We Deserve Better Foundation

They say you don’t truly know how strong you are until being strong is your only option.

Life can hit us with moments that knock the wind out of us, literally and figuratively. For us, Dana and Mona, those moments came in very different forms, but they brought us to the same place: a deep desire to rise up and give back.

About Mona’s experience - Last year, I faced a frightening health diagnosis - one of those terrifying pauses in life that changes everything. What began as a routine exam became an alarming medical evaluation when I learned I had breast cancer. Thankfully detected at its earliest most treatable stage, it was surgically removed, and today I’m healthy, strong, and profoundly grateful. Yet my own swift recovery only deepened my awareness of how many people struggle to access early detection, the right treatments, and the emotional support they—and their families—desperately need. That’s why I’m determined to give back: to help ensure more lives are saved through timely diagnosis, quality care, and compassionate community resources.

About Dana’s experience: Ten years ago, my first son Zayn was born, almost dead - he stopped oxygen to himself fully for 7 minutes during birth. Those 7 minutes led to weeks in the NICU, developmental delays, years of searching for a diagnosis and necessary therapies as well as endless learning around love, surrender, gratitude and the beauty of the world through his eyes. We have been blessed with the ability to provide him with the best doctors and therapists along the way. Today, Zayn is thankfully thriving on the autism spectrum and enriching our lives like we could not have imagined. I’d like to do my part in ensuring other families get a similar opportunity to thrive.

Both experiences left a mark - and a mission.

This summer, to honour our journeys and support others still facing their own, we’ve committed to climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro side by side. Together, we’re turning our personal trials into a shared mission of hope, healing and support - shedding light on the work of two amazing NGOs in Lebanon that are deeply personal to us, while also raising $50,000 to support their mission and beneficiaries:

Barbara Nassar Association for Cancer Patient Support, an organisation committed to guiding and supporting cancer patients and their families psychologically and financially, by advocating on behalf of patients and providing access to consultations, services, supportive care and medications free of charge; and

OpenMinds, an organisation dedicated to empowering children and young adults with autism and neurodevelopmental differences — providing access to therapies, inclusive education and vocational training to families that otherwise would not be able to afford them.

We’d be deeply honoured if you’d follow our story, share it, and support these organisations if you're able. Every step we take up that mountain will be for those still facing their own uphill battle, and the life-changing work of these two incredible organisations.

With love and gratitude,

Mona and Dana

Note: All funds will go through a 501c3 non-profit organization registered in the state of California in the United States, We Deserve Better Foundation, who will in turn ensure the funds are routed to the two organizations above in Lebanon.

One Lebanon—that’s what this campaign is all about. Standing united, not divided, through the good times and especially the bad. Today, we are proud to announce the launch of our initiative, “One Lebanon,” a campaign that embodies unity for all.

One Lebanon is a crisis relief campaign aimed at supporting those impacted by the ongoing conflict in our country. Our mission is to provide essential supplies, including food, medicine, and bedding, to displaced individuals in need. To achieve this, we have partnered with “We Deserve Better Foundation,” a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization registered in California, and “Helping Others,” both dedicated to providing aid to Lebanon. The “We Deserve Better Foundation” was originally established in response to the Beirut port explosion and has since been committed to ongoing crisis relief. “Helping Others” was formed by a group of passionate students who have been tirelessly volunteering and raising donations to help alleviate the suffering of those affected by the crisis.

We continue to hope and pray for a brighter, more peaceful tomorrow for our beautiful Lebanon. You don’t need to be Lebanese or Arab to lend a hand or spread the message—you just need to be human.

Help Us Realize the Dream of Every Cancer Patient in Lebanon!

Barbara Nassar Cancer Center for Supportive Care: Giving Cancer Patients a Home...a Hope!

Join us in making a difference for cancer patients in Lebanon!

We're raising funds for the 'Barbara Nassar Cancer Center for Supportive Care' to provide comprehensive support to adult cancer patients in Lebanon.

The center will offer moral, psychological, and financial support, empowerment, physical and psychological rehabilitation, art therapy, music therapy and more. But we need your help to renovate the space and make it a true haven for patients.

Your donation will help us reach our goal of $250,000 to renovate the first 2 floors, with a total renovation cost of $500,000. Every contribution counts towards providing a home-like environment for those on their cancer journey.

Thank you for supporting this important cause!

To learn more about the impactful work of the Barbara Nassar Association in advocating and supporting patients and their families, check out the social media channels at the links below.

https://www.facebook.com/BarbaraNassarAssociation?mibextid=LQQJ4d

https://www.instagram.com/barbaranassarassociation?igsh=cGxrZXAyYWFqYXo4