The first page of Items for this Very Special Fundraiser were created and donated by Willem Wijnberg, a very talented artist from the Netherlands. For the past seven years, Willem has made and donated all of the items for our Willem Wijnberg Cancer Fundraisers. Through the fundraisers of Willem's wonderful Berner paintings, we have raised $120,428.87 to fight cancer in Berners. With the matches provided by the AKC Canine Health Foundation of $162,428.87, the grand total of money raised directly from Willem's paintings is $282,857.74!!! THANK YOU WILLEM, for your dedication to the breed and for helping raise so much money to defeat cancer in Berners. To see more of Willem's work and past contributions to Fundraisers to fight cancer: <click here>
	A Very, Very Special Fundraiser! Dr. Matthew Breen, North Carolina State University has developed a means to rapidly screen dogs for the expression of key genes that his group identified as part of CHF-760 that are recurrently associated with Malignant Histiocytosis (MH) in Berners. To verify which of these genes are significant, Dr. Breen has applied for a further grant through AKC Canine Health Foundation (CHF). He has received pre-approval of his pre-proposal and will now submit a full application for this research. If funded this research would begin in the Fall of 2011. This fundraiser will be specifically for supporting this new histio study that Dr Matthew Breen will be doing. We need to raise $20,000 to help him do this very important work to help defeat histio in Berners. For further information about this research study <click here> Update June 23rd . Today I talked to Dr. Matthew Breen and we discussed his upcoming histio research study. I had promised him that I would raise $20,000 towards the study. He tells me that the Berner research study total for this histio project will be about $35,000. Obviously he still needs more money to start the project. I told Matthew that as of this morning I have checks totaling $16,174.92. I have additional pledges right now for $4,438.66, which, IF everyone who made a pledge sends me their donations, will give us a grand total of $20,613.58!!! WE HAVE DONE IT!! We have raised $20,000 which is enough money to support 69% of his histio research study!! THANK YOU TO ALL OF THE GENEROUS PEOPLE AND CLUBS WHO HAVE MADE DONATIONS TO FIGHT HISTIO IN OUR BELOVED BERNERS. Dr. Breen is still short $14,386.42 for his research study and I have a NEW CHALLENGE that would help us raise an additional $10,000 to make the research project a reality. Fara Bushnell and George Pappas have offered to MATCH every dollar we can raise from today until July 4th, 2011, up to a maximum of $5,000. That means that they have placed $5,000 "on the table" and we can have it IF we can get NEW donations (the pledges that have been made but not paid to me yet, do not count towards the money we raise for this challenge) totaling $5,000 in the next 11 days!! I KNOW THAT YOU WILL ALL WANT TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO RAISE $5,000 IN NEW MONEY SO WE CAN GET THE "BUSHNELL/PAPPAS" CHALLENGE MONEY!!! Now, you ask, "How can we raise an additional $5,000?" Here is my answer in three easy steps: 1. With donations received from 215 people out of the possible 3,718 people on the Berner lists, that leaves 3,503 people who could possibly make a donation! So far we have donations from just 6% of the people on the Berner lists. I'm sure that more than 6% of the people on these lists have lost Berners to histio - so if just those people who have lost a Berner to histio sent in a $5 donation for each Berner lost, we would raise $5,000 in a heartbeat. P.S. Those who haven't lost Berners to histio can also still send in checks!! 2. I currently have donations from 19 of the 30 USA regional clubs. That means that there are an additional 11 clubs who could possibly make a donation to help us raise $5,000. 3. Histio doesn't just affect Berners in the USA - unfortunately it affects Berners worldwide. That means that there are people in other countries and clubs in other countries who can send in donations too. P.S. If you live in Canada where the postal strike is going on, you can still participate - just send me an e-mail telling me what you are pledging and when the strike is over, mail the cheque to me. Remember to tell me how to distribute your tickets for you. I've listed three ways for us to raise $5,000 in the next 11 days - maybe you can think of more ways for us to accomplish this goal. HISTIO NEEDS TO BE CONQUERED - WILL YOU PLEASE HELP US CONQUER HISTIO? Challenges! 1) Brenda Broome has donated a second Berner Paw Pendant Series 1 to the fundraiser (see also Item #74 which is a Series 2 pendant) and has asked me to make it a special prize for the 2011 Willem Wijnberg Cancer Fundraiser. Fred Helmbold is also donating one of his draft harness and bags to this special drawing. Note that the red collar is not included. Item #D1 <click to enlarge> Item #D2 <click to enlarge> Anyone who sends in a donation dated on or after today, June 16th, 2011 will also receive a ticket for one of these very special prizes. Let me know whether you want the pendant or harness. 2) NEWBIE CHALLENGE - I have a challenge from Pat Tackett, Kay Taylor, and Linda Lankester. They have made donations to the Cancer Fundraiser and have asked me to use their tickets for a challenge. IF YOU HAVE NEVER MADE A DONATION TO ONE OF OUR FUNDRAISERS AND THIS IS YOUR FIRST TIME TO MAKE A DONATION (A FUNDRAISER VIRGIN) YOU WILL RECEIVE 10 FREE CHALLENGE TICKETS WITH YOUR DONATION! 3) Willem Wijnberg, Peggy Rickenbach and Barb McColgan have made generous donations to the cancer fundraiser and have asked me to use their tickets for a challenge. The next 10 people who donate $50 or more will receive an additional 20 tickets for the fundraiser!! 4) Kelly Weir has made a challenge to breeders expecting puppies - she has donated $20 per expected puppy and has asked that the tickets go to people who have lost Berners recently to histio. If you have recently lost a Berner to histio, please send me a note and I will give your 20 FREE CHALLENGE TICKETS. 5) Bobbie Abern and the Northern California club have asked me to use their tickets to extend the challenge for free tickets. The next 20 people who send in donations of $50 or more will get an additional 20 FREE CHALLENGE TICKETS for the cancer fundraiser. THANK YOU Bobbie and the Northern California club for your generous donation of your tickets to raise more money for the cancer fundraiser. 6) Donations dated on or after June 23, 2011 will count towards the fundraiser. On the memo line write "Bushnell/Pappas Challenge!" I DON'T WANT TO LET $5,000 FROM THE "BUSHNELL/PAPPAS CHALLENGE" SLIP THROUGH OUR FINGERS. I AM COUNTING ON YOU TO HELP US RAISE $5,000 SO WE CAN GET $5,000 MORE TO FIGHT HISTIO! THANK YOU, Fara Bushness and George Pappas. Through your most generous $5,000 matching fund challenge, we WILL raise the money we need to defeat histio in Berners in our lifetimes. I challenge each of you to make a donation in honor of your current Berners. I challenge each of you to make a donation in memory of your Berners who have died from histio and other cancers THANK YOU SO MUCH TO THESE CLUBS FOR THEIR GENEROUS DONATION to fight histio in Berners!! I'm hoping that many more clubs joint this elite group of clubs who are making a donation to fight histio in our Berners. Here is the list of clubs who have approved donations to the 8th annual Willem Wijnberg Cancer Fundraiser in support of Dr. Matthew Breen's histio research study! Alaska - $200 Blue Ridge - $200 Central Virginia - $100 Chattahoochee Valley $200 Finger Lakes - $200 Grand Canyon - $200 Greater Seattle - $250 Greater Twin Cities - $200 Heartland - $50 Kentuckiana - $200 Lone Star - $200 Nashoba Valley - $200 Northeast Illinois - $200 Northern California - $200 Potomac Valley - $200 Rockies - Matching club members donations Southern California - $200 Three Rivers' - $200 Watchung - $200

