Ashlie Thornbury likes scary movies, eating pizzas with fancy toppings, planning Halloween parties and giving love to her two little girls, Zoe and Thea, and husband, Tim. She has two cats named Rudy and Park Ranger.
She’s also a dedicated advocate for the ABTA in honor of her aunt, Amy, who died in 2006. More a sister than an aunt, Thornbury describes being overwhelmed and frightened when Amy was diagnosed with a brain tumor at age 37. “Amy passed on and forever lives in our hearts.”
A year after her aunt’s death, Thornbury and her family came together to organize a walk in her memory, raising more than $5,000 that first year.
“It was the first major step we took on the path to healing,” says Thornbury. “We miss Amy so much. We celebrate her life and spirit every year by having our walk and continue to partner with the ABTA because they are a fantastic organization with a great mission.”
A positive attitude and a sense of humor have helped Thornbury, who notes that her 12-year relationship with the ABTA is “one of my longest-term relationships.” During these 12 years, she’s partnered with the organization annually through Amy’s Walk; served as a mentor for aspiring volunteers working to help the organization, and served as a member of the ABTA Volunteer Advisory Board.
Professionally, Thornbury leads partnerships and sponsorships for a Philadelphia nonprofit called “Campus Philly,” which is dedicated to growing the city’s talent pool. She says she loves making people laugh and recently blogged about her hospital meals while recovering after the birth of her daughter, Thea. She refers to her cats, Ruth and Park Ranger, as both annoying and adorable at the same time. “They freak out when the food gets too low in their automatic feeder because – once! – we let it run out by accident.”
Thornbury appreciates the work done by the ABTA to help both patients and caregivers impacted by brain tumors. Her hope is that more people get involved through donations or volunteering even if they have not been directly impacted by the disease.
“The American Brain Tumor Association bridges a critical gap in healthcare by offering education and resources that help the soul as much as the body and mind. Without them, people would not have this important support.”
Plan Your Own Event
It’s volunteers like Thornbury who use their passion to help raise critical funds in their own backyard for the ABTA. The sky’s the limit when it comes to fundraising ideas! Whether it’s a walk, golf tournament, pasta dinner, family festival, or any other activity, we can help you get started with a fundraiser in your community.
Please contact Kitty Snow, community manager, at ksnow@abta.org or 773-577-8766 to get started. Or visit the ABTA website to plan your own event.
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