GIVEAWAY: Three $100 Valentine’s Day Bouquets to support Sienna’s Flower Garden
Today I’m hoping you’ll all help me support a really worthy cause brought to my attention by my good friend (and probably my biggest blogging cheerleader), Natasha.
Natasha is trying to raise money to help her friend’s adorable two-year-old daughter, Sienna Otto (pictured up top), who suffers from a rare disease called FOP. To explain FOP as simply as possible, the disease turns joints and tissues into bone, which can eventually turn Sienna into a human statue.
I know, it’s really horrible.
Especially since FOP prevents Sienna from doing normal little girl things like twirling, jumping, running or even holding her parents hands as they walk down the street. If Sienna falls and gets hurt, the healing process would most likely result in bone growth.
I can’t even imagine how hard it is to stop a toddler from playing like a toddler.
Doctors at the University of Pennsylvania believe an effective treatment (or maybe even a cure) is just a few years away but they need $1 million to fund a clinical study to make it a reality.
So Sienna’s parents are doing what any parent of a child with FOP would do with that information— they are trying to raise the money.
It’s a lofty goal but this is the kind of thing that is much more possible with how social media works today.
To make it easy to donate to her friends’ cause, Natasha (who works in advertising) worked with her agency to create a website called Sienna’s Flower Garden where people can plant virtual flowers for as little as $5. So far they have raised over $40,000 to go towards funding a cure for FOP.
Then Natasha came to me to see if I could help, and we came up with the idea of doing a Valentine’s Day giveaway with real flowers from the online flower boutique— Olive & Cocoa.
Today we are giving away three gorgeous bouquets— two Le Coeur bouquets ($98, pictured left) and one Fiona Blush bouquet ($138, pictured right).
The idea is— TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY, YOU MUST PROMOTE SIENNA’S FLOWER GARDEN.
I wanted to do something where you had to buy a VIRTUAL FLOWER in order to win the REAL FLOWERS— but apparently, that is illegal. So, I am just hoping that some of the people who enter will feel the same way I felt when I read Sienna’s story, follow the link to Sienna’s Flower Garden, and buy a $5 virtual flower.
In fact, I will personally contribute $1 for each giveaway entry up to 100 entries.
And now, I’m gonna cross my fingers and hope that Natasha and the Ottos’ investment in this giveaway pays off.
The flowers are beautiful, but obviously, not nearly as beautiful as Sienna one day getting her cure.
GIVEAWAY RULES
1) To enter, you must promote a direct link to Sienna’s Flower Garden. You can do this by tweeting or posting on facebook a version of the following:
Plant a virtual flower in Sienna’s Flower Garden and help save a little girl’s life. http://bit.ly/UxNNhA @CureSienna @mommyshorts
2) For a second entry, you can tweet
or post a link on facebook back to this giveaway. For example:
I entered to win Valentine’s
Flowers from @mommyshorts and @CureSienna. Let’s spread the word to help save
Sienna’s life! http://bit.ly/TI1oq3
3) For a third entry, you can pin the graphic below on Pinterest:
Winner will be announced this Sunday night to give you plenty of time to send or receive your bouquet in time for Valentine’s Day.
Good luck!
I did one and two above… Don’t even care about the flowers. I donated $5 today… I wish I could donate so much more.
I just made a donation, what a beautiful website they have created. Thanks for bringing this story to our attention.
I pinned and bought a flower! 🙂 Thanks for sharing!
http://pinterest.com/pin/64035625923899258/
I tweeted too!
https://twitter.com/BriConstable/status/299152901010497536
And its on my facebook too!! Hope her garden doubles this Valentines day! 🙂
I did #1 and #3 – and donated $10
I facebooked: https://www.facebook.com/breenah/posts/127578190752456
I tweeted:
https://twitter.com/bybreenah/status/299169679933571073
I pinned:
http://pinterest.com/pin/190347521722785831/
I also posted it on Tumblr and will donate Friday (aka payday!).
I did #1, #2, and #3. And am on my way to plant some flowers! I hope that they reach their $1 million goal and we can stop FOP and save this sweet girl’s life.
Today, I was walking with Bertie, holding her hand, and she tripped. Her whole body fell forward, and I yanked her arm to stop her from hitting the sidewalk. My first thought was, “Are you okay?” and my second was, “Sienna’s mom doesn’t get to stop her from falling.”
Thank you to everyone who buys a flower, spreads the word, and does what they can to help us raise the million dollars to save Sienna’s life. Especially you, Ilana!
Done, Done, Done… Thank you so much for keeping us informed of this cause and for using your platform to help others 🙂 All of this is awesome!
I did one and two and shared your FB post linking to this blog post. No need to enter into the giveaway. I hope Sienna gets all the same chances to grow into a beautiful woman as any other little girl.
1,2,3,(Pinterest and Twitter twice) bought a flower and posted that on FB too
i did 1, 2 and 3.
I will donate next week, when I go back to work!
I bought a flower, and I posted it on FB via the website “post to facebook” link. What a worthy cause, I really hope that the funds get raised!
I did 1 and 3. I wish I could do so much more.
I posted both links on Facebook and pinned the photo. I don’t need to be entered into the drawing, I just wish that I had more to give this cause. If she was my daughter I would want to do everything I could as well. What a sweet and special little girl!
I just donated and will share on my FB page a little later today. I don’t even care about the giveaway; just happy to spread the word. If it were my daughter, I’d want the same for her.
