Today we’d like to introduce you to Landrie Anderson.
Hi Landrie, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Go Gold is an annual to show support for childhood cancer awareness. The mission of involving and taking in the Childhood Cancer Awareness portion of the project was implemented to show love and support to those fighting, those recovering, those who’ve passed, and of course to all those who are family members and friends.
Go Gold started with inspiration from kindness-painted rocks that can be found all over. I wanted to do something creatively similar but with a more specific meaning. As I was planning this, September was approaching. That’s when the inspiration came to me. September is National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. Childhood Cancer is also symbolized by the color gold. That is because gold is the most precious metal, and children are the most precious thing in our lives.
I wanted to take in the idea of positivity spread through rock painting, but have it mean more to a specific group of people. Additionally, I wanted to have these rocks placed in a central area. Having them placed in memorial form was influential to all of the rocks being accessible and viewable. No rocks would be unseen or missed if they were all together. The memorial is viewable all year as they are placed around a tree at the Price River Trail.
The rocks are painted to have the base color of gold. They are then open to the community to paint them freely before they are placed in memorial form at the Price River Trail. Many paint symbols, animals, quotes, names, dates, and memories.
September can be a hard month for many because it brings reminders of the tough times and struggles so many go through. It’s important to note that anyone and everyone is welcome to participate in the rock painting and memorial walk. Having a personal relationship with cancer is not by any means a requirement. The support of all people is what adds true value to the project. The participation of the community provides a sense of togetherness and belonging. It’s important for those affected to know that their community is here to support them.
I founded Go Gold when I was 14, in 2021, with an understanding of the influence I would have on others. But it was unfathomable the impact that others would have on me. After the first year of putting on this event, I knew it was something I needed to keep doing. The past two years have been very successful and it’s exciting to make additions to the project as it continues annually and goes into its third year. After this year, the third year, a total of 565 rocks have been painted and placed in the memorial. More additions will continue to grow the quantitative collection as the project continues to progress.
An exciting attribute to look forward to this year is the addition of a plaque to the memorial. The plaque represents the strength and bond of our community. It will have information for travelers who stop at the Price River Trail to learn about the rock collection and its uniqueness. When people learn about it, they will share what they learned with others, who in return, will come to Price to view it and participate in the event. It will bring people together. Community can be defined as a feeling of fellowship with others, as a result of sharing a common goal. Go Gold promotes exactly that: the sense of belonging through service, while showing support for Childhood Cancer Awareness.
Go Gold would not be possible without the support of the amazing community and people who surround our progressive environment. The project’s outreach would not be to the extent of what it is today if it weren’t for the local radio stations, Castle Country Radio AJB Broadcasting, and the local newspaper, ETV News. Countless businesses and individuals have pitched in to bring Go Gold to its maximum potential. John M. Howa & Sons donate rocks to be painted each year. Quality Building Stone donated the stone for the plaque to be placed on.
Kris and Kevin Mele made a generous monetary donation in support of the memorial’s engravement. Sun Somewhere Real Estate Station provided the perfectly ideal location to host community paint nights. These are just a few of the many building blocks that make up Go Gold’s support system.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Just as all events go, Go Gold has had its rocky patches. The main struggle I’ve encountered along the way was scheduling conflicts, this was only a minor conflict. September is the ideal month for Go Gold to take place. However, September is a busy month for various community events. It’s important to me to make sure that I didn’t choose any dates that would lead to a conflict of interest.
It was hard at times to find the right time for the memorial walk to take place, a time that wouldn’t interfere with other events. I wanted to make sure that all events could be supported in our community, without having to pick and choose what to attend. This way all aspects of our community could have the most support available to them. A solution was found effectively, and the memorial walk is set for Saturday, September 23, 2023, at 8 a.m.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
My work is based on community involvement. I founded and am the organizer of an annual event for the Go Gold project. Go Gold is centered around the term community. Community can be defined as a feeling of fellowship with others, as a result of sharing a common goal. Go Gold promotes exactly that, the sense of belonging through service, while showing support for Childhood Cancer Awareness.
I am most proud of the turnout and involvement that comes from those around me. It makes my heart full to see everyone coming together. My perseverance sets me apart from others. Perseverance refers to the ability to pursue a goal or passion over time, and stick with it if we encounter obstacles or setbacks. Perseverance led to success; therefore, the success of Go Gold also sets me apart from the rest.
Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
Watching the influence and impact one has the opportunity to have on someone else makes me happy. It brings me joy to better someone else’s life because it returns and betters your own life.
Being the light that someone may not realize they need, truly defines the enjoyment and drive behind Go Gold. I am always the most happy when I am serving others.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://linktr.ee/gogoldmemorial
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/go.gold.memorial
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100093533384303&mibextid=LQQJ4d
- Other: https://etvnews.com/go-gold-for-childhood-cancer-receives-city-council-support/
Image Credits
Traci Bishop – ETV News
