Pacific Pride Heart & Sole AIDS Walk 2012 Raised...

...more than $96,000! A big thank you to Jon Gathercole & Claude Raffin for their generous $25,000 matching gift challenge donation, and Peter Ralston for his $5,000 matching gift challenge. 

Thank you to my wonderful TEAM: California Hearts for walking with me!!! Love You All!! 

100% of what was raised will support Pacific Pride Foundation’s life saving HIV/AIDS services including: Free Anonymous HIV Testing, Food Pantries that assist low-income clients and their families, Education and Prevention outreach, and Support Groups and Counseling for those living with or affected by HIV/AIDS.  PPF is the largest HIV/AIDS service provider between Los Angeles and San Francisco, serving thousands of people each year.

My fundraising page will be active until October 31^st - can you help us reach the critical $129,000 goal by the end of October?!

SAVE THE DATE! Next year’s 23^rd Annual Heart + Sole AIDS Walk will be Saturday, October 5, 2013. 

 

Every Dollar Raised By The End Of The Month Will Be Doubled!!!

   This year’s AIDS Walk goal for PPF is to raise $129,000.00 and they are currently at $7,250.  They need your help to keep their core HIV programs and services open to the community. Thanks to a very generous offer by Jon Gathercole and Claude Raffin, every dollar raised by the end of the month will be doubled up to $25,000! 

PPF is having a Fundraising 101 Information session tomorrow evening from 6-7pm at PPF-Santa Barbara.  They are giving away AIDS Walk t-shirts on the day of the event for individuals that  come to the information session. 

As an added incentive, individual walkers who raise $500 or more will receive a special AIDS Walk Gift bag filled with great goodies!  Please let me know if you want to join Team California Hearts.

 http://pacificpridefn.donorpages.com/AIDSWalk2012/shannonatkinson

 

Heart & Sole AIDS Walk 2012

www.pacificpridefoundation.org

October is AIDS Awareness Month. I have registered to walk in the 22nd Annual Santa Barbara Heart & Sole AIDS Walk to support the fight against AIDS. As most of you already know I lost my brother to AIDS about nine years ago. This will be my 2nd year walking in the Heart & Sole Walk. I will be walking in memory of my brother Judge and I will also be walking to support all of the brave fighters who are living with AIDS.

  I hope you all will take the time to click on the links below to make a difference. If you are interested in doing more than donating then please join us along with hundreds of other dedicated men, women and children who will walk, run, wheelchair and stroll along Santa Barbara’s waterfront on Saturday, October 6. My team name is California Hearts.

  For the past 22 years, our community has helped raise vital funds for the men, women, and children living with, affected by, or at risk for HIV/AIDS in Santa Barbara County. AIDS Walk is Pacific Pride's largest annual fundraising event, and the largest of its kind in the region.

~Stays local, and serves the men, women, and children affected by or at risk for HIV/AIDS in Santa Barbara County.~
~Prevents the spread of HIV in our towns through free education and testing events.Feeds families and individuals affected by AIDS with food pantries in Santa Maria and Santa Barbara.
~Cares for our HIV-positive clients seeking medical help, mental wellness, housing assistance, and healthy living habits.
~Helps Santa Barbara County respond to AIDS locally.

All dollars raised stay local and support Pacific Pride's HIV/AIDS services. The funds and awareness raised by the AIDS Walk are essential to educating our community and preventing transmission of HIV/AIDS.

Please Click on the links below to make a difference:

To Make a Donation 
To Join Team California Hearts 
 

September 11th

~September 11th~

Uncertainty hits us with a bang.
Our nations heart sang.
A song of sadness and of disbelief.
All the families filled with grief.
History falls with the touch of a hand.
Will we ever understand?
Anger rages through and through.
Our flag will always wave Red, White and Blue.

Families broken while they rejoice.
Lives are lost without a choice.
Darkness fills from east to west.
Putting us to the test.
Numbness is what we feel.
Could this all possibly be real?
From our hearts we pray out loud.
As we watch that evil cloud.

