#HONORINGASHLEYMORRISON
In the days after Ashley’s passing, we took a break from our regular posts about Gus and shifted the focus of our social media pages to talk about Ashley. We encouraged people to share their grief, stories and interactions with her, hoping it would help us all process what happened and facilitate the grieving process. By far the most common thing we heard people say was:
“I never met Ashley but I feel like I knew her.
No one understands why I’m so
sad about someone I never met.”
We understand and everyone who admired and followed Ashley understands.
This describes the effect that Ashley had on everyone. She was funny, honest, deeply caring, and unwavering in her mission to save cats and kittens.
We had the opportunity to meet some of Ashley’s family and friends recently, and they all said the same things.
We asked people on our social pages how they were planning to remember and honor Ashley. Lots of you are getting the kitty whisker tattoo or something like it, or donating to the Feral Cat Project, or following her lead by fostering kittens.
Someone suggested folding origami cranes. I had done this once before for some friends who were getting married, and it seemed like the perfect tribute for me to commit to. It takes a lot of time, but it became intentional time set aside to fold cranes with a photo of Ashley and some of her Kitten Academy stickers in view as a constant reminder of why I’m doing this (thank you Kathleen!). It’s an enjoyable, repetitive, meditative process.
So I’m honoring Ashley, her family, and all the kittehs she rescued by folding 1000 origami cranes and selling them to raise funds to help her mom to continue Ashley’s legacy.
Why cranes? Read about the senbazuru tradition here.
I started folding cranes as a way to remember and honor Ashley and to process the grief of her passing, while at the same time reading and responding to the thousands of people commenting on our posts about her on Instagram. (@the.real.gus.gus)
Ashley had a massive impact on us. She rescued so many cats, including our Gus Gus, which profoundly changed our lives forever.
How can you help?
By purchasing cranes! My goal is to raise around $5000 to support Cindi’s efforts with Ashley’s Kitten Academy. She has plans for a permanent memorial to Ashley, and to support the local chapter of PAWS.
For $12 US, you’ll receive 2 paper cranes (or $6 for 1) folded by yours truly and personally stamped with two paw prints and the word “RESCUE” on one of the wings by Gus Gus himself. ; ) On the other wing will be the name of your favorite cat rescued by Ashley. The price covers the envelope & labels, postage, transaction fees and helps offset the cost of this website. 100% of the funds raised will go to Ashley’s causes.
Many people have donated to deserving organizations already and I’d like to keep it going by recognizing the immeasurable impact Ashley has made on the cat rescue community, all the kitties she rescued and their adopted families and of course all of us.
I don’t need cranes,
but I’d still like to help.
Gus Gus, Quality Control
Gus has been involved with the process of folding the cranes since I started the project. He has personally supervised each one and signed off on quality control.
Thank you, Ashley.
*Trigger Warning*
Ashley’s image and voice appear in this video.
You can listen to Wester Wuori’s complete commentary here.
“Please, take care
of each other.”
— Ashley Morrison