7 Sisters Story Exhibition - October 2008

Last year I visited the Flinders Ranges with my mom during a mother daughter bonding trip (turned intoThelma and Louise as we sung Tina Turner, Pink and Whitney Houston at the top of our lungs).


We had the most remarkable time and met new friends. Two in particular, another mother and daughter, Regina and Juanella Mackenie. They founded Yarta Arts, a contemporary Aboriginal Art foundation that exhibits its collections during the Brush with Arts Festival in the Flinders Ranges.


During our conversations, the topic of B4B and the Bush Bounce came up (see October 9th 2006 Blog). They were so touched that they offered to make a painting of the dreamtime 7 Sisters Story for B4B so that we can sell and use the proceeds for the cause.


What followed, was one of those magical moments of the B4B journey. When 4 women - mothers and daugthers- come together and share there dreams.

Storytelling is a large part of indigenous cultures and in the Aboriginal Culture, the 7 Sisters story is a famous one. Regina told us that cultures around the world also tell this same story. Then she suggested, "Wouldn't it be great to do an exhibition showing an interpretation of the 7 Sisters Story from different countries? All the proceeds could go to B4B. Afterall, the 7 Sisters could be the families that these single moms and their kids don't have."


This was a WOW moment that left all of us imagining what it would be like.

One year from the day we met, Regina, Juanella, my mother and I am proud to announce that B4B will be hosting the 7 Sisters Story Exhibition during National Breast Cancer month, October 2008. It will be held in Port Augusta, which is Cultural Centre for Arts next year.


Venue:

Fountain Gallery
43 Flinders Terrace
Port Augusta SA 5700

Official opening 9 October at 6 PM

Exhibition Summary


This unique intercultural exhibition is a collection of the 7 Sisters Stories interpreted from artists around the world. You will find examples of artists’ work through paintings, photography, sculpture, music and mixed media. The local Aboriginal people of Port Augusta say this is where the 7 Sisters gather. Throughout October 2008, the 7 Sisters unite to raise breast cancer awareness and support for the sisters of the world. 100% of the proceeds will go to Bouncing for Breast Cancer and national breast cancer organisations.

Many thanks to Sam Yates at Arts SA, who was open to hear about our idea and totally supported us to bringing this into fruition. We look forward to working with you and Katinka!



Mostly, my love and admiration goes to Regina McKenzie - a soul sister, who has come forward to share one of her dreams. Only during our meeting a week ago, did she say that this wonderful idea is one that she has been wanting to do for many years . She became discouraged over time because when she shared her dream, others couldn't appreciate it. They didn't believe it could happen or she could do it. What I appreciate most about Regina is that she never gives up and she continues to find a way to love those who might not see her vision. She continues to hold onto her dream until she finds the person who believes in her...or they find her first. For me, this is a dream come true to hold an event for B4B and link it to international awareness. Through arts or bouncing, it's all about sisterhood and getting the support out there for women who need it.

On our way home after the meeting, Christoph joked, "Don't ever tell Priscilla one of your dreams..."

What's the point of living if you can't turn your dreams into reality, I say.

a day full of dreams to you!


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Kelly Noble

I mentioned Kelly Noble, Communication Executive of SKY CITY Adelaide was a huge help to us last week during our National Breast Cancer Day Bounce. She also happens to be a fantastic woman who came to Adelaide 5 years ago and fell in love with this city. She loves to promote all thefabulous things that are happening here whether is events, social, fashion, causes or industry. Check out http://www.glamadelaide.com/. Plus she gave me lots of great tips for us using Youtube, My Space page, and Facebook - all interlinked. Check it out for what's possible with 21st century communications! Thanks Kelly and we'll continue to spread the word.

Also, through Kelly, I met Ji Wallace - Silver medalist in the Sydney Olympics for....get this... Trampoline. Ji equally has great energy and really wants to support our cause, along with the national team. Fate would have it that the National Team trains 15 minutes from my house. What a world, eh? We've since met to discuss an idea which was a project I've been waiting to release. It was intended for London, but why not do it in the great City of Adelaide?

