March 20, 2008
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Moving Up from Girl Scout Cookies....
I'm in my thirties....which, in my brain, equates to about....22? Surely I really am not older than that. I don't feel older than that. So how can it be that two of my friends from high school have already battled cancer (and thank god, seemingly won). I posted earlier this week (with more humor) about how it sucks to get old...but getting a life threatening disease can make you feel your mortality like almost nothing else.
We all are petrified of being told we could have the big "C"; my friend Sandy found out she had cervical cancer after a routine visit; my friend Bill, who has two small children and a wife, went through a very scary battle with leukemia. I've known so many others. Even Patrick Swayze, who for my generation still causes warm fuzzies for most of us, is now in a battle for his life. If you haven't experienced someone you love learning they have cancer.....I am very sad to tell you, someday you will.
It has been YEARS since I solicited "door to door" - the last time, I was wearing a patch-loaded sash and a green little uniform. Today I am asking that you spare even just $1.....anything you can swing, whether it's giving up your Starbucks coffee for one day or making a bigger difference...every little amount helps.
I am participating in my city's Walk and Roll to fight cancer. You can make a donation right there on my page. I mean it - even $1 makes a difference.
Click here to go to my Walk & Roll page (I so love the computer age!) :
http://www.walkroll.org/site/TR/Events/NorthShore?px=1394264&pg=personal&fr_id=1100
My son and my dog are going to walk with me. So are many of my neighbors. This is a legit charity event. Your donation is fully tax deductible.
I'm walking for these people, all of whom have been part of my life and had individual battles with cancer:
Sandy Watson (Cervical cancer survivor)
Bill Carrigan (Leuikemia survivor)
Lynn Grogan (Breast cancer survivor)
Terri Rohleder (Breast cancer and Lymphoma survivor)
David Hill (Melanoma survivor)
Ed Maddell (battling leukemia)
Florence Grogan (in memory of....her battle with breast cancer)
Thats a lot of people close to me in my short life. Please help me fight this disease. The American Cancer Society continues to provide invaluable resources and funding for cancer research and treatment. I posted also this week about caring....this is my attempt to DO something....to show that I do care. To make a difference, even if its small.
Even if you don't make a donation, but you know someone who has been affected by any form of this disease, please feel free to post their name (even if just their first name) in the comments here.
Thanks so much for reading this far!!
-Jenny
Comments (4)
I knew I had gotten old when one of my friends came down with cancer.
my best friend died of cancer (courtesy of Agent Orange) almost 25 years ago. Dad and many other family members have died of cancer, and now I find myself on something of a slippery slope ... a 1-2 punch of diabetes and Celiac's Disease. Gettin' old sure CAN suck, but it doesn't have to. Some of us walk roads that seem to end sooner than those of others, and that's just the way it is. For me, it's about what we do with the journey we're on, not how long it lasts. I'd rather pass away right now, the way I presently am, than in my 90s, plugged in to some machine. There's sunlight to be absorbed, cold, rainy days to be enjoyed under a warm blanket, sunrises and sunsets to be dazzled by, hot cups of coffee (or tea) on an early morning, and too many other things to list.
Life has tragedy, but there's much more that's worthy of celebration.
Great post!
*massive hugs* You are amazing. I work with MakingMemories.org and Brides Against Breast Cancer as well as the ACS out here in Orlando. There are always so many fundraisers and events. I'm hoping to do a 3 day walk in October if I can actually get the time off work. It's our busiest month for weddings and unfortunately if we close for 3 days a few of our brides will feel like it's the end of the world. =P You completely made my day! Tkae pictures from your walk!!!
It's sad that Cancer has become a such topic that we talk about daily, even when we are in our 30's ( i agree about the 22 thing =) Good luck on your walk I'll drop you some change on your site later today. Like you I have had many friends fight the C but unlike you my friends lost their battle, so like you my girlfriend and I joined TNT we are also raising money for research so perhaps one person somewhere in the future won't loose a close friend at 18.
I look forward to reading about your walk and the friend's you gain along the way ~