Today we celebrate and remember a very special friend of the Cle Elum Seven, Katie Gieser. Katie was a very devoted blog reader, and so passionate about primates that she followed her passion all the way to Africa to visit sanctuaries on seven separate trips. Katie passed away on March 14, 2012 after a long battle with cancer. I am touched and humbled to say that her sponsorship of today’s party was on her mind in her last days and she wanted to make sure that the chimps were able to celebrate spring in style. She also wanted us to use her love of the chimps to inspire others to support the sanctuary. If you’d like to make donation in her memory, I know her family would be honored. Please join me in celebrating this first day of spring in honor of Katie.
I am a cancer survivor myself so whenever I hear of another fellow warrior losing the battle, it always strikes a very, sad, chord with me, whether I have met them in person, or not. Katie, thank-you, so much for your deep passion for primates and your devoted support of the Sanctuary and I’m sorry I did not know you but now you are truly a kindred spirit!
My deepest condolences to Katie’s family….
Katie sounds like an exceptional person and how wonderful she was able to follow her bliss to visit all those sanctuaries. Condolences to her family.