Ji and the team are in Canada for qualifiers to Beijing. Fly High Ji !!

big bouncing love to all
xp

WHEN IT RAINS, IT SOARS

When Monday 22nd October rolled around, I awoke to the sound of raindrops gently humming to my soul. I peered out the window to see grey clouds, grey skies and greyness of a cacoon all around. So tempting was it to go back into the warmness of my duvet that touched the dreams from the night before. I awaken to this day in slow motion, acutely aware of my surroundings, my breath, the stillness within. I was recovering from a 36 hour marathon that included a 13,000 bounce at Western hospital, followed by a 10-hour round trip journey into the Outback (38 degrees and dust stroms), a 5 hour meeting to plan out a truly beautiful event B4B is hosting during October 2008. And if that wasn't exciting enough - a haunted hotel room in the Outback definately rounded out the adventure! Whilst I was tremendously relieved the learn that it wasn't actually our hotel room that was haunted, but the one across the courtyard, I still couldn't sleep. Probably had something to do with moths the size of bats that flew around our heads, and the sudden power loss that stopped the ceiling fan from circulating the desert heat.

In any case, this Monday morning moment was mine to bathe in.

Then it the reality of the day struck me like a sudden gust of wind. Today was National Breast Cancer Day, and I pledged to bounce 40,000 times to show support for ALL WOMEN and families who have been affected by breast cancer. For a second, I thought to myself , "How will I go from being in this closet-introverted space at this very moment, to a highly energised, bouncing women facing hundreds of passersby and media in the matter of a few hours?"

The answer - MY PURPOSE!

I realised recently that I haven't been spontaneous, thanks to Juanella, a 17 year old friend who pointed this out to me in the direct birthrighted way teenagers do. Over the past few months, whilst working behind the scenes of B4B, some of the magic and miracles of the intial B4B campaign (or rather me) were replaced with protocal, creating guidelines, and setting up the infrastructure. As vitally important as it is to build on a solid foundation that enables us to serve a wider group of single moms in need and be accountable as an organisation, I admit, that I began taking life (or myself) too seriously and worrying about how things weren't all in place. Then I realised, that LIVING is what happens when things are not in place. The only thing that needs to be in place is my heart.

There were months that passed in silence during our move to Australia because I became afraid of what to share about B4B as I hadn't yet figured out the the answers. But did I know the questions, either? Experts were advising me how difficult this would be and said I needed to be prepared for every 'what if' scenario. And to have every answer prepared for the media. Oh and to watch out for other national or bigger charities who might eat us up or steal our great ideas. It became overwhelming and frankly "going by the book" meant I momentarily lost touch with the heart of this campaign. More importantly, I learned that going by someone else's book, I lost connection with my heart's purpose: to improve the quality of life for others. From now on, the only book I go by is the one I write. My heart, energy and focus will be to continue to trust what we do know, the people who support what we're doing and build from there. We have allowed room for B4B to be spontaneous AND have a healthy, accountable infrastructure. We will work alongside national organisations, because I believe there is no competition when it comes to providing support and love to those affected by breast cancer AND there is power in unity. There is power in NOW!

So...I jumped out of bed and started thinking about Plan B. The original plan was to bounce at Victoria Square, one of Adelaide's famous landmarks. However, on this particular day, it would be a very soggy and rather uninspiring occasion if the rain persists (and it was forecasted to). In my life and especially during B4B, I have found plan B's are even better (of course they would because Bounce begins with the letter B - as well as Boobs and Babies). Plan B means we can be inventive, use our intuition and think on our feet. Plan B's contain the magic and in our case, are totally outside the comfort zone!!!!

Soon to arrive at my house was Helen Zander, a FUNtastic woman, my right hand and the B4B administrator. We packed the car with the mini-tramp and started brainstorming alternatives. I promised Helen, that even though I couldn't tell her in advance the how, the when and the where of Plan B - I could tell her with certainty, that it will be even better than we had planned, because I knew the WHY. I told her that we would meet the right person and the right moment and the right place. AND I WOULD KNOW. When our heart is open and connected to our purpose, we always know.

