A message from Lynne Dale, Summer’s mom:
My sweet Summer died thirteen years ago today. No matter how well I manage the pain of this loss — month after month throughout the year — this is the day all the memories come flooding back: the bitter, the sweet, and the bittersweet. For me, it is a day of remembering her beautiful life and how it was cut short by an ugly disease. Truth be told, this is often the day I fall apart.
Starting Team Summer was, in many ways, exactly what Summer was meant to do. If she were here today, she would tell you that the year she spent battling cancer was the best year of her life. Even in the middle of chemo, radiation, and surgeries, she basked in the light she found in purpose and connection.
And I know she’d be amazed if she could see how her dream — conceived in the depths of her discomfort — has grown to comfort kids fighting cancer all over the country. She’d also be so grateful to all of you who have supported her mission and have helped to carry it forward. Launching this fundraiser on the day she died is a reminder to all of us that the spark of her determined soul can never be extinguished.
And focusing on this fundraiser — especially on this day — helps me more than you can know. My connection to all of you helps lift me back up to a place where I can breathe again.
An amazing group of Team Summer supporters — listed at the bottom of this email! — have put together a Challenge Fund that will match your tax-deductible* contributions, dollar for dollar, up to $20,000! If you donate $50, Team Summer will get $100; if you donate $100, Team Summer will get $200. I’m full of hope that you all will help us reach this goal!
Team Summer is expanding! Our Team Summer kids gave gifts in six new states this past year! That brings our total up to 36 states, getting us ever so much closer to our goal of giving gifts in all 50 states. We want this entire map covered in PURPLE!
Every Team Summer gift is given by a kid with cancer to another kid with cancer. We could not be prouder of our kids and the way they are helping each other through some of the toughest days of their young lives. These are the faces of just a handful of the kids Team Summer touched this year — receiving cool gifts like a trampoline, batting cage, surfboard, concert tickets, golf clubs, and a bounce house — all designed to bring joy and help them cope with their difficult treatments.
Every Team Summer gift is funded through donations from generous people like you! And the best part is that with our Annual Matching Challenge, your donation will be doubled!
Team Summer
P.O. Box 9013
Atlanta, GA 31106
On behalf of my beautiful daughter, whose vision, compassion, and empathy started all this, thank you in advance for accepting this Challenge. Especially on this most challenging day.
Much love,
Lynne Dale
President
Team Summer
This is the remarkable group of Team Summer supporters whose generosity created our Challenge Fund. I am grateful beyond words!
Gold Level Donors
Cathi and Chad Morriss
Individual Donors
Jennifer Barnes
Holly and George Batchelor
Elizabeth and Frank Blake
Tracy Carusi
Jan and Avery DeLong
Melissa Demetrops
Robert and Janet Dobson
Linton and Priscilla Hopkins
Scott Levere
Liza and Derrick McSwain
Jeri Moran and Shaun Rawls
Nancy Neufer
Jeff and Betsy Sherry
Corporate Donors
HawkPartners
Specialty Center for Periodontics and Dental Implants
