My List of Most Inspirational People Includes Heidi

by Cath

Chances are you have never heard of Heidi Finlay. I hadn't either until I received an announcement from a friend about a fundraiser that Heidi was organizing. The message had come via facebook, so it was really easy to 'check her out'.

Heidi looked similar to a few other hundred friends I have on facebook!?! Her profile talks about making the most of our life experience, the power of our minds, and about bringing peace to the world. But... she was the only person I had met on facebook that was running a fundraiser for some neighbors on her street.

The Finlay's have lived for a number of years on the same street as the Morgan family, here on the subtropical sunshine coast. While the sun shines and the surf is up here on the coast many youngsters grab their surf boards and head to the beach for a few hours in the waves. But the Morgan kids were not among those carefree youngsters. Morgans were busy going on trips of their own, but they were going to see doctors and hospitals.

With rare genetic and autoimmune diseases, the kids in this family have been ill for most of their young lives. Now young adults, their conditions have been worsening. Besides the discomfort and interference in everyday life, it has also meant increasing medical and associated travel expenses.

Heidi, like so many of us, is obviously a caring and thoughtful woman who identifies with the pain and the needs of others. But Heidi has taken that extra step and put her caring and thoughtfulness into action! She organized a fundraiser for the Morgan family, tying the event into a networking opportunity for participants, and a viewing of the movie Eat Pray Love.

Many people were inspired to reach in their pockets and help out. Hundreds of dollars were raised on the night of the function, and many more donations were sent in through businesses that helped as collection points in the effort. Age proved to be no good indicator of generosity... a young girl sold her collection of Bali friendship bracelets on the night and happily handed all of the proceeds over to the Morgan family.

Heidi is inspired by the Morgans. She says "They are a beautiful family who are so grateful for every day despite everything that is happening. It reminds me of the saying that 'your worst day could be someone elses BEST day'!"

And I am inspired by Heidi. She looks like so many of us. She is like so many of us. And she is on my list of the most inspirational people I've met on facebook because of that. She is 'the woman down the street' and she has taken that all important step to action.