What Do You Stand For?

I've managed to hold my tongue for quite a long time as I watched over the last several years at the polarization of the nation. The economy is in shambles, yet people will go to great lengths to impose their views on others either through the legal system or in public forums. One of my biggest peeves has been the polarization of people who are no longer supporting Susan G. Komen because of the mis-handling of the Planned Parenthood issue.

If you have been in a cave the last couple years, you would have missed how controversy started to brew about how Komen was sending fundraising dollars to Planned Parenthood for breast exams. Pro-Life supporters came out of the woodworks and lambasted Komen for the audacity to support Planned Parenthood. The organization drew so much flak that it pulled funding from Planned Parenthood and took away a channel for women to get screened for breast cancer.

This action of course got all the Pro-Choice supporters up in arms to the point where Komen reinstated the funding. Ultimately, it was a mis-step by Komen in how they handled communication and strategy, but the damage was done.

Now this year, as the 3-Day season gets under way, across the board, Komen is witnessing a downdraft in participation. Boston, which kicked off the season at the end of July, only saw ~1,000 walkers. Volume in prior years had been on the rise to about the 1,400 mark. The other 13 remaining events are seeing similar effects.

So what's happening? Well, walkers are making the choice not to walk based on their stance on abortion. Walkers who want to walk may not be getting the same amount of donations because their constituents are taking a stand based on theif beliefs about abortion.

I think this is a travesty, that people would allow their polarizing beliefs affect their will to fight an enemy WAY greater. Let's get some breast cancer facts straight people...

1. Breast Cancer doesn't care what you believe about abortion
2. Breast Cancer doesn't care if you are RICH or POOR
3. Breast Cancer doesn't care if you are a woman or man
4. Breast Cancer doesn't care about YOU!!!!!

The bottom line is that years ago, a woman made a promise to her dying sister. And I truly believe that the Komen organization cares only about one thing...the erradication of breast cancer.

So the next time someone asks you to donate for the sake of womens' health and the end of breast cancer and you reflect on the Planned Parenthood debacle, ask yourself this question...

Are you pro-life, pro-choice, or PRO-HEALTH?

Meet KISS

Today is a special day. 3-Day friends and ohanas (family) from around the country are preparing to descend upon the Boston area to kick off the 2012 Susan G. Komen 3-Day for the Cure season. This year, I have managed to bring together some friends and ohana to join me in the first event of the year. This is also a special year. Earlier this year I was saddened to learn that my good friend was diagnosed with breast cancer for the second time. She was supposed to make the trek to Boston. Instead, she was scheduled for surgery and is currently convalescing at home. You can read her story here at Rainbows and Butterflies.

In her absence, we needed to find someone to her place. I elicited the help of another good friend who works in HR (Human Resources) at Qualcomm. Together, we put our heads to work and searched for a worthy candidate. This was not an easy task. The replacement had to have the qualities of our friend; warm, friendly, great smile, and hard working.

After a nationwide, online search, we found our candidate. This representative fit the bill well. It gives me great pleasure to introduce the newest member to the 3-Day crew and specifically the Event Support team for Boston, please welcome KISS!!!!!!

KISS comes from a long line of caring and warm Build-A-Bears. Her experience consists of giving lots of love, bringing joy to a room, and brightening even the best of days. KISS gets her namesake from our dear friend...

Kristin "I Survived" Szabo!

You can follow KISS throughtout her Boston journey at the 2012 Event Support facebook page.

Baking to appeal to Fashionistas

So the next chapter in the baking story comes from an idea that my sister had based on my comment about how many folks at work seem to have fashion sense. Thus came about the high heel cupcake idea.

Having done the bake goods, I thought I had a good audience. However, cupcakes are sweeter and it came with a price tag of $5 vs. free and optional donation. While I don't think the cupcakes were as succesful, I still raised about $50 from 9 cupcakes. Yes that means some donated more than the $5. Interestingly enough, I have received comments about how much of a conversation piece they were and even got an email request for a future event. All in all, it was a lot of work. Maybe next time I'll have my sister do the mini-cupcakes.

Bake Sale Makes Dough (part deux)

I'm truly amazed at the generosity of people. Yesterday I blogged that after a day of effortless fundraising (all I did was set it out), I raised $29. What I didn't know was that after I left work, other folks came looking for the goodies and even though they didn't find any, they found my dedication box and put in another $25!!! Then this morning my colleague walked over and dropped in an undisclosed amount and made a dedication, stating, "no cookie needed." I'm definitely need to make more cookies!

Bake Sale Makes Dough!

So I tried something new in terms of fundraising. July 4th was spent with family and my sister and oldest daughter helped bake and decorate a dedication box.

I brought both items and set up a small sign to tell my story of why I fight. I figured it was worth trying out on a smaller audience given that today was the day after a major holiday and many folks would be out. I was amazed at the results. In just a short day, many of the baked goods were gone, I had dedications on the box, and inside was a whopping $29! I can only imagine what might happen if I made more and put it out on a day where everyone was in the office. Plus, I can possibly attempt this on 4 other floors!

If you think fundraising is hard, just put in a little effort. You might be surprised at the results!

Note to self, chocolate chip cookies and brownies = good. Peanut butter cookies = not so good.

Breast Cancer is tough, but we're tougher!

A few weeks ago, I found myself doing something I haven't done in a while...cry. As I reflected on this for the next few days, I pondered what kind of cry was it?

First, why was I crying? Well, I had just learned that my good friend was diagnosed with breast cancer for the 2nd time. As we talked on the phone, I found myself choked up from the shock that breast cancer had hit close, again.

Her story is reflected in her blog here...
http://kristinsgoodlife.blogspot.com/

So what kind of cry was it? Well...

It started as a cry of helplessness, the feeling that there was little I could do to help my friend.

Then in morphed into a cry of remembrance, reflecting on the days when my own mother battled breast cancer and remembering friends and their pain as they lost loved ones.

Quickly, it turned into a cry of anger. Why is breast cancer still here? Where is the sense of fairness that it strikes where the light shines brightest?

Finally, my cry settled...not that it stopped, but it became a LOUD and ECHOING battle cry!

And so I will continue to cry and more importantly, I will continue to cry out, Breast Cancer, your days are numbered and you will not prevail.

And to Kristin, my dear friend, my battle cries this year will be dedicated to you!

Recognition is nice, but I don't want to be doing this forever

Every year that I crew another Komen event, I often reflect why am I doing another event?  As much fun as I have every time, there are several moments whether during planning, on event, or post-reflection where I just question why we have not found a cure.  Sure it's great to receive recognition that you have the Crew Power Team or that you have raised $5,000.  However, we're were only supposed to be in this "until there's a cure."  I think a lot of folks would agree that it's long overdue.  And while some would argue that vanity drugs support the rest of the industry, I truly wonder why a cure for cancer hasn't been found given the amount of scientific talent around the world.  SO until then, I WILL continue the fight.  I WILL continue to fundraise.  I WILL continue to work on behalf of women and men who will face this disease, because everyone does deserve a lifetime.