(pictured above are Helen Philips and the Save the Tatas group at a recent check presentation to Joy to Life)
One of the most amazing things about Joy to Life is watching people who travel in completely different circles come together to save lives. Breast cancer affects everyone, and when it does, the partnerships that are formed in its wake are often the silver lining around some very dark clouds. That’s the case with Helen Phillips, who came up with a unique way of supporting Joy to Life almost a decade ago.
Helen was looking for a way to honor her late mother, Wyma Day, when she happened to meet Joy to Life co-founder Dickie Blondheim. The two quickly found out that they had a lot in common. “I knew after talking with Dickie that I wanted to support Joy to Life,” she says. “I loved that it was all about giving people hope. And all the money that is raised for them stays here in Alabama. I knew then and there that I wanted to do something. So I decided to start the Save The Tatas Benefit Ride”.
The premise of the event was simple: folks who ride motorcycles get together for a “poker run” (gathering playing cards at various stops along the ride route), but instead of the profits going to the rider with the best hand at the end of the day, all the money would go to Joy Life. The event started modestly with about 50 riders at first, but has grown since its start in 2011. “We’ve had as many as 200 bikers on our rides,” Helen says. “It’s been exciting to watch it grow over the years because that means we get to help more people with the money we raise.”
And they have raised a lot of money! To date, the Save the Tata’s Benefit Rides have raised well over $70,000. And while the event started with her, Helen is quick to note that it’s not something she’s doing on her own. “The Save the Benefit Ride would never be successful if it wasn’t for a lot of big-hearted, caring individuals,” she says. “If you think about it, neither would Joy to Life. That must be why we’re such a good fit for each other.”
So what advice would Helen give to someone who’s thinking about fund-raising for Joy to Life? “Just get off your ass and do it,” she says. “The benefits are more important than you think. You never know whose life you could help save.”