Thank you to everyone who played a part in Townsend Leather, the Angel Collection handbags, and helping toward a cure for cancer through donations to MSKCC. Here is a look back at some 2010 highlights for our Angel Collection.

So long 2010, but we welcome 2011 with open arms and wish the best for everyone in the coming year!

Angel Arms

The Terry Brindle Celebrate Life Angel represents so much to us at Townsend Leather. One thing that has always struck me about this simple, yet elegant drawing, is her arms. They are outstretched in each direction. A symbol each of us can relate to and enjoy. A symbol that can mean the greatest, clearest expression of thanks and gratitude – a hug. Sometimes a hug can express more thanks than your words can, sometimes all you can say is a hug, and sometimes all you need to say is a hug.

So this Thanksgiving lets each take a cue from the Celebrate Life Angel and express our thanks in a clear and loving way, with a hug.

Thanksgiving.
A time for each of us to reflect on
what it is like to know what we know
have what we have
and be who we are

This thanksgiving strive to not only be thankful,
but absolutely stuffed, gorged, jam-packed full of thanks.
And from all of us at Townsend Leather we sincerely thank you for your interest, care and presence. We give you each a big wrapping warm hug (and it is especially tight this time because of how full we just got on all our thanks)

thank you.

Last month we were invited to visit MSKCC once again and enjoy a great luncheon. We were able to meet some great people who were all passionate and involved in finding an end for cancer.

After the lunch we were dazzled by the knowledge, expertise, and drive of a renown cancer Doctor. He spoke about cancer genes and the strong hereditary nature of cancer. We also got to learn a bit more about the work being done at MSKCC. and if you would like to see a little bit about their staff and the depth of work they are doing, check out this video… http://www.mskcc.org/mskcc/html/88656.cfm

An annual event, Blog Action Day, is here! If you are not familiar with their action plan for change you can see their site and mission here http://blogactionday.change.org/

The theme for action this year is WATER.

Check out this video for more information on water and why it is important for all of us to get involved http://vimeo.com/15336764

There are a lot of great groups and organizations doing a lot of good toward getting clean water to everyone. I urge you to take a minute and see how you can help, because as the Blog Action Day website states, “Access to clean water is not just a human rights issue. It’s an environmental issue. An animal welfare issue. A sustainability issue. Water is a global issue, and it affects all of us.”

Be an Angel of Water

Nurse Angel

This Angel Story was not actually submitted to us, but it certainly fits the ideals of an Angel Story. The great people at StoryCorps have collected more than 30000 personal stories from ordinary, but still extraordinary people.

If you have some time, stop by their site and have a listen. http://storycorps.org/

But I urge you to especially consider listening to this touching story of a daughter interviewing her mother, Dana, about being a cancer nurse. The love and care in each of their voices is powerful. http://storycorps.org/listen/stories/sarafina-viviano-and-her-mother-dana/ You can hear the story by clicking the link.

Do you have an Angel Story to share?

www.morebirthdays.com

Through the American Cancer Society’s work, we have been able to celebrate 11 million more birthdays.  Meaning there are 11 million more cancer survivors.

The American Cancer Society has created a great new website for their More Birthdays campaign.  If you like Art, Music, Birthdays, or curing cancer, do yourself and the world in general and check out www.morebirthdays.com

I especially enjoy the gallery section http://morebirthdays.com/gallery and I think Fishbone and Eric Carle are a couple of the highlights.  Do you see any of your favorite artists on there?

Here’s to many more birthdays!

Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center

Recently some of us on the Angel Collection team took a day trip to NYC to visit with some of the great people at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center.

Outside the building at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in NYC

This proved to be a great day with great weather and great company.  Townsend Leather was presented with a very meaningful certificate from MSKCC.  Our friend at MSKCC, presented us with a certificate for Extraordinary Dedication, Generosity and Leadership in the Fight Against Cancer.  We are very pleased and proud for this recognition especially as it was given in honor of Terry Brindle.

