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Chellie Kew's passions are more exotic than the spelling of her
name.
She's a wide-eyed, petite woman with sun-bleached hair and a
hearty laugh. She's lived in more places than she dares to
count, stands up to tell stories and is always heading
somewhere.
Her upcoming quest will send her to Africa, India, Thailand and
the Americas photographing children of the world who have been
diagnosed with AIDS.
Kew is a Lake Oswego resident who owns Kew Garden, a private
home-based holistic health care facility.
But
she's always been a photographer.
In
her dreams far-away children have been inviting Kew to join
them. Laugh with them. Share their stories.
So
she'll go.
The
photos from her upcoming journeys will be turned into three
large coffee-table books that will hold images and stories of
children with AIDS.
Not
small-boned, big-bellied children to feel sorry for - but happy,
joyful kids who love life.
She said that in Hlabisa, a
rural town in South Africa, one third of the adult population
carries the HIV virus. And of the 40,000 people believed
to be infected, only 11 can afford the medicine that could save
their lives.
AIDS, Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome, is an affliction in
which a virus attacks the body's immune system.
Kew
said that she wants to raise money through her books to bring
health care and education to the countries suffering from AIDS.
She
hopes to put a new face of hope and potential on AIDS.
And
apparently others do too.
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It
was Chellie Kew's first month in South Africa and she decided to
go on safari. Her first safari photo was this one, a lion in
a eucalyptus tree at the Kruger National Park. (Photo by Chellie
Kew)
Her
travel, marketing and portfolio finances have left her nail biting.
But recently she's found donors (in Europe and America) who will
help her fund her project.
Kew's handheld dream is snowballing.
She's meeting with high-profile people in New York, magazine
representatives in Washington, D.C., anyone that will listen.
Martyn Ehterington has known Kew for
about 10 years. He's the vice president for marketing at
Sliceware, Inc. in Portland and plans to help Kew in marketing,
advising and financial capacities.
"(The project) will focus on positive
attitude and hopefulness one finds in children," He said.
"It's a refreshing way to provide a very political and ethically
strong message."
Chellie Kew took this shot of a zebra while on safari in
Botswana. (Photo by Chellie Kew)
But it takes some guts and a lot of
passion. On a train she handed Al Gore a letter explaining
her project and she also waltzed into the New York Times office to
tell her story.
But her project doesn't stop at
publishing It's actually three-fold. She first wants
to create the books, second, user her medical healing background
to help children and third, donate any profits to non-profit
organizations whose aim are the education, prevention and
treatment of AIDS.
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She'll leave for her journey on her
birthday in August and plans to spend at least three months in
each country visited. She said her husband and kids in
college are her biggest supporters.
"If something touches her heart, she
throws herself into it head first," said Kevin, her husband.
"This is just a perfect project for her to exercise her given
talents."
He said this project reflects her
personality and how she is as a wife and mother - compassionate,
energetic, sensitive, smart and driven. He couldn't say
enough about her heart, dreams and spirit.
For two years the Kew family lived in
South Africa. Kevin was transferred there to work while
the children went to school there. But every month Chellie
said she needed to take a safari. The animals, she said,
gave her a peaceful break from the violence and inequity of
everyday life.
For now she's using photos from safaris
through Africa to raise money for the big trip. The photos
will be made into silk-screens and displayed in galleries.
Kew has a moment of
relaxation in the African bush. (Submitted photo)
"(With this project) I want to see the
joy and possibility of health and healing," she said.
"What we need to see is the beauty and soul of these children."
For additional questions, to provide
information or to donate to the project, contact Chellie Kew at
www.qfund4aids.org or at
info@qufund4aids.org. |
