Mom is COMING HOME

Hi everyone!

This is Andre, many of you may know me and know a little about my story. I'm sure many of you know that I don't like to ask for things much, but this is something that is extremely important to me and is for my best friend and the strongest person that I know, my mom :)

My mom's name is Sheri Ramsey, she was born in California in 1972 and grew up loving sports, being outdoors and lived with her rowdy and fun family in the deserts of California. She didn't do all that well in school because she suffered from ADHD, depression and struggled to fit in growing up.

Soon she would get addicted to drugs and eventually end up incarcerated in October of 2005, sent to serve 25 years for first-degree murder. She would serve this sentence in the Washington Correction Center for Women. Upon being incarcerated, things were hard for her, if you can imagine being ripped away from your then 2-year-old son, all of your family and realizing how your actions not only affected your life but your families and those who you harmed.

Despite this, Sheri is the strongest woman that I know and chose to actively use her incarceration to better herself and be able to make positive impacts in the lives of those around her and her family. I remember she would send recorded tapes that I could play of her telling me bedtime stories, would send everything to do with Dora (which I loved), and never misses a major milestone in my life (She is my biggest cheerleader). She would also become a peer-counselor and advocate for incarcerated individuals in her prison, teaching them ways to cope with anger and providing them with a positive role model to look up to.

She didn't stop there, while in prison she has earned an Associates Degree from Tacoma Community College and plans to continue her education after her release to be a counselor for youth who are heading down the same path that she did. She also became a certified groomer with an organization called the Prison Pet Partnership and would train dozens of dogs to become service animals in her local area.

It was because of all this and the dedication she has shown to becoming a better human for the world that the Washington State Parole and Pardons Board granted her petition for clemency earlier this summer and she is set to be released in 30 DAYS!!!!!!! She is excited to be free and able to start her life after prison, each day thankful for the opportunity to be better, do better and strive for a better world for others.

This fundraiser is to aid in that dream and jumpstart her transition into society. Please consider helping out if you can <3 My family, Sheri and I are truly appreciative of any support and kind words for the new life and opportunities that await her in the coming months.

With Kindness,

Andre :)