Every Kid's a Y Kid!

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A Wildwood YMCA Campaign Story

Dear Julie,

I am writing this letter to you, to repetition our need for financial assistance. I have been a recipient for the past year of the Wildwood YMCA’s generous financial assistance program. Last year at this time my husband had been unemployed for almost a year.

This year has been a difficult one for me. Recently, my father died of a heart attack. My family and I have been living with my parents for the past 2 years while my husband was conducting a job search. My parents have been a great support. But now, my mother feels overwhelmed with the lack of my father’s income. In January of 2009 my husband landed a job in O’Fallon. We want to contribute to help pay the mortgage and groceries, but right now we can’t. We are trapped in debt. Being unemployed for a year and a half, paying COBRA Health insurance during that time, and giving birth to our 2nd son has taken its toll.

In addition to the loss of my father, I have been dealing with the diagnosis of a degenerative neuromuscular disease. This disease causes the nerves to slowly stop stimulating the muscles in the outer extremities of the body. The disease is fairly new, there is little treatment, the best way to “slow” the progress of the disease is to EXERCISE…DAILY. The phrase “Move it or lose it” is a vital part of my life now. I am a very active member of the Y.

I NEED to attend the YMCA. This past year one of the few things that has kept me sane has been my membership and time at the gym. I have made it a regular part of my life, my escape. The free childcare has been such a blessing. I exercise not to be skinny or to lose weight. I exercise to be a STRONG woman—to be a happy wife and mother, to be emotionally and mentally healthy (to hold off depression), and to be a physically fit person (to hold on to what muscle I do have).

Without financial assistance my family and I CANNOT attend the Y or use your programs. I am greatly humbled by my circumstances, and I feel richly blessed by all the generous donors who make financial assistance possible.

Thank You.

How does my gift help?

• $1,000
  Gets a team of youngsters into the game at one of many YMCA Youth Sports Leagues. In Y Sports, everybody plays and everybody wins, and good sportsmanship comes first.
• $200
  Enables a teen to build leadership skills through YMCA Teen Leaders Club. A pledge of $300 provides a full year of real legislative experience in the esteemed YMCA Youth in Government program.
• $150
  Gives a week of values-enriched summer day camp to a child who otherwise could not afford to experience this summer tradition.The Wildwood Y provides camps in Wildwood, Pacific and several area parks.
• $50
  Helps provide a session of swimming lessons for a child in a YMCA swim class, building swimming skills and self-esteem and values as well.

For more information, please contact Lisa Roth at the YMCA of Greater St. Louis, (314) 436-1177, or your local YMCA branch.