By Janet Stoica

[email protected]

On Sunday, January 19, Jessica Stoddard, co-owner of Mirrored Beauty salon in Webster along with her business partner, Jess Ryan, and salon stylists Lisa Brian and Rachel Perez conducted a Cut-a-Thon fundraiser to benefit Jessica’s mom Rosemary Stoddard, who is in need of a double lung transplant. Next-door business owner, Kate O’Connell, of On Point healthy nutrition also conducted an Ice Cream Scoop-a-thon to assist in the fundraising efforts. 

Jessica’s mom, formerly of Oxford, but now living in South Carolina, has a condition known as pulmonary fibrosis which is the scarring and thickening of the air sacs in the lungs. There is no cure and, in Rosemary’s situation, the cause may have been her former work environment. 

Duke University Medical Center will be the medical facility for Mrs. Stoddard’s transplant but the family must raise $30,000 for additional living and medical expenses involving their relocation for the six months of their stay in Durham, North Carolina. They will also be responsible for supplementary medical bills. Jessica’s dad David Stoddard has muscular dystrophy. In 2015, Mr. and Mrs. Stoddard had moved to South Carolina to benefit Mr. Stoddard’s medical condition. Being an only child, Jessica jumped in immediately to help with the hefty expense amount.

With the kindness and generosity of all involved, the group was able to raise $6,175 from their 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. event. “Everyone wanted to help,” said Stoddard, “we emailed and texted all our clients and also used Facebook to help us meet our goal which was $1,500 so we were so grateful for the final amount that we did raise. It was amazing. Our team worked hard and we are so very thankful to all those who helped us with their contributions. In late March, early April, we hope to have another fundraiser at an Auburn bowling alley as well as a corn hole event and a motorcycle ride. We are just over 50% of our total goal of $30,000 and have raised $16,375.”

When speaking with Ms. Stoddard for this article she mentioned that she had just returned from visiting her parents in South Carolina after not having seen her mom since October. It was definitely overwhelming to see her mom’s change of physical condition over such a short period of time.

“Everyone’s been so kind and generous,” said Jessica, “so many local businesses and friends and family have been more than willing to help.”

If you’d like to help, please visit the Mirrored Beauty salon located at 131 East Main Street (Friendly’s Plaza) in Webster or phone them at 508- 461-6109. Their hours are 9 a.m.- 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday; Friday 9 a.m.-3 p.m.; and Saturday 9 a.m.-2 p.m.  Additionally, Duke University referred them to the medical fundraising site Help Hope Live from Radnor Pennsylvania.. They are a 501(c)(3) charitable organization Charity ID 52-1322317,  have been in existence since 1983, and have a charity score of 99% earning it a 4-star rating (the highest rating). 

Website: www.helphopelive.org  To review and donate, click the “donate” tab and then “support a client campaign” by typing in Rosemary Stoddard.  All donations are deeply appreciated.