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Why Me

Love and Support for Families with Childhood Cancer

Ashlyn Mercier – Miss Gold Coast 2021

Miss Gold Coast is a part of the Miss Connecticut Scholarship Organization, Inc. – supporting the advancement of women in society by embracing diversity, education and civic action. The organization invests in the women of Connecticut to further their education and provides a platform to propel their futures.  I will be competing in the Miss Connecticut competition this April! I am beyond excited to embark on this journey and am so grateful to have this opportunity. Throughout this year, I will be working with organizations that help bring positivity into the lives of children battling critical illnesses.  Like my Facebook page to follow me along on my journey and the road to Miss Connecticut, as well as my impact with Nick’s Courage: One Smile Goes a Mile.

Why Me Holiday Party 2010

My brother Nicholas was only two years old when he received his Leukemia diagnosis, the next four years of his life he battled harder than anyone I know. Nick showed my entire family and me what it meant to be truly courageous and to be a hero. Battling pediatric cancer is hard on so many levels; it takes away a part of your childhood that you can never get back. For these kids it replaces what is supposed to be youth sports and playground fun with surgeries, prescriptions, and hospital rooms.

Why Me was there for Nick, to bring fun and lighthearted events back into his life. Through their Family Fun events, Nick got the opportunity to play and have fun like a kid again. For me as a sibling, I got to meet other families and siblings of children with childhood cancer which served as a beautiful reminder that Nick and my family were never alone in his fight. Nick and I’s favorite event to attend through Why Me was Spree Day. Every year we got to go to the 200 Sportsmen’s Club and compete in activities such as fishing, archery, and shooting BB guns. This event brought out my family’s competitive side and brought so much laughter and joy into our lives. The most magical event though is the Holiday Party, which was an event we had the opportunity to attend every year around Christmas time. What blew me away the most as a child and still to this day, is that every single child, including siblings that attended the Holiday Party received a Christmas gift. It brought so much joy to everyone there.

Why Me Spree Day 2014

As Miss Gold Coast 2021, I want to give back to Why Me for all of the joy they have brought into my family’s life and all the joy they continue to bring into the lives of others. Through my social impact initiative, as part of the Miss America organization, Nick’s Courage: One Smile Goes a Mile; I will be hosting a series of raffles on my Facebook page. I hope that you will consider purchasing raffle tickets as all the money will be donated directly to Why Me. If you are not interested in purchasing raffle tickets, you can donate directly to Why Me’s website. Thank you so much for your kindness and generosity.

 

Sincerely,

Ashlyn Mercier

Miss Gold Coast 2021

 

Welcome Rebecca to our Why Me Staff!

Some of you may have noticed a new (yet somewhat familiar) face working at our fundraising events and around Sherry’s House lately.  We would like to welcome Rebecca Kuczarski as the new Director of Fundraising for Sherry’s House! Rebecca is a Why Me mom who was first introduced to the organization over 5 years ago when her youngest daughter, Sophia, was diagnosed with Leukemia.  During that time Rebecca and her family participated in many family events and support groups.

Following the loss of Sophia in 2012, Rebecca dedicated herself to bettering the lives of families facing pediatric cancer. She has done this  through several fundraising positions – one of which includes the family’s own grass roots non-profit, the Sophia FUNd.  “I love running our yearly kickball event. It is a nice way for our friends and family to honor and remember Sophia.” Kuczarski goes on to explain that the event continues to grow each year and while they are proud to contribute to Why Me, with a portion of the proceeds from this event, she always wanted to do more.  “Our event is once a year. We have fun and raise a lot of money, but in my new position at Why Me I get to work more closely with families and donors.  I am excited to be a part of helping Why Me grow their support for families.”

Rebecca has quickly  become a valued member of the team; diving right in at the busiest time of our fundraising season.  “It is exciting to see each event from behind the scenes, start to finish. It takes a lot of coordination to host successful events.  It feels good to be a part of a team where everyone is so dedicated to the success of each event.” In addition to seeing the events Kuczarski says it is inspiring to be in a space where she can see exactly where the money is going.  With increases in this year’s funding Why Me has been able to offer new Family Fun events for all Why Me families as well as increase support to those living at Sherry’s House.  

Why Me & Sherry’s House is an organization conceived, founded and run in part by families that have lived childhood cancer personally. This unique personal perspective has always provided clarity of our mission and an understanding of what families need. Parents who have lived this experience are passionate and focused and are one of the driving forces behind our success. Rebecca, as a Why Me parent, understands what we do and why it is so important.

Welcome Rebecca!

Read Rebecca’s bio here.