Fundraiser Spotlight: Retreats
Ann Diebel
Meet Ann Diebel (she/her)! Ann attended our first ever Rocky Mountain Village Retreat and is one of our top Retreat fundraisers. Not only did Ann fundraise over $1,200, she is also an active supporter of her fellow Retreat participants.
We hope Ann’s experience inspires you the way it has inspired us!
“Ann Diebel is a one of a kind, larger than life personality who leads with compassion, follows with humor, and closes with a big hug that anyone who has met her knows well. When working at a LYB Retreat as an Ambassador, Ann ensured everyone was taken care of and having a meaningful experience.”
“I met Ann when she joined our first LYB Retreat in Colorado last spring. We spent a short time together over a meal but I was instantly inspired, laughing, and welcomed by her presence. Ann has a unique way of really seeing people. I feel this during each interaction I have with her, which I am truly grateful for. What I admire most about Ann is she completely embodies what it means to be an advocate for a community, and that is something really special.”
Ann, tell us about your Retreat experience.
Before, I was seeking a community of brain injury survivors...I needed a place to belong, where I could meet people like me. My brain injury had isolated me from friends and my community. LYB Programs and Retreats have helped me move forward by teaching me to accept my differences and abilities post-injury. It has also given me a way and a place to give back. Moreover, my contacts with other LYB participants has introduced me to new modalities of treatment, as well as new ways of thinking about my brain injury. I am no longer afraid to try new activities. And in doing so, I am discovering new talents and abilities. LYB yoga in particular helped me strengthen my weaker leg and increase my balance. My gait improved. I learned about nutrition to support brain function! And I am so blessed to have made friends with other people I visit with regularly via Zoom. The most important long term effect of my LYB Retreat experience is: my isolation has been alleviated. As a result, all of my relationships have improved.
What has motivated your fundraising efforts?
LoveYourBrain provides a place of acceptance and growth for all brain injury survivors. I want to provide the funds for other survivors to learn the tools of movement, nutrition, mindfulness, and community that LYB provides. I also hope they will find lasting friendships with other brain injury survivors as I have done. My hope is that others will be able to make breakthroughs at an LYB Retreat like I did!
Tell us more about your fundraiser! What made it successful? How did you manage challenges and find resilience throughout the fundraising process?
I fundraised/supported LYB Retreats in 3 different ways. The first way was through my Classy fundraising page - to support my attendance at the Retreat. I only had one donation from a generous family member. The second way was a Facebook Birthday fundraiser. The third way, I did not ask for donations. Instead, I donated to each person who held a Retreat fundraiser to help support their attendance to the June Retreat. It was a great opportunity to help others raise money for LYB!
During the Facebook fundraiser, I was afraid no one would donate to me. But I had 8 donors, and some were from very unexpected sources. I was also a bit ashamed to ask for money. But every little bit helps, and some is more than none. And giving is an important part of living. I am deeply grateful to those who donated to my fundraisers. It makes me happy to think about those who donated on my behalf.
What advice would you offer to other fundraisers?
Don't be afraid you will not make enough! Any amount is more than nothing! Don't be afraid to reach out to old friends, family and business acquaintances.
People love you and want to help you.
We are so grateful to Ann and all of our Retreat fundraisers who help keep our Retreats FREE for future participants!
What does it mean to you to not only be a LYB fundraiser but a donor as well? Why have you chosen to make donations to your fellow Retreat attendees?
Being a LYB donor is important to me because donating to a fellow Retreat attendee welcomes them to the LYB community and is great way to introduce myself to new LYB participants - It helps me make new friends. I know that when I donate to a fundraising page, I am supporting LYB by helping cover costs associated with Retreats. Donating helps the attendee make an important financial impact to support LYB Retreats. After my brain injury, I felt very powerless to do good, and donating helped. Simply put, sharing feels good.
You've been such an instrumental part of our community. What have you found in the LYB community and what does LYB mean to you?
LYB has helped me in so many ways. Learning yoga with LYB has given me tools for healing. I’ve learned that daily yoga practice calms my brain and helps me focus, and my thinking has improved. My world is much bigger because of my involvement with LYB. I have a brain injury community and a group of brain injury friends around the country. I am in regular contact with many of these people. I am returning to other activities and groups that I participated in before my brain injury. I now have the confidence and focus to socialize more. I do not think this would have happened without the LYB community. Overall, my life is more balanced because of the opportunities offered by LoveYourBrain.
