Ya-Yas are making a difference by giving their time and talents to
help others. Meeting by meeting, email by email, phone call by phone
call, Ya-Yas are supporting one another through hard times and actively
fighting for cures, change, justice, and peace. Please read their
stories. There are more wonderful stories and daily postings at Gumbo Ya-Ya.
Groups for Strength and Healing
Through Pink and Blues,
we have learned of several active Ya-Ya Group members who are
struggling with cancer and other illnesses. Trace, one of our
long-standing members, recovered from breast cancer several years
ago only to have it come back in 2001. Then her computer broke down.
Knowing the importance of email and message board postings to Trace,
Ya-Yas pooled their efforts and bought her a brand new computer!
Another Ya-Ya group member, Mama Bear, is dealing with her second bout
of non-Hodgkins lymphoma and recently had a bone marrow transplant.
The Ya-Ya Message Board contains daily emails of encouragement and
caring, plus prayers from individual members and from prayer circles
organized by Ya-Ya groups. These expressions of love and support go out
to women everywhere who are dealing with serious illness or difficult
life challenges.
With the love and support of Ya-Yas in her community and on the
World Wide Web, Trace, Mama Bear, and many others continue to keep
plugging.
Groups for Fundraising
Bright as sunlight, Ya-Yas are helping to change the world -- and
women’s lives -- with fundraising events. For example, two Ya-Ya
princesses, Dutchess Singing Moon and Peaches, walked between 45 and 60
miles in the Breast Cancer 3-Day in Detroit in 2004. These courageous
Ya-Yas are going out again in 2005. You can read about Dutchess Singing
Moon and Peaches here..
Other Ya-Ya sisters have walked for literacy. Women shouting
“Ya-Ya!” have crossed the finish line at muscular dystrophy runs,
they’ve sold cookbooks for victims of violence, and performed "The
Vagina Monologues" at university theaters.
Ms. Wells, who has Lyme Disease, hopes you will join her in her
attempt to put Lyme Disease high on the radar. Lyme Disease needs
legislation to help provide research. Write your senators and
congresspeople, hold benefits, be uppity women! We need to help
those suffering with Lyme find the correct diagnosis, treatment, and
support. Half of those suffering from this disease are
children. Please help in any way possible to bring Lyme disease
to the forefront, even as you have helped the fight against breast
cancer and other devastating diseases. Contact LimeDiseaseAssociation.org for more information. Let Ya-Yas lead the way in fighting this growing infectious disease!
Ya-Ya Groups know that giving of themselves is the most rewarding work of all.
Groups for Mutual Support
Determined to live healthier lifestyles and take control of their
lives, Ya-Yas Groups join hands and hearts to help each other reach
vital goals and brand new dreams.
In Kentucky, Ya-Yas struggling with weight issues decided to help
each other reach their weight loss goals. Calling themselves the “Ya-Ya
Butterflies,” this delightful Ya-Ya group shared their successes and
cried on each others shoulders when they lost the battle with
cheesecake. But they are winning -- together, these 10 women have lost
nearly 200 pounds, and more importantly learned a lot about loving
themselves. You can read their heartwarming story here.
Groups in Prison
After a group of women in prison asked for a donation of Ya-Ya books
for their "Better Decisions" reading group, they sent handwritten notes
thanking us for the books. Here are a few quotes:
"Thank you for your donation of the Ya-Yas. Reading brings light inside the darkness."
"Thank you so much for the copies of Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood. It was my favorite book that we were able to read this year."
"I enjoyed the story and characters. I grew up in a similar
situation so I identified with the storyline and character development.
It touched me and made me laugh."
Rebecca would love to see continued outreach to women in prison.
Teen and Young Adult Groups
With their own message board
and groups that provide support and caring, Ya-Yas from 13 to 21 have a
place to discuss life decisions and receive comfort and wisdom.
Petite Ya-Yas are already meeting across the United States. Please check to see
if there is one in your area, and if not, we encourage young Ya-Yas to
form groups on their own. From heart-to-heart sessions about problems,
and group efforts to best handle life challenges, a Petite Ya-Ya group
encourages a safe, supportive environment and lifelong friends. Rebecca
Wells’ books deal with the complex issues of growing up, and Petite
Ya-Yas find in them an awareness that can help them navigate turbulent
waters.
Thank you Ya-Yas!
To all you Ya-Yas, we want to send a great big thank you hug for all
you’ve done. We encourage you to continue reaching out to help your
friends everywhere. Ya-Yas know that the more love you give, the more
it grows!
Please let us hear about your events and activities.
