This past September, through the help of an amazing sponsor, Wendy and her team at Thermotex, we opened the application process once again for our LupusChick College Stipend awards. This particular award was in honor of our friend Ivy Shapiro, 39, of Clermont, Florida (formerly of Sunrise, Florida), who passed away on June 21, 2019, due to complications from Lupus and other auto-immune diseases.
Ivy was a true Lupus warrior. She battled through her Lupus, was able to complete her college education and obtain a Bachelors degree in Special Education from Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, Florida. Unfortunately, she was only able to work at her profession for a short time due to her illness. Through it all, she maintained a positive attitude and refocused her energies to help spread the word about Lupus as a member of the Board of Directors of the Lupus Foundation of America.
This Fall’s scholarship in her honor will be our 14th and 15th scholarship giveaways and we are so excited to announce our two winners – Kim Ruhe and Anita Kraus.
All of our college stipends are donated through brands, organizations, individual sponsors or from our founder, Marisa Zeppieri and her husband Mickey. So please keep LupusChick in mind if you hold fundraisers, as this is where our money goes! We are so thankful to Thermotex for sponsoring these scholarships for Kim and Anita.
If you don’t know about Thermotex, they make incredible infrared heating pads that can help with circulation, increase bloodflow and decrease inflammation and pain. They have been gracious to offer everyone in our community two codes for discounts: Lupuschick20 and Lupuschick30 – Visit them at www.thermotex.com
Here are some inspiring words from our two winners:
We are so excited to announce Kim Ruhe and Anita Kraus as the two recipients of the LupusChick Stipend in honor of Ivy.
- Kim Ruhe – “The Lupus Chick community has been a key part of my healing journey, and to receive this scholarship in memory of a fellow warrior is a humbling experience. I didn’t know Ivy, but I am inspired by the way she lived her lupus journey with hope and purpose. In the rollercoaster world of living with lupus it’s so important for us to shine our light for one another, to give and receive support within our community. I am excited to embrace this next chapter, as I become a yoga teacher and learn new ways to facilitate healing in myself and others. I may have encountered some roadblocks on my journey thus far, but my story is far from over.”
2. Anita Kraus, Pre-Med studies – “I am deeply grateful to have been selected for this award. A huge thank you to Ivys family, board members, Marisa, Wendy, and all those involved in this process. Thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to share my story and offering this support as we push through. thank you – “You don’t set out to build a wall. You don’t say ‘I’m going to build the biggest, baddest, greatest wall that’s ever been built.’ You don’t start there. You say, ‘I’m going to lay this brick as perfectly as a brick can be laid.’ You do that every single day. And soon you have a wall.” – Will Smith
This quote recently stood out to me when I heard it. As I mentally prep to start my chemotherapy again in one week, I remind myself that dreams are built brick by brick. As long as each day I put down a “brick”, I am ok. Whether that is being able to get ready in the morning, go to the gym, complete an assignment, or connect with someone– these moments build upon one another to the goal of being my best self and helping others. “
Stay tuned as we highlight both of our winners on our social media soon! We want to thank everyone who applied – reading your stories and what you have overcome has left a mark on each of our lives. We can’t thank Ivy’s parents and Wendy/Thermotex team for helping to make this possible and for choosing LupusChick to bless the life of another person living with lupus – well, actually two people again this year!
Our next stipend will be in the spring, so keep an eye out~ More soon – XOXO,
Marisa
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