Dear Family and Friends,

As many of you know, my mom, Sue, is approaching a very special milestone—her 80th birthday! Jim, Trish, Nina, dear friend Marie, and I spent quite a bit of time tossing around the idea of hosting a big party for my mom. We all know how much she deserves a massive outpouring of love and appreciation. I think we can all agree that Sue is one of the kindest, most generous, and most thoughtful people who has ever lived. However, after much discernment, the five of us decided that due to cost and mom and Jim's trip to Kenya during the month of July (mom's birthday month), it just didn't make sense to try and pull off a massive party.

So, instead of a big party, I decided to pursue a way of celebrating her that would truly honor one of her lifelong passions. Over Thanksgiving this year, she shared with me that attending one of the Triple Crown horse races was on her bucket list of things she really wanted to do. Knowing how much this would mean to her, I quickly began exploring the possibility of making this happen. After extensive research, I was able to pull together a plan to take her to the Belmont Stakes on June 7th in Saratoga Springs, NY, which is also just a short drive from her childhood hometown of Cazenovia, NY.

Mom DOES NOT like surprises, so Jim and I decided we should tell her well in advance. When I told my mom about this trip, she was moved to tears. Part of what made it so special was the plan to spend two days in Cazenovia before the race, allowing her to revisit her childhood memories and share them with me.

Unfortunately, due to an unexpected financial setback, I can no longer afford to take mom on this trip. The reality of this was devastating. Though she was incredibly understanding when I told her, I know in my heart how much this trip meant to her—and how disappointed she must be. That is why I have decided to get my ego out of the way and humble myself enough to reach out to our family and close friends, all of whom I know love Sue dearly. Since we aren’t throwing a big 80th birthday party, I thought that many of you might feel good about helping to make this dream come true for mom. I am asking for contributions to help cover the costs of this trip so that my mom can still have this unforgettable experience.

I want to mention that I have intentionally left Jim off this email because I don’t want him to feel any pressure, responsibility, or embarrassment about this outreach to help cover these expenses. Mom and Jim also have significant financial constraints of their own, and I do not, in any way, want to contribute to an increased strain for them.

Below you will find a breakdown of the estimated costs for the trip. I will be covering as much of the cost as I can, but without help, I won’t be able to make this happen.

Airfare: $1,000

Lodging: $1,000

Car rental: $450

Race tickets: $350

Total: $2,800

To make donating simple, I’ve set up a GoFundMe page:

I want to acknowledge that asking for financial help—especially when this trip also includes me—feels uncomfortable. But I also know that this is about celebrating Sue in a way that will bring her the utmost joy, is what matters most! If you are able to contribute, know that it will mean the world to her (and to me!). No matter what, I appreciate your love and support. Thank you so much for considering and making Sue’s 80th birthday one for the books!

With deep gratitude,

Vanessa