Rony is 16 and began dancing when she was five years old. Rony currently is in the Claude Watson Arts Program for dance at Earl Haig Secondary School and has explored styles which include contemporary, modern, tap, jazz, character, hip hop, Bollywood, and ballet. Outside of dance Rony also enjoys playing hockey and spending quality time with family and friends. She believes in Crafting for a Cure because when she dances for the patients she sees them forget, if only for a moment, where they are. Watching the kids smile truly fills her heart and is a magical experience. Rony has been part of CFC cure for two years and is honoured to be a part of making people smile through her passion for dance.
Rachel Barak is a classically trained dancer from King, Ontario who has been pursuing ballet for 13 years now. She is currently in her final year of high school, and has two years of experience teaching ballet to kids aged 4-11 years old at Karpov Ballet Academy, Valentina’s Dance Studio, and Love 2 Dance Studio. She is also part of a program for a charity called Crafting for A Cure. The program, called Smiles For All, has ballerinas like Rachel come to hospitals around the GTA to perform for the patients, staff, and visitors.
What many do not realize is that I am the sole person that runs the charity. What does that mean, it means, I am the CEO, VP, Treasurer, Secretary, Driver and everything else. Friends who help unconditionally surround me, I work with high school and university students who want to volunteer their time. However, up until now I really chose to not emphasize that the charity was run by one – "me".
Jennifer Tryon was a TV journalist turned full-time TV crafter after her two worlds merged. You can find her on Global's The Morning Show, TSC in Canada and HSN in the US. She writes a blog and produces an online tv show that stems from her namesake Tryon a HomeMade life. The idea behind Jen's brand is that you don't need to be an expert designer to create some of the amazing projects we see posted and pinned online. Jennifer lives in Toronto, with her husband and three children.
The Buddha once said “It is during our darkest moments that we must focus to see the light.” a quote that amongst others about tranquility, peace, and kindness can describe the work done by Crafting for a Cure. Crafting for a Cure in its innate value focuses on the light of a singular moment, an important moment, in fact, the most important moment; the present. The present is a crucial piece of our existence. It can be found in the midst of an illness, or in a routine check up. The present isn’t always a nice place to be, it can be anxious, especially in those scenarios. However, that stress can simply be cured by the work of the hand; paint, colour, beading, you name it.
To begin, my experiences with Crafting for a Cure began in grade seven, when I had just moved schools and a new friend of mine invited me over to make bracelets for her mother’s Charity. At the time, I knew absolutely nothing about Crafting for a Cure, but after crafting and listening to my friend’s mother, Pamela Bielak, explain why Crafting for a Cure was created, and how easy it was to get involved, even at just 12 years old, I knew I had to get started immediately.
For anyone who has not heard of Crafting for a Cure, I would like to take this opportunity to introduce you to this outstanding charity I have been supporting and raising funds for their annual Kilometers for Kids (K for K) walkathon since I was 7 years old. I would also like to introduce its President, Mrs. Pamela Bielak, affectionately known as Mrs. B, who is the heart and soul of this charity.