Courage throughout the United States. 

We only have 4 days left to reach our goal and we want you to Make Courage Roar with and participate and fund the mission for the 9^th Annual Bead Challenge! 

Courage Tiger’s 2017 Road Trip is a feature of the 9th Annual Bead Challenge, a three-month nationwide fundraiser and beadraiser for Beads of Courage. As the official Beads of Courage mascot, Courage Tiger is visiting all 50 states to highlight the incredible work our organization does by sharing stories of our courageous members, families, clinicians, and the caring community of artists and supporters who make our vital work possible. Please get involved in Bead Challenge 2017 by visiting www.beadchallenge.org today. Sign up to PARTICIPATE as a fundraiser, CREATE glass beads, or DONATE to the cause. With your help, we can Make Courage Roar for kids coping with serious illness! Many thanks to Bead Challenge 2017 presenting sponsor Northwestern Mutual and supporting sponsor Soda Lime Times.

- Contributed by Cristal Rogers, Marketing and Communications Intern, Beads of Courage

Courage Tiger's Road Trip Day 79: September's Bead of the Month!

I'm in Florida for a second day, and I met the wonderful artist who created the September Bead of the Month! Her name is Tillie and she is a “lampworking addict." Most of the inspiration for her beads and other glass work comes from the surrounding nature of her home in Florida. I actually saw some of the Everglades on my way to visit Tillie, and it was truly inspirational!

Tillie discovered Beads of Courage through her 17-year-old grandchild, who is a member of our program. Tillie told me that her connection to our program is even stronger, “having two different kinds of cancer myself, I kind of understand the children who are fighting the battle against what I call the beast.”

When Tillie created the September Bead of the Month, she thought of the nature that surrounded her. She chose to make a “flock of fat, fabulous, funny Florida frogs" because they are all so unique.

“I hope that each child, fighting a life threatening disease, will look at one of my funny little frogs and see the love in the great big smile on each froggy face, and know that nothing in this world is without warts and scars, but is lovable anyway.”

Tillie is such an amazing artist, and definitely Makes Courage Roar. Thank you Tillie for sharing your stories with me, I will treasure them forever! Keep up with Tillie's new work on her Facebook and website! You can get your own September Bead of the Month here. Check back tomorrow for another story from Florida!

Courage Tiger’s 2017 Road Trip is a feature of the 9th Annual Bead Challenge, a three-month nationwide fundraiser and beadraiser for Beads of Courage. As the official Beads of Courage mascot, Courage Tiger is visiting all 50 states to highlight the incredible work our organization does by sharing stories of our courageous members, families, clinicians, and the caring community of artists and supporters who make our vital work possible. Please get involved in Bead Challenge 2017 by visiting www.beadchallenge.org today. Sign up to PARTICIPATE as a fundraiser, CREATE glass beads, or DONATE to the cause. With your help, we can Make Courage Roar for kids coping with serious illness! Many thanks to Bead Challenge 2017 presenting sponsor Northwestern Mutual and supporting sponsor Soda Lime Times.

- Contributed by Cristal Rogers, Marketing and Communications Intern, Beads of Courage

Courage Tiger's Road Trip Day 78: Charley's Courage in Florida!

I'm still here in Florida, and I have a special story about Beads of Courage member Charley! Charley was diagnosed with a brain cancer known as Pilocytic Astrocytoma when she was just 3 months old. As a result of surgery Charley has completely lost her vision when she was 18 months old. But this doesn’t stop her from playing with her beads every chance she gets!

Did you notice all those black beads on her strand? Each black bead represents a poke with a needle. Charley  is strictly tube fed because there were many issues with oral feeding. Charley has also been on chemotherapy for most of her life, which are all of those white beads on her Beads of Courage.

Charley definitely Makes Courage Roar! To help more children like Charley record, tell, and own their stories of courage, donate to Bead Challenge today, and contribute to your state's campaign.

Courage Tiger’s 2017 Road Trip is a feature of the 9th Annual Bead Challenge, a three-month nationwide fundraiser and beadraiser for Beads of Courage. As the official Beads of Courage mascot, Courage Tiger is visiting all 50 states to highlight the incredible work our organization does by sharing stories of our courageous members, families, clinicians, and the caring community of artists and supporters who make our vital work possible. Please get involved in Bead Challenge 2017 by visiting www.beadchallenge.org today. Sign up to PARTICIPATE as a fundraiser, CREATE glass beads, or DONATE to the cause. With your help, we can Make Courage Roar for kids coping with serious illness! Many thanks to Bead Challenge 2017 presenting sponsor Northwestern Mutual and supporting sponsor Soda Lime Times.

- Contributed by Cristal Rogers, Marketing and Communications Intern, Beads of Courage

Courage Tiger's Road Trip Day 76: Lee's Courage Roars in Georgia!

On another adventure through Georgia today! I explored Atlanta and I met Lee! Lee is part of our Cardiac program at Children's Hospital of Atlanta at Egleston. He has been receiving beads for 3 and a half years! 

Lee was born with congenital heart defects, and a few are Tetralogy of Fallot, pulmonary atresia with ventricular septum detect, and major aortopulmonary collateral arteries.  While I was talking with his mom, she said that even though he goes through all of that, “Lee has his beads to show his courage, strength, and how much he has overcome!”

Lee’s beads show his story, and when I asked his mom what his favorite bead was, she said, 
“I would say he loves his fish bead that he got when we had to call the ambulance while in Pooler, Georgia to visit family because Lee spiked a 104.7 temperature and had a febrile seizure and had to spend 6 nights in the Savannah hospital. The fish bead means he was away from home while receiving treatment and since it was so unexpected and over 4 hours from home it surely is special.”

Thank you Lee for sharing your story with me! You Make Courage Roar, and we are honored to help you tell your story of courage. Help us support more children and teens coping with serious illness, like Lee, by participating and funding the mission of the 9th Annual Bead Challenge.

Courage Tiger’s 2017 Road Trip is a feature of the 9th Annual Bead Challenge, a three-month nationwide fundraiser and beadraiser for Beads of Courage. As the official Beads of Courage mascot, Courage Tiger is visiting all 50 states to highlight the incredible work our organization does by sharing stories of our courageous members, families, clinicians, and the caring community of artists and supporters who make our vital work possible. Please get involved in Bead Challenge 2017 by visiting www.beadchallenge.org today. Sign up to PARTICIPATE as a fundraiser, CREATE glass beads, or DONATE to the cause. With your help, we can Make Courage Roar for kids coping with serious illness! Many thanks to Bead Challenge 2017 presenting sponsor Northwestern Mutual and supporting sponsor Soda Lime Times.

- Contributed by Cristal Rogers, Marketing and Communications Intern, Beads of Courage