Hi. My name is Eleanor. I work at a cancer institute in Santa Monica, California, in marketing and communications. Some* of what I do encompasses copywriting, blogging, strategizing, taking/editing photos, and producing videos to market. How? The retelling and capturing of cancer survivor journeys by interviewing them (blog and video) to promote care, research, and raise cancer awareness. That's a little about what I do professionally.
This GoFundMe is an effort to raise funds so I may promote medical/surgical care in Guatemala for a charity called Faith in Practice by using my unique set of skills I already poses as a photography/videographer/writer.
Faith in Practice does about 35 medical and surgical missions yearly in Guatemala; many are to remote villages and those in great need.
Each trip has a collective team of designated blogger/photographer (me), as well as medical staff, doctors, surgeons, RNs, and staffers from around the nation. This is my first trip with this organization and solo documenting, and theirs with me.
Why Faith in Practice? A colorectal surgical oncologist I work with and who goes several times a year told me about these trips, which had me curious what I can do. It is an invaluable opportunity to do what I enjoy: storytelling for humanity, or rather, capturing a tad-bit of our shared history.
I've created this GoFundMe because I cannot truly afford this trip solely on my own. Everyone pays for themselves and raises funds for the mission for medical supplies (that's in a link below if you want to donate to Faith in Practice directly).
This trip is scheduled for February 8th, 2025, to February 15th, 2025, and the team I'm going with is called Team 839 - Village Zimbelman (Delk) Santa Rosa. However, everyone has to pay their fees by the end of December 2024.
I'd appreciate if you can help me reach Gautemala to document what this great organization is doing. It is my understanding they've never had a professional like me participate. I strongly believe my going will have a tremendous impact, and I've already been contacted by the organization that they are super supportive and excited to have me be apart of this trip.
Here are some links to the past blogs the group I'm going with (Delk 791) published, and to the website, Faith in Practice. If you want to follow what I produce, l will update this GoFundMe with a link to the content and stories.
You may also volunteer by going to Faith and Practice's website. You do not have to identify as a religious person to take part of medical/surgical missions founded by a religious organization/charity. Our Humanity is a human right (not necessarily a religious right).
Thank you for visiting this GoFundMe. I appreciate anything you contribute.
Anything more than 2500 will be donated for medical supplies, and anything else they need on this trip.
Shine on!
Eleanor