Northshore magazine showcases the best that the North Shore of Boston, MA has to offer.
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81 DECEMBER 2019 there. We believe that travel—and especially when you experi- ence how people live in other countries—is a life experience they'll carry with them forever," Lisa says. "If this was some- thing that she really wanted to do, then I was all about wanting to make that happen." That's where the whoopie pies come in—thousands of them, in fact, that Blaine sold to raise money for her trip to Cambo- dia. "I stood in front of my mom's store, in my town, and at my school selling baked goods until I had raised enough money," Blaine says. Lisa says that she, Blaine, and Paige, who was 17 at the time, were deeply moved by the two weeks they spent in Cambodia during that first visit. "We absolutely fell in love with the organi- zation, and more importantly, we fell in love with this group of girls, and vowed when we left that we would never stop helping," Lisa says. "We didn't want to be a flash in the pan—come and say hello, meet these girls, and then disappear from their lives. We wanted to be a part of this program and the girls' lives going into the future." Blaine and her family have kept that vow. Lisa now serves on the boards of both the Life and Hope Association and My Cambodian Sisters, the family visits Cambodia regularly, and they continue to work to raise money for the girls. But just as importantly, they all consider each other family. "I have been invited to all the girls' weddings. I've held their children, I've watched them grow and mature, I've helped them find apart- ments," Lisa says. Likewise, Blaine has made deep and lasting friendships with the girls and young women she's met, like Kanha, who received a full university scholarship after graduating from PAGE, and Savon, who's now a chef in Siem Reap. Blaine hopes to grow My Cambodian Sisters to help more girls, including establishing a stronger scholarship program "so more girls can attend university full time like Kanha does." She adds, "I want to see the girls that I have worked with and grown connections with become teachers, doctors, businesswomen, and anything in the world they want to be." Cambodian students on their way to school. CONTACT mycambodiansisters.org Do your holiday plans have you frazzled? De-stress this season at the newly remodeled Bella Vita — North Shore's premier luxury salon, day spa, and medi spa. Gift Cards Available 24/7 1019 Osgood Street, North Andover, MA 01845 978-682-5103 | bellavitanorthandover.com @bvsalonspa W E A R E P R O U D L Y O F F E R I N G : • 100% natural CBD spa treatments • Dermaplaning • Microblading • Lash extensions & tinting • Microneedling • Jet Peel treatments • Jan Marini Skin Research facials • Hair removal • Specialty massages • Luxury nail services • Cellulite reduction • Botox & Fillers • Professional Makeup • Hair extensions • Advanced cuts & Specialty colors • Hair smoothing treatments