Editor’s Update Aug. 28, 2013: The 7th Annual Annual Kyra’s Idea Angie’s Hope Fundraiser with a baseball theme is slated to begin at 4PM Sat., Sept. 21, at The Foundry, located at 85 Executive Drive in Aurora. To purchase tickets ($25 each) or to support the cause,visit www.AngiesHope.org.
2012 Kyra’s Idea Angie’s Hope’ fundraiser
Neighbors in the West Wind Subdivision remember six years ago when a 3rd grade student at May Watts Elementary School took the lead to raise funds to find a cure for her best friend who has SMA, Spinal Muscular Atrophy, a motor neuron disease affecting voluntary muscles.
Since that first community garage sale that grew and grew from year to year over four years, raising funds and awareness for Families of SMA has become an annual event. From the beginning, neighbors were in awe at the quality of donated items for the garage sale that became so popular it was necessary to close a street. (Note PN’s file photo from 2010.) It was a one-day wonder that just seemed to luck out with the weather.
Then organizer Krya Scadden had another idea last year that will be repeated this month at a large indoor sports facility with plenty of space for pasta and more pasta.
From 4-7PM Sat., Sept. 22, friends and family will host the 6th Annual Kyra’s Idea Angie’s Hope Fundraiser, “Wipe Out SMA Family Pasta Party.”
This year’s fundraiser will be held at The Foundry, located at 85 Executive Drive in Aurora.
To purchase tickets or support the cause,visit www.AngiesHope.org.
According to her parents, Kris and Barry Scadden, when Kyra was in 3rd grade she wanted to raise money to find a cure for her best friend, Angie, who has SMA, confining her to a wheelchair and limiting what she can do.
“We started calling her project ‘Kyra’s Idea, Angie’s Hope’ that first year with no way of knowing the impact that little idea would have,” noted Kris Scadden. “We are so grateful for the support Kyra and Angie have received from their friends, family, the community and people we have never met.”
Over the last six years Kyra’s idea has included a penny drive, four huge garage sales and a family pasta party in 2011, she said.
“This annual event is about so much more than raising money to find a cure. It’s amazing to watch the kids come up with ideas and work hard to reach their goal,” Kris continued. “It’s brought them together and empowered them in a situation where we all feel powerless. It’s brought awareness to our community about a disease that few people knew about even though it is the #1 genetic killer of children under the age of two.
She also notes the fundraising initiatives have introduced them to new people every year who want to be involved or who have been touched in some way by the devastating SMA.
The good news is that in recent years, breakthroughs in research have come from clinical trials.
To date Kyra and her supporters have raised more than $75,000 for a cure.
“The girls, now 13, are excited about their upcoming event and would really appreciate your support. The party will include food, soft drinks, a silent auction, raffles, music and more,” added Kris.
For more information or to purchase tickets for the upcoming pasta party, visit www.AngiesHope.org where you also can view a YouTube video that tells our story or make a donation to Families for SMA.
All proceeds benefit Families of SMA for research, support and hope.