Make ALL checks/cheques payable to: Joye M. Neff

Please include the following:

• Name
• Address
• Phone Number
• E-Mail Address
• number of tickets you wish to purchase for each item(s)
  (PLEASE include item #s and description!)

Page A Tickets are $2 each.....OR..... 4 for $5....OR.... 20 for $20
Item #A1 First Prize! A blank canvas. Willem will make a painting of the winner's dog..
Item #A2 Painting of "Misha" owned by Jaime Meyers from the Netherlands
Item #A3 Painting of "Bromley" owned by Jaime Meyers from the Netherlands
Item #A4 Painting of "Joye and Harley" the BARC dogs owned by the Hartung Family in the Ontario
Item #A5 Painting of "Breeze" owned by Nancy Giusti in the US
Item #A6 Painting of "Breeze" owned by Nancy Giusti in the US
Item #A7 Painting of "Breeze" owned by Nancy Giusti in the US
Item #A8 Painting of "Crimson" a BARC dog
Item #A9 Painting of "Ruby" a BARC dog owned by Andrea
Item #A10 Painting of "Tiffany" a BARC dog owned by the Barels Family
Item #A11 Painting of "Barclay" a BARC dog owned by Andrea
Item #A12 Painting of "Sophie" a BARC dog owned by the Gagans Family
Item #A13 Painting of a BARC dog owned by Andrea
Item #A14 Painting of "Little Lewis" owned by Pat Wiegand
Item #A15 Painting of "Newfoundland dog" owned by John
Item #A16 Painting of "Kenzie" owned by Patti
Item #A17 Painting of "Pepin" owned by Coral and David Denis
Item #A18 Painting of "Panda" BARC dog
Item #A19 Painting of "Breeze" owned by Joye Neff
Item #A20 Painting of "Breeze" owned by Joye Neff
Item #A21 Painting of "Breeze" owned by Joye Neff
Item #A22 "The beautiful colours of our breed to wear as a pendant" China pendants donated by Took Visudtibhan Painted by Willem 6 pendants have been donated so 6 winners will be drawn	<click to see the enlarged pendant>
Item #A23 China Money Box - good for saving money for your vet bills China donated by Took Visudtibhan Berner painting by Willem
Item #A24 China Money Box - good for saving money for your vet bills China donated by Took Visudtibhan Berner painting by Willem
Item #A25 China Money Box - good for saving money for your vet bills China donated by Took Visudtibhan Berner painting by Willem
Item #A26 China Money Box - good for saving money for your vet bills China donated by Took Visudtibhan Berner painting by Willem
Item #A27 China Money Box - good for saving money for your vet bills China donated by Took Visudtibhan Berner painting by Willem
Item #A28 China Money Box - good for saving money for your vet bills China donated by Took Visudtibhan Berner painting by Willem
Item #A29 Plaque from the Dutch Berner Mountain Dog Club - you can put it on your car or on the front door of your house Donated by Willem Wijnberg

Berner-L Home Page Collection 2010
Compiled by Pat Long and Jaime Meyers
Benefiting Berner Cancer Research




Please support Terri Whalen and Cathi Dovico on this
2011 K9 Cancer Walk, Elk Grove, Calif.
May 7th 2011
In support of Morris Animal Foundation's Canine Cancer Campaign .
Team Berner