BY CAROLINE BUNNELL
Students walked through the lower commons to the table covered in colorful bracelets that sprawled across the table.
“Hope”, “Strength”, and “Get Well Soon” are just a few of the messages on the beaded bracelets, all being sold in support of Lauren Rauseo who was critically injured while studying abroad.
Over the past three days, around 450 beaded bracelets were strung together Rauseo’s friends, and other students and organizations including the Student Alumni Association. Each unique bracelet spelled out different messages that represented Rauseo in a variety of ways. Some had her initials, “LNR”, others said “dance” which is one of her passions, and some included words that described her vibrant personality such as “Sunshine” and “Power”.
Upon arrival at the table students were greeted with a wide collection of bracelets in all sizes that they could choose from with proceeds going towards supporting Rauseo’s recovery and medical expenses.
Each bracelet cost $2 which could be paid through Venmo or cash. If students weren’t interested in having a bracelet but wanted to donate, there was a QR code present that directed students towards the fundraising page.
To show their support, students could sign an oversized “Get well soon” card which will eventually be given to Rauseo upon her return to the United States. Students also had the opportunity to write personal cards to send her well wishes and share what she means to them.
This event in the days leading up to Easter Break collected a total of $2,876 which will be added to the donation total, junior Emma Duffy said.
Rauseo’s friends and other Stonehill students have organized a t shirt fundraiser will all proceeds also going to the GoFundMe. Each t shirt costs $25. The white t shirt says, “Bring Lauren Home” in orange writing on the front, with a silhouette of a dancer in front of a sun on the back.
“The support that Lauren has received during this very trying time has been absolutely incredible and we hope that you will continue to support through purchasing a shirt. Thank you for all you all have done, and we hope that together we can bring Lauren home,” the Custom Ink fundraiser says.
To buy a t shirt visit, https://www.customink.com/fundraising/bring-lauren-home?utm_campaign=desktop-post-launch-v3&utm_content=bring-lauren-home&utm_medium=social&utm_source=copy-link&side=back&type=1&zoom=false
The thousands of dollars that have been donated will go towards supporting Lauren Rauseo’s family after a serious bike accident left her with severe injuries. Rauseo was visiting Spain for the weekend while studying abroad in Paris when she was forced off the road by a car and struck a wall. She was left with injuries such as a traumatic brain injury, broken clavicle, broken hip, and punctured lung.
A GoFund to raise money to bring her back to the United States and help with medical expenses has reached over $202,000 in just six days. There is also a second GoFundMe made that has totaled over $62,000 in the same time frame.
Each GoFundMe has recently posted positive updates about Rauseo’s condition.
“Your kindness has truly been a beacon of hope for her family in this challenging time. I have some promising news to share. Lauren has been brought out of the medically induced coma and is showing signs of responsiveness, still under the vigilant care of the ICU team,” Helen DeCosta wrote in the update. “Her family is overwhelmed and eternally grateful for the outpouring of support you have all shown. There are no words for just how thankful they are. Please continue to pray for Lauren and keep her in your thoughts in her long road ahead.”
“She was able to move all her extremities on command and she was able to speak a few words for the first time since the accident. Lauren still has a long journey ahead of her, but she is a fighter. Her parents are hopeful she will be able to physically be in a position to be med flight to a hospital back home in Boston within the next couple of weeks,” Ryan Desmarais wrote on one of the GoFundMe’s.
Rauseo’s story and how she can be supported has also gained extensive recognition across almost all local news stations including WCVB, Boston 25, WBZ, NBC10, as well as the Boston Globe and Boston.com. The New York Post and People Magazine have also posted stories on their respective websites.
To Donate visit, https://www.gofundme.com/f/bring-lauren-home-fund-for-medflight-recovery or https://www.gofundme.com/f/aw8hth-bring-lauren-home