Well, thank goodness -- I'm past the half way mark now at 57% of my minimum fundraising goal! This was all basically from friends in my parish who know my family and I, especially those who remember my ordeal a few years ago. The turnout wasn't quite as strong this weekend compared to last, and I mostly sold a lot of cookies, cupcakes and brownies (thanks Mom!) but did also get a few good sized donations from generous friends.
I still have a bunch of fundraising letters to send out to friends, family, coworkers, and some businesses in town in Plattsmouth and perhaps a few here also in Omaha. This spring break week is over already, and I wanted to get so much more done, but I'll just have to work it in this week!
At church, I did actually get to meet and talk with some high school aged visitors to my fundraising table about what I was doing (this whole fundraising thing) and why, with a little background on my story -- and I could just see the seriousness come into their eyes! I can't say I probably wouldn't do the same thing, there's always people out fundraising for something, but until the cause has some real weight on their lives do they really care to make a donation.
Simple example here was, although they already made a donation to buy some baked goods, when I told them I went though cancer while I was in high school as a junior (same as them), couldn't run for a couple years, and now I'm training for a marathon -- it has a little impact on them! I'm glad it did, because I really feel like this cause is so important (to me of course) but I can understand if others could care less. Maybe once they realize that it could happen to them as easily as it did me, or anyone else they care or know about for that matter, does it really sink in. Having a walking, talking, breathing reason like myself to emphasis the point -- and mentioning my honor patient Charlie Peters as well -- carries some weight.
Also, I was so impressed with a couple little girls bought some cookies as a donation, and told me they did some similiar fundraising for cancer! Thats just great to hear, and just like the American Cancer Society's Relay For Life campaign had more meaning to me the year after my ordeal compared to the year before it, this new campaign has a great deal of meaning as well... since it's so much more of a challenge, and the issue is just even touches me so much closer. I really hope we can find a cure for cancer soon, so especially little kids like Charlie don't have to do through the same thing I did for treating Lymphoma, and all the other blood-related cancers.
Posted by bwiese at March 22, 2004 12:33 AM