Every year around this time I implore anyone who will listen to assist me in gathering some much needed funds for the annual fundraising drive for literacy in Muskoka. It’s time for that last push before the Muskoka Novel Marathon takes place from July 12th to the 15th. Is it in you to give? Your donation could make such a huge difference in the lives of so many people. Illiteracy is one of those things that doesn’t only impact the person struggling with it…but entire families. 100% of the funds raised at the Muskoka Novel Marathon go directly to programming that helps lift real people out of the struggles illiteracy causes. Your donation has an immediate positive impact on lives.
Here’s a passage taken directly from the Muskoka Novel Marathon‘s Where the Funds Go page:
Funds raised at the Muskoka Novel Marathon are donated to the YMCA of Simcoe/Muskoka Learning Services in Huntsville, Ontario. These funds are used to directly support literacy programs in our community. Two out of every five Canadians struggle with basic reading and writing. Literacy levels influence career opportunities, salaries, standard of living, housing, education and the ability to participate fully in our communities.
Another thing you may not know about the literacy programs offered, is how they help and who they help. There is more than one kind of illiteracy. Here’s more from the Muskoka Novel Marathon’s website:
Employment, Education, Independence…Take The Next Step.
We work with individuals to deliver training in the following areas:-Academic upgrading (non-credit)
-Literacy and basic skills in reading, writing and math
-Computer and life skills
-GED and ACE preparation
-E-learning
-English as a Second Language (ESL)
-Savvy Seniors
There are such a wide variety of services being helped by your donation. And these are under-funded necessary services. The Muskoka Novel Marathon typically raises more than $30,000.00 a year now. We have raised well over $200,000.00 over the history of the marathon. It’s only possible to maintain these kinds of numbers with your help. So, here I am…just a writer standing in front of a reader asking you to love the gift of words…
With your help, we can CHANGE LIVES!
I guess I should explain what the writers do over this 72hr novel writing marathon. There are 40 of us who meet up once a year at the Active Living Centre in Huntsville, Ontario.
We all stay in one room and each of us attempt to write an entire novel over the course of the weekend. It’s a time of camaraderie, stress, joy, creativity, laughter, tears, peace and trepidation. We become this commune of creativity, discussing plots, characters, struggles, achievements and life. It really is an incredible experience, which I suppose, is the reason so many of us make it a yearly occurrence. Once you’re indoctrinated into the MNM family, it’s almost impossible to pry yourself away. The fundraising aspect is the most important aspect, but not the only one. We are definitely a family…a unique and crazy one, but a family nonetheless. From the starting bell on Friday night at 8pm to the communal meals to the late night readings to the walks into town to the Sunday morning walk with Sue Kenney…this is a weekend of words and bliss not to be missed. One of the greatest writing events on the Canadian calendar.
Here’s a link to my MUSKOKA NOVEL MARATHON BIOGRAPHY PAGE.
AND here’s a link to my ONLINE DONATION PAGE, which you can also get to by clicking the green SUPPORT THIS WRITER BUTTON on my MNM Bio page. Donations are tax receipted.
We are WRITERS HELPING READERS READ. You can be READERS HELPING WRITERS HELP READERS READ if you wish. Do you have it in you?
Thanks so much in advance!
KEVIN CRAIG 