Helen came up with the idea of going to the Central Train Station. My nose twitched and I knew instinctively this was the direction to head towards. We arrived at 10am and quickly did a recky inside the station. Nope, this was not the place - however just outside the station, there was covered area onlooking North Terrace with a gazillion passersby.

Standing on the pavement, next to a large glass entrance door along North Terrace was a man with a smile. His name was Mark Weinert and we had something in common. He too was showing support for Breast Cancer Awareness, by wearing a pink ribbon. PLAN B was here!!! Turns out he works for security for SKY CITY Adelaide and once he heard about our bouncing idea in support for Breast Cancer Day, he sent me to speak to Mark, Head of Security and a fantastic lady, Kelly Noble -Communications Executive for Sky City (more on Kelly in the next blog). They too were wearing pink ribbons - in fact, all the staff in SKY CITY Adelaide did too. Mark and Kelly, enthusiastically supported our request to bounce in front of their building. Additionally, they also offered to provide us drinks and nibbles to keep our energy up. This was totally amazing. A million thanks goes to Mark, Kelly and SKYCITY ADELAIDE for being such generous and friendly hosts for the National Breast Cancer Pink Ribbon Day Bounce http://www.skycityadelaide.com.au/.

I started bouncing at 10:50am, and in less than one hour National TV News Channel 7 and two Newspapers arrived. It was as if all fell into place like it was supposed to happen that way. But it was supposed to happen that way... it's how I planned it on Friday. I decided this is how it would be. And so it was, despite the rain and change of venue. I learned that if you decide on a clear outcome that's linked to a big enough purpose, that no matter what - you'll reach the outcome. The rain didn't stop us, rather it lead us to something that was even better. We met new friends, and bounced to show our national support for all women and families affected by breast cancer. It was also a proud day for B4B as we launched our presence in Australia to support single mums and their young kids who are suffering from this disease and don't know where to go or the answers to their challenges. Our aim is for them to know when they ask a friend, a nurse, a doctor, or support group "Who can help me support my kids when I'm going through surgery and recovery and cannot work?" The answer will be...Bouncing for Breast Cancer.

Single mums we bounced for...

Tamy is undergoing chemotherapy and suffering the nasty side effects, yet forces herself to go to work to support her kids. Know that support is here for you. Also we recently heard about a Danish mom, who has very young children, is self employed as a landscape gardener and lives in the rural areas of South Australia. She has no family here, no private medical and struggles to get to the hospital for treatment. Pray for them and donate - they need our help.

In closing, I share with you a poem that came into my life when I was looking for an answer. This poem has been an inspiration to me during a few occasions when I thought I was lost, confused or uncertain about my path. It taught me patience and to appreciate that where we are, is the right place at that moment. It taught me that not having it all figured out just means we're learning. Or it means we're open to new ideas and ready to try something new. Or it means to trust the answers will come. When Helen asked me about B4B, "How did you get this far?", I replied in a light-hearted and confident way, "I make it up as I go along". She thought I was joking, but I wasn't. Afterall, isn't this what we're all doing in this life?

I beg you…to have patience with everything unresolved in your heart and try to love the questions themselves as if they were locked rooms or books written in a foreign language. Don’t search for the answers, which could not be given to you now, because you would not be able to live them. And the point is, to live everything. Live the questions now. Perhaps then, someday far in the future, you will gradually, without even noticing it, live you way in to the answer…

- By Rainer Maria Rilke

Here's to living our way into the answers.
love xp

B4B is on a roll!!!

October has been a spectacular month as B4B has made progress on all fronts and hit the headlines again to show our support for single mums wth breast cancer. There's so much to share - so many people to thank- and this will be done in the coming blogs as it's after 1am...

Saturday 20th October - B4B was invited to Western Hospital at their Breast Cancer Awareness event thanks to Sally Neville in Events, and Sue Spencer Lead Breast Cancer Nurse. We bounced 13,000 times, each bounce represented each women diagnosed with breast Cancer in Australia (yearly estimated 13,000)

Monday 22nd October - New b4b dream team member, Helen Zander and I rocked up to SkyCity Adelaide to bounce over 40,000 times in support of all women and families affected by breast cancer. IN fact, we ended up bouncing 42, 415 times and we were featured in the news on Channel 7, in the pages of the Advertiser.

