Last Call for Supporting Storma !
Donation protected
I’ve decided to put together this fundraiser on behalf of my friend of 30 years, Storma Sire. My name is Erin Northcott. I'm also proudly on the board of The Sickle Cell Association of BC, that Storma co-founded.
As some of you may know she has been battling a serious health issue all her life - her own case of Sickle Cell- although she is a living miracle in terms of a typical prognosis for someone with her particular aliment, in the recent years it has gotten worse, which has made things difficult for her, especially in terms of her being able to work full-time. In 2015 she almost died from complications of the disorder and is now on a mild but impactful chemotherapy drug to manage her symptoms.
For many years she worked at the Vancouver Art Gallery, and is a published author/illustrator and poet. She used to teach creative writing and art, not to mention the huge undertaking of forming and incorporating the Sickle Cell Association of British Columbia with two other women suffering from sickle cell.
I've seen the setbacks she has experienced. While she is tough and will not openly discuss it, she is finding herself in the unpleasant and often option limiting cycle, of living with a chronic illness.
Storma is creative in many ways, not just with her paintings. She has spent a lot of time trying to design a way for her to make some lifestyle changes that are realistic to her health struggles; that would still enable her to continue to survive and thrive in this increasingly expensive cost of living in BC.
As a longterm solution, Storma has come up with an idea of starting an art and student homestay business. The idea is to have a house where she can tutour and house 2-3 international students, as well as work on her art. This idea was formed after her many months of research and planning and is clearly a suitable and realistic way forward for her.
She has a wonderful roommate named Melissa who is a long-term friend and also an artist. Melissa will be helping with the homestay business as well, particularly in the event that Storma is unwell.
After discussing her vision with her, I’ve decided on a minimum goal of raising $13,800.00 to get her business started. She will need to rent a suitable home and pay first month's rent plus deposit, as well as pay for her own move and add basic furnishings to the student rooms.
The apartment building she currently rents in has been sold, and she has been given notice that she will need to move out, therefore she needs to make this move to a new life stlye by end of May 2018..
Any financial contribution and sharing of this fund raiser with others that may wish to contribute is deeply appreciated.
It’s never easy to ask for help, and it did take some serious prodding to get Storma to accept my offer to oversee the raising the funds she needs. I’m proud of her for being willing to let those of us who care about her support her at this juncture.
As some of you may know she has been battling a serious health issue all her life - her own case of Sickle Cell- although she is a living miracle in terms of a typical prognosis for someone with her particular aliment, in the recent years it has gotten worse, which has made things difficult for her, especially in terms of her being able to work full-time. In 2015 she almost died from complications of the disorder and is now on a mild but impactful chemotherapy drug to manage her symptoms.
For many years she worked at the Vancouver Art Gallery, and is a published author/illustrator and poet. She used to teach creative writing and art, not to mention the huge undertaking of forming and incorporating the Sickle Cell Association of British Columbia with two other women suffering from sickle cell.
I've seen the setbacks she has experienced. While she is tough and will not openly discuss it, she is finding herself in the unpleasant and often option limiting cycle, of living with a chronic illness.
Storma is creative in many ways, not just with her paintings. She has spent a lot of time trying to design a way for her to make some lifestyle changes that are realistic to her health struggles; that would still enable her to continue to survive and thrive in this increasingly expensive cost of living in BC.
As a longterm solution, Storma has come up with an idea of starting an art and student homestay business. The idea is to have a house where she can tutour and house 2-3 international students, as well as work on her art. This idea was formed after her many months of research and planning and is clearly a suitable and realistic way forward for her.
She has a wonderful roommate named Melissa who is a long-term friend and also an artist. Melissa will be helping with the homestay business as well, particularly in the event that Storma is unwell.
After discussing her vision with her, I’ve decided on a minimum goal of raising $13,800.00 to get her business started. She will need to rent a suitable home and pay first month's rent plus deposit, as well as pay for her own move and add basic furnishings to the student rooms.
The apartment building she currently rents in has been sold, and she has been given notice that she will need to move out, therefore she needs to make this move to a new life stlye by end of May 2018..
Any financial contribution and sharing of this fund raiser with others that may wish to contribute is deeply appreciated.
It’s never easy to ask for help, and it did take some serious prodding to get Storma to accept my offer to oversee the raising the funds she needs. I’m proud of her for being willing to let those of us who care about her support her at this juncture.
Organizer
Erin Northcott
Organizer
Vancouver, BC
