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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>This is very sad. Lauren was an open hearted, funny woman. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Camille <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #E1E1E1 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><b>From:</b> NFBF-Leaders <nfbf-leaders-bounces@nfbnet.org> <b>On Behalf Of </b>Denise Valkema via NFBF-Leaders<br><b>Sent:</b> Tuesday, September 1, 2020 8:02 AM<br><b>To:</b> NFBF <nfbf-l@nfbnet.org>; NFBF <nfbf-leaders@nfbnet.org><br><b>Cc:</b> Denise Valkema <valkemadenise@aol.com><br><b>Subject:</b> [NFBF-Leaders] Sad news about Lauren Blum<o:p></o:p></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>It is hard and sad to share with you that Lauren Blum passed away yesterday, 8/31/20. She helped people who are blind anyway she could.She was instrumental in forming the Suncoast chapter and led the chapter in cohosting one of our state conventions. Now some of the chapter members have become leaders and members of our statewide chapter. She thought about our needs to keep hydrated and filled throughout the day by selling snack packs and managed our hospitality suite. She held diabetes calls during the year and seminars at state convention. She served as Suncoast chapter president and an affiliate board member.<o:p></o:p></p><div><p class=MsoNormal>Lauren had a positive outlook on life and continued to touch those around her with love and laughter despite all her health struggles. There is a a facebook fundraiser below and including a message if anyone wants to help. Take the time to share your memories of Lauren and keep her husband, Steve, her mother, Carol, family, and friends in your thoughts and Prayers. <br><br><o:p></o:p></p><blockquote style='margin-top:5.0pt;margin-bottom:5.0pt'><div><p class=MsoNormal><br><br><o:p></o:p></p><blockquote style='margin-top:5.0pt;margin-bottom:5.0pt'><div><p class=MsoNormal>A Facebook fundraiser:<o:p></o:p></p></div></blockquote><div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div><p class=MsoNormal><a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/lauren039s-final-expenses?sharetype=teams&member=5579008&pc=fb_co_campmgmt_m&rcid=r01-159890342024-868a5657786a4b00&utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=fb_co_campmgmt_m">https://www.gofundme.com/f/lauren039s-final-expenses?sharetype=teams&member=5579008&pc=fb_co_campmgmt_m&rcid=r01-159890342024-868a5657786a4b00&utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=fb_co_campmgmt_m</a><o:p></o:p></p><div><p class=MsoNormal><br><br><o:p></o:p></p><blockquote style='margin-top:5.0pt;margin-bottom:5.0pt'><div><div><div style='margin-bottom:1.5pt;box-sizing: inherit;align-items: center;align-self: center;display:flex;font-size:0.875rem;-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%'><h1 style='margin:0in'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#333333'>Lauren's Final Expenses<o:p></o:p></span></h1></div><div style='margin-bottom:1.5pt;box-sizing: inherit;align-items: center;align-self: center;display:flex;font-size:0.875rem;-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%'><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#C5912C;text-transform:uppercase'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p></div><div style='margin-bottom:1.5pt;box-sizing: inherit;align-items: center;align-self: center;display:flex;font-size:0.875rem;-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%'><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#C5912C;text-transform:uppercase'>TEAM FUNDRAISER<o:p></o:p></span></b></p></div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#333333;background:white'>Jaclyn Matthews and Steven Blum are organizing this fundraiser</span><o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#333333;background:white'>As most of you may know, my sister Lauren, has battled health issues the majority of her life. She was diagnosed with type 1 Diabetes at the age of 6 and has proven to be a fighter from the start. She went blind at the age of 25. Had a kidney and pancreas transplant not long after that and the myriad of health issues continued but Lauren faught long and hard. She decided to go back to school when she was blind and became the first Blind President of Phi Beta Kappa which is the National Honor Society for 2 year colleges. She then went on to become very involved with National Federation of the Blind. She strived at everything she did. She was a loving wife, daughter, sister, aunt and most of all friend. </span><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#333333'><br><br><span style='background:white'>Today August 31, 2020 Lauren's battled ended. She was tired and her body was weary. Her poor heart gave out today. We never anticipated this day would come hense this page. We were never prepared for this. We are asking very humbly for help with Lauren's final expenses. We will be cremating her and having some sort of celebration of life depending on what is allowed per the pandemic. There will be more info as soon as we know what we can do.</span><br><br><span style='background:white'>We appreciate any help that can be given. As we know more info we will update this.</span><br><br><span style='background:white'>In Loving Memory of</span><br><span style='background:white'>Lauren Meredith Blum</span><br><span style='background:white'>6/1/1979 - 8/31/2020</span></span><o:p></o:p></p></div></div></blockquote><p class=MsoNormal>Together, <br><br><o:p></o:p></p><blockquote style='margin-top:5.0pt;margin-bottom:5.0pt'><div><div><div><p class=MsoNormal>Denise Valkema, President <span style='font-size:13.0pt'>National Federation of the Blind of Florida </span><o:p></o:p></p><div><p class=MsoNormal>(305)972-8529<o:p></o:p></p><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:13.0pt'><a href="mailto:president@nfbflorida.org">president@nfbflorida.org</a></span><o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:13.0pt'><a href="http://www.nfbflorida.org">www.nfbflorida.org</a></span><o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:13.0pt'>Follow us @nfbflorida</span><o:p></o:p></p></div></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:13.0pt'>You can live the life you want.</span><o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>The National Federation of the Blind is a community of members and friends who believe in the hopes and dreams of the nation’s blind. Every day we work together to help blind people live the lives they want.<o:p></o:p></p></div></div></div></div></blockquote></div></div></blockquote></div></div></body></html>