Relay

This Saturday is the A.C.S. Relay for Life in my county. I am not on a team this year as I have been in the past. I have not done any fundraising as in the past. My contribution to this years relay will simply be a two hour set with my band and I before the luminary. To me this weekend has always been about reflection. I had only been diagnosed 6 weeks before participating in the relay for the first time. It was surreal to say the least. I didn't know if I would be around for another. This will be my 7th relay.
The years have blurred into a single day filled with triumphs and setbacks, fear and hope. I am alive. I wake up every day and breathe in the mountain air. My goodness, life is good. Many things have helped me in my journey. My friends here at H/W, and my faith in God as I understand him. I hold fast to psalms 103 vs 1-5. It is my mantra. We should never waste our lives squabbling over the little things. Life is too short.
No offence to the wonderful moderators we have at this site but a song came out the year of my Dx. Tim McGraw....... Live Like You Were Dying.

We will be playing it at the relay this year.
I love all of you guys... Be compassionate. Be forgiving. Go fishing. Love with all your hearts. Try tolerance. Love the one you love the most a little more each day. Be a friend a friend would like to have. I feel that way about all of you. Todd

Good on you Todd! I'm printing out your post to hang on the wall beside me. Thank you!

Sheldon AKA Sleepless

I love your posts and your amazingly positive attitude. I've often thought about attending a Relay for Life event, but never have. Maybe I will now before the summer ends. Thanks, Todd.

Clock,

As a Survivor, you don't have to be part of a team. Just sign up (so they expect you - they'll put a t-shirt on you, and may even offer dinner, depends on the local support network) and go. My last one had a big turnout of teams, but very few Survivors. I got a lot of thanks for just showing up, since "we" are the lead-off lap of the event.

Before it was over one of the teams asked if they could "adopt" me. They had a corporate sponsor who was contributing a fixed amount per team member and more per survivor, so I added to their fundraising by doing nothing more than literally showing up, which I had already done.

Interetingly enough, I was the only prostate survivor present, which also got a little attention, as they upped the number of cancers represented by one. I was told they had never had a PCa guy. Maybe we are more of a closed group than even I expected. I was sent out to walk with a little girl of about 5 fighting an adult cancer for the first lap. Gives new perspective to those of us who wonder why we got this at such a young age.

I know there are some who have issues with the ACS, but I found new friends and was offered some resources that will help me in the near future, so for me, it is positive.

(Typo fixed)

142.... very well said. The relay in our area is a wonderful event. We have many survivors. ( catch 22). We have a very high cancer rate wjere I live. Perhaps due to industry perhaps due to lack of sunshine. I have been less involved this year. Last year our team raised 12 k. I too have made many good friends.


To all of you who have replied to my post, thank you. I had to stop and wipe my eyes twice.

Casey59 said...
Thanks, Todd, for your valued contribution to the American Cancer Society.

 I am sorry to be the negative voice, but as I have been saying here for more than 5 years the ACS- American Cancer Society- should not be seen as the good guys when it comes to cancer.  As most of you know the ACS takes the hundreds millions of dollars that it raises in events like the walk and spends almost nothing to really treat cancer or promote cancer awareness.  They spend millions on fundraising. They pay their officers millions of dollars in salary and bonus and continue to badly manipulate public opinion (psa testing). They spend a small fraction on real cancer related activities.

I boycott all ACS fundraising events and encourage anyone I know to do the same.  I have been told that even if the ACS is more interested in making more money and enriching it's officers, that they still do good by highlighting cancer.  Yeah for a million dollar plus salary I would do a little highlighting myself.  They are just another (but a very large) con-man.  They do not get one penny from me or my family.

http://www.preventcancer.com/losing/acs/wealthiest_links.htm

Hey Living1963 why don't you use your talent and energy to support some more deserving cancer group?

I looked through the article. I see that it is dated 1999. A bit old.

We all have our opinions, and I will say that mine goes no further than the Relay activity itself. I have no other association with ACS. I found it to be a gathering of others who have a similar focus, similar experiences, and a great extended support group. My knowledge of their finances and policies is minimal, and more information, even if negative, would not detract from the people I met at the event. 

living1963 said...
Lifeguyd

Some of what you say is true. There are fat cats out there who get rich off of the misfortunes of others. I agree with you. I will however say that relay to me is not so much about the money as it is about the event. An entire county coming together to remember and to encourage. Family, friends, and coworkers all out there with a single theme. A.C.S. aside it is truly a wonderful event. As momma always said. If you can't say something nice then at least enjoy the cake. Todd

 

Yes, the ACS has very cleverly used the pain and anger of victims of cancer to develop a fund raising machine that does bring communities together.  However, I cannot forgive the fact that they are more about raising money than doing good works.  Locally. as a survivor, I have been pressured to be a part of this fund raiser.  I have had to defend myself to long time friends who accused me of being callous and selfish because I would not participate in the relay.  In one case, I explained that I would gladly donate to a different cancer charity in their sons name, but I would not ever knowingly give to the ACS.  Our friendship was tested.  My convictions are part of a larger feeling that individuals and companies should not financially benefit from the pain and suffering of others. 

Thanks Mike, I will. I understand how people feel and it's cool but at the same time sometimes you just have to do what feels right. Todd

Thank you Jeff. It is kinda strange though. I am starting to become one of the old timers as far as survivors go. The best part is I just started vacation an hour ago. No work for 9 days. Yee Haw

AS I SAID TO LIFEGUYD. IT IS NOT about THE FUNDRAISING OR THE A.C.S. IT IS about THE EVENT. IT IS about 650 CANCER SURVIVORS CELEBRATING LIFE. LIFTING EACH OTHER UP AND BEING VERY VISIBLE TO THE COMMUNITY. AGREE OR DISAGREE I DO NOT CARE. THAT IS YOUR CALL BUT ENJOY THE CAKE.