Sammy's Squirrels

Anna Drake / DIY Fundraiser in honour of Sammy Valdez Drake

Free-ranging art in support of The Cure Starts Now: Canada. 

Did you find a print? Find out more below....

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  • $2,000

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About Sammy's Squirrels

Thank you for visiting! Did you find a print? There are only 101 of these hand-printed, hand-painted squirrels loose in the Lower Mainland this summer. I'm Sammy's Mom, Anna, and I made the artwork while Sammy's older brother manned the press. These numbered prints are a gift - we'd love to hear which squirrel has found a home at: <sammyssquirrels [at] gmail.com>

What are they for?
We are hoping to raise $2000 for The Cure Starts Now: Canada, a registered charity that supports research to find treatments for childhood brain cancers and, in doing so, hopes to find a Homerun Cure for all cancers. This cause is close to our hearts. Sammy was a healthy and active 5-year-old when he was diagnosed with an untreatable childhood brain cancer called DIPG. He lived for only 8 months after diagnosis. We miss him terribly, every day. With the Cure Starts Now, we are aiming for a better future where families and children have treatments that give them a fighting chance.  

Why squirrels?
Sammy loved squirrels "because they are adorable". Some nights the boys would tell ad-libbed bedtime stories and one of Sammy's stories centred on him being the conductor of a miniature train. In them, he would dig tunnels to the homes of people who were important to him and then he would call on a very precise number of squirrels: 9090. These squirrels would pile into the train cars and ride with him as he careened along the underground tracks. The unsuspecting person at his chosen destination would be surprised by the mysterious new tunnel exit and then the sound of a rapidly approaching engine. The train would barrel out of the tunnel and all 9090 excited squirrels would spill out. His brother had to invent an automatic counter to ensure they all made it back onboard.

These stories were top of my mind when I began to think of an art fundraiser - it felt like a good game for Sammy, one that would make him laugh.  When I asked my older son how many prints we should make, he suggested 9090....we're starting with 101 and he's keeping track. We hope they all find loving homes. 

Thank you for your support!