Blaze'n for the Raise'n PreFlight Blog: Preflight: ABOUT CLAIRE MIX

Sunday, May 01, 2005

Preflight: ABOUT CLAIRE MIX

Claire Mix is an elementary school choir teacher in Elk Grove California, affectionately known as The Mixer by her students. Known for her inspirational and exciting teaching methods, Claire is constantly in high demand. She conducts four youth choirs, one of them is called The Mixer Kids. The Mixer Kids are acclaimed for giving benefit concerts for charity. In the last five years they have raised a large amount of funds for the Susan G. Komen Foundation. Singing original music composed by Claire has given The Mixer Kids an original appeal to audiences. After being asked to perform at the inaugural celebration for California Governor Arnold Swarzenegger, The Mixer Kids and Claire Mix’s music has become widely popular.

In the past two years, 44 year old Claire Mix has been dealing with a progressive neurological disease in the Parkinsons family. She has recently acquired a mobility scooter which her students lovingly call The Mixer Mobile. It’s not an unusual sight to see Mixer rolling to a show and giving a young Mixer Kid a ride on her lap to the stage. Mixer can still walk short distances and lives a very full life despite her new limitations. Her students view her no differently than before her body became noticeably symptomatic. It is a great lesson for any child; to see the human being before the chair, crutch, walker or cane.

2 Comments:

At May 23, 2005 9:50 PM, Anonymous said...: I've known Mixer since I was in third grade and she's awesome! She's funny and nice and sweet and any other nice things you can think of! I'm glad she is doing this AND I am glad I know her! - ♥Sparky♥
At May 25, 2005 11:29 AM, Anonymous said...: Claire (Mixer) brings out a confidence in my children that I didn't know they posess. My oldest child was super shy (4 years ago) and now she is a core member of the Mixer Kids and now mentors the newer and youger members of the group (and needless to say...she is anything BUT shy!) Claire loves her students as if they are her own while still maintaining respect for the parents and their personal boundaries. She has a gift that she is giving to each of the children she works with and in turn the children light up her world - it shows in her smile! These kids are so lucky to have "Mixer" in their lives!

Thank you Mixer for making my children even more well rounded, grounded and confident. They are awesome and I give you a lot of the credit!

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BLAZE'N FOR THE RAISE'N

On Saturday July 16th, 2005, Claire Mix [about] will make a lone journey to raise funds for a cure to Parkinson Disease. Claire is going to ride a mobility scooter from the Golden Gate Bridge to the California State Capitol, where she will be met by many of her students and friends. It's not only a way to raise funds for The National Parkinson Foundation, but Claire hopes to inspire her students to never give up.

What Can You Do To Help?

This is a fundraiser, so the most important thing you can do to help is to make a donation. Whether large or small, your contribution will help support essential Parkinson research efforts, patient services, education, and outreach. In the United States it is estimated that 60,000 new cases are diagnosed each year, joining the 1.5 million Americans who currently have Parkinson disease. While the condition usually develops after the age of 65, 15% of those diagnosed are under 50.

Ready To Help?

You can do one or more of the following:

Donate directly to the National Parkinson Foundation (click here for PDF donation form).

Purchase music from the CD "Singing In A Hairbrush" by Claire Mix. You'll be able to download all twelve tracks from the CD plus four bonus tracks for just $15.00. [Yes, I want music!]

Order something from our BLAZE'N GIFT SHOP. [order]

Tell your friends! All of them. Really.

For downloadable music and gift shop orders: a portion of the proceeds from each purchase goes to the National Parkinson and Komen Foundations. For orders from the Gift Shop: about a buck from each purchase also goes to Mixer Music to help support the kids in her choirs.