Those of us in the U.S. have Halloween on October 31st and most children dress up and go trick-or-treating. For those of you with little ones who don't / can't eat candy or who ordinarily wouldn't go trick-or-treating, maybe this year you can try an easy and fun way to spread CDH Awareness and raise money in honor/memory of your cherub.

Instead of, or in addition to, asking for candy, your children can ask for spare change or a donation for CHERUBS. You can create a sign for the front of your trick-or-treat bag with a photo of your cherub and a paragraph or 2 about CDH and CHERUBS. I'll try to make up an example to download this evening. Ok, so you're thinking "But Dawn, spare change isn't much. Is it worth the trouble?" $5 from 20 trick-or-treaters is quite a few brochures to hospitals! UNICEF has been doing this for years and it works well.

Angel / cherub costumes are easy to find and make. I whipped up one for Shane in less than a day when he was 2. You can also use aluminum foil or tinsel for halos and wings. Here is a photo of Shane dressed as a cherub. http://www.cdhsupport.org/members/al...php?pic_id=420 We decorated his stroller to look like a cloud.

AND take lots of photos!!!!! We'll be using these photos of cherubs and siblings in future newsletters and fundraisers. In fact, let's make calendars out of all the kids in costume! Cherubs, siblings and cousins. If we can get at least 12 kids to participate we'll make calendars for 2008.