For what have they won?
In this evilness that has been done.
Unknown to us is the face we seek.
To answer all but is too weak.
Threatening our land and what we believe.
Stealing our security are those who thieve.
Evil lives in the heart of hate.
What will now become their fate?

And then there are those who risk it all.
Looking for victims when the odds are small.
Finding hope when the risks are high.
Praying that they will not die.
Continuing on while barely sleeping.
Picking up shattered lives while weeping.
Courage runs through all their veins.
Persevering through all their pains.

Our freedom was won with blood and tears.
The land we conquered despite our fears.
Pulling together in faith and love.
Showing the enemy what we are made of.
This is where our unity and love will start.
We will not be broken or torn apart.
Through it all we continue to strive.
Love and hope will always be alive.

Shannon Atkinson
                                                                     

A Poem for My Brother Judge...

My brother Judge lost his battle with AIDS when I was pregnant with my second child. Finding refuge in my writing I sat down and wrote this poem...


~A Special Soul~

He loved me the moment we met.
Just one touch and our lives were set.
Set in stone was our love.
Chosen to meet as the stars above.
When together we had us a time.
The song of love was our rhyme.
One day our lives would change.
I was within hearing range.
I heard him cry in fear that day.
That’s when I began to pray.
Pray for him despite the cost.
One mistake and all was lost.
He showed me how to love without regret.
To live your life and not to fret.
Hold onto faith when all else fails.
Listen with your heart and tell your tales.
Live a book and let it be read.
Remember every word you ever said.
Take the time to meet a friend.
Keep your faith until the end.
Sing a song and make it true.
Say the words I love you.
For a brief moment in time he belonged to me.
But now his heart and soul are finally free.

Blossoming of the Lotus...Book Intro

"Blossoming of the Lotus"

Out from the darkness she will rise.
Struggling to reach sunlight and blue skies.
Yearning for the freedom that is meant for the strong.
Knowing that it was meant for her all along.
Believing in herself, trudging forward.
Stretching while always reaching upward.
Just as she hits the surface of the other side.
Never looking back just remembering the ride.
Freedom belongs to those who are not afraid of the tears.
For those who are more afraid of the wasted years.
The lotus blossom never gives up and she never gives in
until she reaches the beauty above and the beauty within.

I hope...

... everyone had a wonderful 4th of July!!!

  As for my family and I we had a blast! We went down to Santa Barbara to BBQ with friends and then headed over to the beach to watch fireworks. The whole family had a great time.

  Unfortunately, on our way home we came across an accident. As I was driving I saw a car who was coming towards me spin around while going about 70 mph. He did what looked like a huge U turn, coming into my lane and then crashing into the mountain. The babies had all fallen asleep by then and didn't witness any of it. Thank goodness!!

  I pulled over and put on my hazards. My husband called 911 and headed towards the, too still car. I was so relieved when I saw the man step out of the car unharmed.

  The man had hit a deer and lost control of his car. I thanked God that I hadn't been driving any faster otherwise we might have been hit as well.

  The accident left my husband and I a little shell shocked but also thankful for all of our blessings in life.  As we drove away from the accident I said a silent prayer for the man and all of the other drivers who were still on the road.

  I hope you all had a wonderful and safe holiday!!!

Finally...

 

  I can proudly say that my book has officially been published!! I got a text from my publisher yesterday, while I was headed to a Dodgers game with my family. I looked up the website and sure enough there it was.

  After all this time waiting, I can't believe that it's finally done!


http://vosestreetmedia.com/blog/?products=blossoming-of-the-lotus

OK...

  So... getting my book published is taking longer than I had initially expected. I had a meeting with my publisher today to go over some last minute details. Everything looks great and is ready to go. It should be published and available to purchase by tomorrow...if all goes well!!!

Hello Everyone...

  I'm sorry it's been a while since my last posting. It's been pretty crazy at my house lately. With spring break and baseball practices/games. We have had a lot of birthdays too!

  Can't say that too much is going on with my book of late. With my crazy schedule and my publisher having back surgery, it has been going slow. We have signed contracts and have given the book and cover one more look over before it is published.

  My book should be hitting the internet shortly (fingers crossed).  Will write more soon:)