All of us at Townsend Leather are so very impressed with everyone at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center and we are very proud to have a connection to them.

Thank you MSKCC for all the good you are doing in the world and for all the friendship you continue to give out to us.

The line of Luminaries at night for Relay For Life 2010

Its never too late to remember a good time.  Here is a brief pictoral review of our great time at the Relay for Life.  Enjoy, and if you were there tell us about you experience!

American Cancer Society Fulton and Montgomery Counties Relay for Life

A great day for great fun and a great cause, the 13th Annual Relay For Life of Fulton and Montgomery Counties is today!

Come on down to the Park Terrace Elementary School in Gloversville, NY and join in the fun and festivities, and join Townsend Leather to Celebrate, Remember, and Fight Back.  There will be plenty of food from “around the world” and activities like a sack race and chees ball toss, there will also be a R2D2 Robot rounding the track!  And of course the meaningful highlights of the night the opening survivors lap and the Luminaria ceremony.

For more information you can visit the ACS FMC Relay for Life website

You can also visit the Townsend Leather Relay for Life page

This is sure to be a fun and inspirational event and we look forward to seeing you there!

Celebrate Life with Strength (Chinese Symbol)

Another meaningful Angel story for you to enjoy, an unknown author finds strength in adversity…

My Angel Story by Anonymous

Although so far in my life I have not been directly affected by cancer, I have known family members and friends who have struggled with cancer.

A family friend who I was very close with was diagnosed with cancer about 2 years ago.  It was very sudden and shocking for everyone.  As I began to see the effects that cancer had on her and her family it made me realize how strong of a women it takes to fight such a horrible disease like cancer.  After years of fighting this cancer, she did survive.  I am very thankful that I still have my friend with me today inspiring me to live the life I have always wanted.

As cancer has become more and more common amongst people today, it is becoming more and more real to me that I may have to experience another loved one being diagnosed with cancer.  This has helped me to live my life a little differently and cherish every moment I have I have with the ones I love.  I am continuing to do everything I can to help fight this disease and I encourage everyone to do the same.

We hope you enjoyed this story and we also hope it inspires you to share your story.  If you have an Angel Story you would like to share or any questions about how you can get involved in Angel Stories send us an email at info@tltownsendleather.com

Celebrate Life with Music in Your Heart

Our first Angel Story is from a cancer survivor with a positive message and some helpful recommendations.  Read her story…

My Angel Story by Pattie Rumrill Zullo

2001 marked several life changing events for me.  One of these events was when I was diagnosed with early stage breast cancer in March 2001.  My first reaction was shock, then anger, and finally the mind set that I was not going to let this diagnosis and follow up treatments prevent me from living a positive, full life.

Through the assistance of my doctors, exercise, support of my family, friends, students  and love of music I continued with my newly established lifestyle keeping positive even as I write this story.  Yes I have my set backs but I pick myself up and move on.

Since my diagnosis I have completed  a 34 year career of teaching music to many students in the Greater JohnstownSchool District, music directed over 40 adult and children musicals, performed in several music theatre shows and concerts, assisted  vocal performers and future music teachers in developing their skills, volunteered for many local organizations, enjoyed my single mom lifestyle that now includes being a grandma, and have done some traveling.

My recommentdation to current as well as future cancer victims, keep a positive outlook.  Having this positive outlook will help you get through the most difficult of times.

I am willing to be an ear  for anyone who needs to talk about their cancer illness. Sometimes just talking to someone about their illness with another who has gone through it helps.  - Pattie

You can contact Pattie for her  support through us, at info@tltownsendleather.com.

