Most of you my followers know just how dear Katie Renz is to me, Katie has become part of my family over the last few years so much so that my husband, daughters, Mam and work friends always ask for updates to how Katie is doing.
  Katie contacted me just before Christmas 2010 and told be the devastating news that she has stage 4 stomach cancer, I was floored. A mom of 3 wonderful boys and a loving wife of Kevin. I felt helpless I wanted to be there with her and give her a great big hug but knew it just wasn’t possible, I needed to help and this is where all of you crafting friends helped me to make a difference and give some stability with money worries for treatment for Katie.
  So here I am once again desperately seeking your help, I am asking you to give what you can either in return for the fabulous stamps that are available or by donating what you can by means of the donation button.   
  
    
    
  "From October 10-12 some of the best stampers are joining together to support and encourage our friend and fellow stamper, Katie Renz, who is currently battling inoperable gastric cancer. If you're not familiar with her, Katie’s cancer story started just before Christmas last year. This young, beautiful, healthy, vibrant mother of 3 with her infectious smile was suddenly diagnosed with an inoperable cancer, virtually overnight. A few tummy aches and then stage 4 gastric cancer. Her first post about it is here. The idea of “Swimming for Katie” came from her recent post here.    
This exclusive stamp used in my sample, designed by Becky Oehlers is available as a clear stamp, as well as a digis or a dig and SVG cut file. 
  


      This is a list of everyone that will give you some inspiration from the above sets today   
  Amy Heller  Jackie Pedro  Julie Masse    
    
Kecia Waters  Sandie Dunne  Susan Liles     
    
Latisha Yoast  Laurie Schmidlin  Lisa Arana     
    
Lisa Henke  Lisa Silver  Lydia Fiedler    
    
Lyn Bernatovich  Lynette  Maria Gurnsey    
    
Meg Craig  Melissa Bickford  Michelle Woerner    
    
Mona Pendleton  Niki Estes  Robyn Weatherspoon    
    
Sarah Jay  Sarah Martina Parker  Savannah O'Gwynn    
    
Stephanie Washburn  Susanna Boyd  Tobi Crawford    
    
Julie Lacey  Kim Kesti  Shemaine Smith    
    
Danielle Lounds  Debbie Carriere  DoBea A.    
    
Fran Gumprecht  Geny Cassady  Gina K.    
    
Holly McMillen  Jak Heath  Javablustamper/Jacquie    
    
Kimberly Crawford  Trudy Sjolander
  100% of the profits go to Katie's fund to help her and her young family. Her husband Kevin and her three young children need our help and support. In addition to the Keep Swimming Octopus, Marianne Walker , True =D Doodle Designs as well as myself have also donated digis that are for sale. Direct donations are also being accepted.    
  To help raise money for Katie, Creating for Causes has generously donated a FREE ticket (value: $249.95) to one of their upcoming 3-day Scrap & Stamp Retreats.    
The winner of the free ticket will enjoy 3 days of non-stop fun and creativity with fellow scrappers, stampers and papercrafters, and can choose between the Charlotte, NC Scrap & Stamp Ritzy Retreat at The Ritz-Carlton on October 21-23 or the Orlando, FL Scrap & Stamp Retreat at the Marriott World Center on November 4-6. Both retreats promise to spoil you and provide 48-straight hours of creating, camaraderie and fun!    
  Here's how it works:    
    Simply make a $33 donation for Katie and indicate that you want to be entered in the Creating for Causes Retreat ticket drawing. Everyone who makes a donation of $33 will be entered into the drawing and one lucky person will be attending this 3-day retreat for FREE! That lucky person could just be you!   
    Information central is HERE. This will stay active at i {heart} papers with current information and the full 3 day blog hop listing, as well as the donation button.    
      Here are all the items available for sale.    
    Once again thank you all for the love you have shown to our beautiful Katie and her family.     
        