Nelly Strong: A Fall River mothers mission to give back to the community

April 5, 2016 5:22 pm

Laura Eaton is turning tragedy into triumph. After losing her 18-year-old daughter Nelly to a rare form of cancer less than 6 months ago, she’s making sure her daughters legacy lives on, through a non-profit in her honor.

"It’s the Nelly Strong foundation it’s established as of 3.31.16,"says Laura.

Through Nelly Strong, she plans to complete a bucket list Nelly had left. One major item was doing more outreach in the community. Laura knew the perfect initiative to kick off the organization. A drive to collect used and new prom dresses for girls at Nellys high school, Durfee as well as diamond high school. They labeled it "Project Princess". Her inspiration comes from Nellys love of fashion, as well as a conversation with one of Nellys friends.

"She said mama Laura, I go prom dress shopping with Nelly since the 6th grade dinner dance. it’s been hard for me to actually go and find the right dress. I keep trying to focus it on Nellys colors but Nelly keeps telling me not to focus on me, but to focus on myself. I shared it with my friend Kenny. He said we need to do a drive for dresses."

After announcing this initiative just one week ago, Laura has already received more than 100 donated prom dresses. Laura says this is just the beginning of many great outreach programs to come, as the bucket list had many things on it. These things including help the homeless, and
educating others on natural healing medicines, that had helped her during her battle. Laura now has her own office to run the non-profit out of, thanks to a donation from local business owner Jeffrey Swauger who has lent a hand since Nellys first diagnosis.

"Being from fall river, and being from here and watching everyone come together it almost pushed me in the direction to keep wanting to help out,"says Swauger.

"There are so many kind hearten people out there that just want to give back and just want to help. That’s where I am today, I want to pay it forward,"adds Laura.

For more information on how to donate, you can visit the Pray For Nelly Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/Pray-for-Nelly-421890927969685/