We hope you enjoyed Pattie’s story and we also hope it inspires you to share your story.  If you have an Angel Story you would like to share or any questions about how you can get involved in Angel Stories send us an email at info@tltownsendleather.com

Remembering…

Fighting Back…

Relay For Life…

Relay for Life.  It is probably the most well known volunteer cancer fundraising event.  It is also one of the most inspiring, fun, and easy to get involved with.  You can join a team and join the walk for just a $10 donation, or you can sponsor a teammate, or you can just offer a donation.  The great people at American Cancer Society have made it very easy for you to make a donation, so if you are interested in fighting cancer, remembering those who have past, and being inpried by those surviving then you can make a doantion to Townsend Leather’s Relay for Life Page here:  Townsend Leather Relay For Life Team Page or you can make a donation to our friends and partners in fighting cancer on the In Memory of Terry Brindle Relay For Life Team Page.

For more information check out the Relay for Life homepage or email us at info@tltownsendleather.com  We are proud to be involved in this cause and look forward to seeing how you get involved as well.

Townsend Leather Angel Collection at the Fairfield County Women's Expo

Thank you to everyone who came by the booth over the weekend in Stamford CT!  We had a great time connecting with people, sharing stories, spreading the message, and enjoying the atmosphere.

If you are looking for something you saw at our booth, and can’t find it on our website – just send us an email at info@tltownsendleather.com for some more information.

And thanks to Stamford Hospital for sponsoring the event!

Share your story

Tell your Angel Story…

You have heard the saying many times before, “sharing is caring,” it is usually said in a somewhat sarcastic way or with an intended bit of goofiness, but the reason the saying persists is the unequivocal truth to it.  Sharing IS caring, when you share something you are making an offering to the people around you, you are saying “this is what I have.  This is what I know.  You are worthy of enjoying it, of hearing it, or being a part of it with me.”

And it is this exact notion that has invigorated Townsend Leather to share its story and gather yours.  One of the most meaningful, therapeutic, and inspirational, ways to connect is to share stories.  Stories are personal, they are internal, they are entertaining, and they are linking.

Everyone has a story.  And a story means something, something of realness of the human connection.  Nearly everyone has a story of a connection to cancer.  Cancer is the #2 leading cause of death in the USA and is poised to become the #1 worldwide.  Cancer affects all of us.  One way to deal with, learn about, and heal from the effects is to find support.  Support can mean many things to many people, it can mean finding a community of like-minded people to be with, it can mean researching and finding knowledge that was useful to others, and it can mean simply knowing you are not alone in your pursuits and in your life.  All of these meanings of support are built by sharing stories.

So please share your story.  Townsend Leather Angel Collection handbags website and blog, Facebook page, and Twitter page are a growing community for cancer support and connection.  You can be a part of that community in a very meaningful and caring way, by sharing.  We are hoping to gather many stories of connection to cancer – to post on our blog.  You can submit your story by email to info@tltownsendleather.com or if you prefer to handwrite or have some accompanying artwork with your story you can mail it to
Angel Stories c/o
Townsend Leather
45-49 Townsend Ave
Johnstown, NY 12095

We are looking for you to share.  Share your point of view, your experience, your thoughts.  You can write full detailed stories or quick thoughts- everything is welcome.  By submitting a story, you are giving us permission to use your writing, artwork, and pictures on our blog and possibly other places for an indefinite amount of time.  We will choose a story to be posted and linked to on a regular basis, and with your interest and sharing supporting it, this will be an ever-growing, everlasting wealth of stories for anyone to come to, enjoy, learn from, connect with, and heal by.

We sincerely thank you for sharing your story and getting involved in this meaningful and caring way to “support a future that holds no place for cancer”.

Terry Brindle's Celebrate Life Angel

The Fairfield County Women's Expo

Townsend Leather will be showing the Angel Collection Handbags at the Fairfield County Women’s Expo in Stamford Conneticut this weekend May 1-2 2010.  Come out and see us at booth #619.

You can get a $5 off coupon by clicking the picture above and printing.

This is sure to be a great event and we look forward to spreading the Angel Collection message!

Hope to see you there!