On Tuesday morning, the roaving reporter, Tim Noonan of ABC radio came out to Grange Jetty for a bounce. The antenna couldn't get reception so it was first to do a carpark bounce. Never a dull moment...

More good news came in this week that we're confirmed for an event in Port Augusta during Breast Cancer Month, 2008 and another fundraising event in February. I'll blog about this separately.

THE GREATEST NEWS OF ALL.... thanks to Robert Jones in Melbourne - another supporter of our mission, has kindly offered his talents to update our website. Yes, that's right - the new site is here. Come check it out http://www.bouncingforbreastcancer.org/. THANKS ROBERT!!

Must hit the pillow now. However, before I retire, on behalf of B4B we're in spirit in the UK today in honour of Natinoal Breast Cancer Day.

Sweet dreams, God's blessings and happy bouncing...

xpriscilla

To our Sisters - Honoring Breast Cancer Month

Throughout the month of October, we'll be honouring our Sisters - the many single mom's and other women affected by breast cancer.

I had planned to share another story for this 1st day - however, as gorgeous fate would have it, my sister Kathleen (for whom this campaign was originally created), sent me an email with a story about Sisters. It was more than touching - it really resonated with me on a cellular level about the love us Sisters have for one another and the lengths we will go for one another. This is what about what B4B is about. A Powerful Sisterhood...

"A young wife sat on a sofa on a hot humid day, drinking iced tea and visiting with her Mother. As they talked about life, about marriage, about the responsibilities of life and the obligations of adulthood, the mother clinked the ice cubes in her glass thoughtfully and turned a clear, sober glance upon her daughter.

Don't forget your Sisters," she advised, swirling the tea leaves to the bottom ofher glass. "They'll be more important as you get older. No matter how much you love your husband, no matter how much you love the children you may have, you are still going to need Sisters. Remember to go places with them now and then; do things with them."

"Remember that 'Sisters' means ALL the women... your girlfriends, your daughters, and all your other women relatives too. "You'll need other women. Women always do."

What a funny piece of advice!' the young woman thought. Haven't I just gotten married? Haven't I just joined the couple-world? I'm now a married woman, for goodness sake! A grown up! Surely my husband and the family we may start will be all I need to make my life worthwhile!'

But she listened to her Mother. She kept contact with her Sisters and made more women friends each year. As the years tumbled by, one after another, she gradually came to understand that her Mom really knew what she was talking about. As time and nature work their changes and their mysteries upon a woman, Sisters are the mainstays of her life.

After more than 50 years of living in this world, here is what I've learned:

THIS SAYS IT ALL:
Time passes.
Life happens.
Distance separates.
Children grow up.
Jobs come and go.
Love waxes and wanes.
Men don't do what they're supposed to do.
Hearts break.
Parents die.
Colleagues forget favors.
Careers end.

BUT.........Sisters are there, no matter how much time and how many miles are between you. A girlfriend is never farther away than needing her can reach. When you have to walk that lonesome valley and you have to walk it by yourself, the women in your life will be on the valley's rim, cheering you on, praying for you, pulling for you, intervening on your behalf, and waiting with open arms at the valley's end. Sometimes, they will even break the rules and walk beside you...Or come in and carry you out.

Girlfriends, daughters, granddaughters, daughters-in-law, sisters, sisters-in-law, Mothers, Grandmothers, aunties, nieces, cousins, and extended family, all bless our life!The world wouldn't be the same without women, and neither would I.

When we began this adventure called womanhood, we had no idea of the incredible joys or sorrows that lay ahead. Nor did we know how much we would need each other.Every day, we need each other still. Pass this on to all the women who help make your life meaningful I just did.

To the single mom's affected by breast cancer, to your children and families - You make our lives more meaningful.

With love and blessings
priscilla, kathleen, margaret, susan, geeta & the b4b family and sponsors