Chainmaille for Good

B3 has always had the desire to give back and raise awareness through our art-making.  For the past several years we have sold countless awareness bracelets supporting organizations that raise awareness about Pulmonary Fibrosis and Chronic Babe, an organization that supports young women with chronic health issues.  We have also been selling this beautiful dreamcatcher created by Alison Carpenter to honor and support those who have faced cancer.  B3 artist and instructor Vanessa Walilko has been flexing her awareness-raising muscles as well selling this bracelet through her Etsy shop to benefit breast cancer.

Breast Cancer Awareness Bracelet by Kali Butterfly

It was for these reasons and more than we here at B3 were delighted to help Janine Vanderhoff of Athena’s Armoury in her quest to raise money to fight breast cancer and use chainmaille to do it.  Janine will be participating in the Susan G. Komen 3 Day for the Cure and has taken on the impressive goal of raising $3,000 to go to the fight against breast cancer…and she is REALLY impressively close to reaching her goal.  One way you can help push her fundraising over the edge is by purchasing and item from her her Pink Warrior Collection available for purchase on Etsy.  We had the great honor of donating all the pink rings used to create the pieces and ALL proceeds from the purchase of each item from the collection goes straight to her fundraising.

Pink Warrior Collection by Athena’s Armoury

Buying any one of these awareness pieces means you’re not only walking away with a well-made, beautiful piece of handmade jewelry but that you have a way to show your solidarity with the people facing these illnesses and those that struggle right along side them.  Know someone else making a difference through chainmaille?  Tell us about it.  We are happy to share their story on our page on Facebook and through our Twitter feed.

Also, find out how you can cheer on Janine and all the other dedicate 3-Day participants by checking out the Spectator Info on the 3-Day website.  This is an empowering yet grueling experience for the walkers and they have already been working hard to prepare for it – check out what Janine told us about it earlier today:

Some people think it’s just a walk: you’re right that it’s a walk, but we are walking 60 miles. There is a lot of training that goes into preparing for an endurance event. I walk 3-4 times a week with my teammates, often setting my alarm as early as 4:00am on the weekend in order to get in some miles before the sun comes up with our dreaded Florida summertime heat. My cross training happens twice a week and has been yoga and pilates to stretch and strengthen my muscles. Since I started training for this event, I’ve already walked 448 miles!!

I still have to get an air mattress and pick up a duffel bag with wheels (after walking 60 miles, I’m not going to want to carry it!). The air mattress is because not only am I walking 60 miles, but I’ll be staying at camp with 2,000 other walkers over the course of those three days. They will provide me with a hot pink tent to sleep in and we’ll be showering in semi’s (yup, inside a truck).

Find out when the walkers will be passing through your neck of the woods and give them a holler to let them know you’re proud of them!  We sure will be.