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2008 BEHAF Mini-Fundraiser for Toby
(BEHAF, Berner Emergency Health Assistance Fund ) 
For the Results of this Fundraiser <click here> The mission of the Berner Emergency Health Assistance Fund, or BEHAF, is to provide some financial assistance to the owners of purebred Bernese Mountain Dogs throughout the world who are facing extensive and/or unexpected medical expenses for their dog due to catastrophic illness or accidental injury. The goal of BEHAF is to assist owners in decreasing the importance of their financial issues in order to help them make medical decisions based on what is in the best interest of their dog. BEHAF is funded solely through voluntary contributions and administered by a voluntary Board of Directors who are Bernese Mountain Dog owners, and includes medical, legal, and financial professionals. Anyone who owns a purebred Bernese Mountain Dog who experiences an accidental or catastrophic medical condition, which may or may not be of an emergent nature, is eligible to apply for financial assistance, based on their financial need, according to the criteria set forth by the Board of Directors. BEHAF encourages the repayment of assistance through monetary contributions or volunteer work, so that we can continue to help those in need. In all cases, the decision of the Board of Directors is final. "TO LOVE ONE BERNER IS TO LOVE THEM ALL!" For more information about BEHAF <Click here> We’re holding a mini-fundraiser for BEHAF. We have a lady who was trying to sell her own grave plot through ebay to raise the funds for some surgery that her young Berner boy, Toby, has just had done. She has some friends who are helping with donations, and she’s asked to help raise funds for BEHAF as well. This is a lady who has a soft heart, she has several dogs that require special assistance, and she does it with love and kindness, like the 9 year old blind Shih Tzu that hasn’t adjusted to her loss of sight. Toby has incongruent growth in the bones of one of his front legs and at age one he already has enough pain to make it apparent that repair was needed. Surgery was done to repair some cartilage damage in his elbow, and to cut the ulna to allow the elbow to work properly. We’ve made Toby a special friend of BEHAF for this surgery, but Brenda would like to find ways to help other dogs, not just her own. As always, anything in Toby’s fund that isn’t used for him will go into the BEHAF general fund. Toby’s owner is part native American Indian, and she does leather work. She’s contributing a pair of custom made moccasins to this fundraiser, along with many other items. I was hoping to talk her into beading a Berner on a vest, but she doesn’t do the intricate bead work. I do a bit of beading, and I’m contributing a variegated sapphire necklace as well. And I suspect BEHAF will have a new champion for future fundraisers. I don’t want to see the Berner-L become a place where anyone in need asks for help, but I do know that having someone without support, trying to sell her grave plot to pay for vet care for her Berner, is someone I just need to find a way to help. Having her want to help raise funds to make available for other Berners in need and to highlight BEHAF just seems a real bonus. Pat Long 
<click here> to see more pics of Toby and his recent post-op pics and x-rays The 2008 BEHAF Mini-Fundraiser for Toby Dates March 17 to April 8, 2008 Tickets Prices: $1 each ...or ... 6 for $5 ...or... 14 for $10 ...or... 30 for $20 Make the checks payable to "BEHAF" and write TOBY - Special Friend on the memo line. Please include your name, address, phone number and e-mail address. Be sure to include a note telling Joye how to distribute your tickets for the drawing. Mail your checks and instructions to: Joye M. Neff 1182 Firwood Drive Pittsburgh, PA 15243-1825 Joye Neff can convert foreign cheques to US Dollars with no charge from her bank. Make foreign cheques payable to "Joye M. Neff" and follow the above instructions. Mail your cheques to: Joye M. Neff 1182 Firwood Drive Pittsburgh, PA 15243-1825 Fundraiser Challenges! I have a Challenge from two very generous Berner Lovers for the last week of the BEHAF - Toby Fundraiser. For anyone who makes a donation of $40 or more, they will receive an extra 20 tickets! We have another Challenge that was announced last week that for every donation of $20 or more, the donor will receive an extra 6 tickets. Our third Challenge is for residents of Connecticut - we have a donor who will match all donations up to $100. These are good incentives for people to make donations to help Toby and to help other Berners in need through BEHAF (Berner Emergency Health Assistance Fund.) Please remember to tell me how to distribute your additional tickets. Thank you to the two anonymous donors who have given their tickets to the Challenge to encourage more of you to make donations. Thank you, Bobbie Abern, for making a Challenge for people donating $20. Thank you to the anonymous donor who is matching contributions from Connecticut up to $100. Thank you ALL in advance for your caring generosity. Results Berner Lovers are truly AWESOME! I was hoping to raise $3,000 with our fundraiser, paying for Toby's surgery ($2,000) plus donating $1000 to BEHAF, but we soared right past that goal raising $4,957.77!!! We will now be able to donate almost $3,000 to BEHAF to help other Berners in need. THANK YOU all for your caring spirit and your generosity!
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