On June 5th and 6th, 2003, a yard sale to raise money for the VHL Family Alliance was held in Manchester, Tennessee, by Juanelle S. and Helen V. Juanelle is a member of the VHLFA and is affected by VHL. Juanelle and Helen raised over $1000 through the yard sale. Money and items for sale were donated from members of the community, including a $200 donation from the Coffee County Visually Impaired Persons (VIP)

.Juanelle is my aunt, and four members of our family are affected by VHL. My aunt has not been able to walk without using a walker for several years due to multiple surgeries for spinal tumors. Other members of the family have also been severely affected by VHL.

With limited financial resources and physical ability, it is easy to say that there's nothing we can do to help in the fight to find a cure for VHL. The efforts of Juanelle and Helen prove that's not true. Through word of mouth and very little local advertising, they were able to enlist the help of concerned friends and family to raise this money. If only 50 people put forth the same effort, then they would raise $50,000 for VHL research and education!

I hope that Juanelle and Helen will challenge and inspire others to help.

As printed in the VHL Family Forum 11:3, September 2003. For permission to reprint, please contact VHL Family Alliance, editor@vhl.org.