I facebooked (1&2). Blessings to little Sienna.
For now I just did #1 and donated $10, but I will keep promoting 🙂 thank you for letting me about sweet Sienna!
Donated $5 and posted it on facebook. 🙂 Best of luck to Sienna.
I did #1 via their website (when I donated).
What a beautiful way to help such a special girl! I tweeted and keep us posted on how the campaign goes, hope lots of virtual flowers are planted!
Did all 3, and am going to donate! Such a sweet girl
Tweeted (but I’m having a brain fart as to how to link to the specific tweet, so here’s the link to my twitter feed).
https://twitter.com/DPaape
Facebooked (in hopes of spreading the word to my friends)
https://www.facebook.com/dpaape
Pinned:
http://pinterest.com/pin/134052526380608246/
Aaaaand I’m donating $5 (and then I’m going to harass my loved ones into doing the same thing so that they can find a cure for this horrible disease. Valentine’s day should be about love, and saving a child’s life is just about the most loving act I can think of).
Thank you for sharing this story and a way to help! I shared it on Twitter and Facebook.
I did 1, 2 and 3 and donated. She is gorgeous. Thanks for sharing her story with us!
I shared on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/moshau/posts/143029912523811
Praying they can find a cure soon.
Done. Done. Done. What a worthy effort!
Donated $5, will post to facebook and pinterest this evening… all social media is blocked at work! I wish money was not an obstacle to savings someones life.
I have posted 1 & 2 on my Facebook. Going to pin the picture as soon as I finish this comment. 🙂
She is beautiful!
https://www.facebook.com/tabithajohnson4380
I agree 100%. It really sucks when money prevents people, especially children, from receiving the life saving treatments that they need.
I pinned and bought a flower (and shared on FB). I wish I could do much more and hope that this sweet girl finds a cure!!!
http://pinterest.com/tabjohn/
Pinned on Pinterest also.
Thanks for sharing this touching story & giving us all the chance to help!
I shared #1 & #2 via twitter (@Frustracey), and will be keeping Sweet Sienna in my prayers!
I hope a cure is found for a beautiful child! I am donating to her right now.
Tweeted 1) https://twitter.com/missgypsy1/status/299195398717845505
Tweeted 2) https://twitter.com/missgypsy1/status/299195957399138304
Pinned 3) http://pinterest.com/pin/228065168601911125/
I wish I could do more <3
I posted on my personal and website FB, tweeted, pinned, and donated. Much love and hugs to you, Sienna!
Shared on FB and donated to the cause. I hope they’re able to raise the funds needed. Praying for her and her family.
I posted on twitter and on facebook. Thanks for matching our donations!
Tweeted this very worthy cause:
https://twitter.com/RobynHTV/status/299210338950332416
Pinned: http://pinterest.com/pin/123849058474753132/
Check on all three items! #1 and #2 posted and linked and mentioned and whatever else on Facebook and Twitter. Liked and Repinned on Pinterest. Also donated $5. I wish I could do more. I don’t really care about the flowers. I have a two year old daughter and I could not imagine her not being able to hold my hand. Prayers for Sienna and her family.
I posted both Facebook links. I will definitely buy I flower when I can…Many blessing to Sienna!
I tweeted and pinned and bought a flower. Thank you for bringing this to our attention – breaks my heart. Praying for that sweet little girl!
This is such a beautiful way to help. Blessings and love to Sienna.
I did all three and bought a flower. This breaks my heart and I really hope a cure is found ASAP!
I tweeted the giveaway (and bought a flower):
https://twitter.com/RobynHTV/status/299232276443705345
shared on facebook and will come back and buy as soon as I set up a paypal, (Friday)
I tweeted, i have heard of this horrible disease and connnot imagine having a child that has to go through this.
I posted on FB too
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=home#!/selena.stoney
Oh and I forgot to leave the link to my tweet so I’ll leave it here https://twitter.com/Stoneyville1/status/299247285408260096
I posted this on FB and pinned it. I hope they raise enough to find a cure!
Finally got home and posted to facebook and twitter and donated $5!
I tweeted about the Flower Garden.
I tweeted about the contest.
I just donated $5 for Sienna! Please keep us updated on her/their progress! I don’t typically care for flowers as a Valentines gift from my husband (hello, I can’t eat flowers) but those arrangements are stunning! Pinning and sharing on FB to just spread the word (don’t need to be entered into the giveaway =D) I hope to hear amazing news for this little girl soon!
Donated and posted on FB. What an awesome way for you to help spread the word and help this family!
I pinned it! http://pinterest.com/pin/69946600434797598/
2 posts on fb as well:
http://www.facebook.com/carrie.chiaro
Done, done, and done.
I posted a link on Facebook. Sienna is such a beautiful and special girl. I hope they find a cure.
To enter, you must promote a direct link to Sienna’s Flower Garden. You can do this by tweeting or posting on facebook a version of the following:
I posted a link to my facebook page after I donated.
I repinned the pinterest picture.
I tweeted and put on Facebook. Hope that brings in some donations flowers doesn’t matter to me. Glad she met you and has that outlet to get donations.
Oh and Pinterest lol
& donated $10. Wish we could all be so lucky to have healthy children
The first flower planted in the garden was by Bongwook Lee, one of the developers who spent hours creating the site
I actually had a patient with this disease about 15 years ago. So much more known about the disease now. I hope they find a cure soon!!!!