Summer also brings another kind of celebration to mind. This year will be my 3rd Relay for Life event. I'd never heard of Relay before moving out here from Colorado. I wonder why that is? Anyway, three years ago, I was touched by someone's story about cancer and was moved to form a Relay team with the church I was attending. We had a pretty big team, I think there were about 12 of us on it. We raised a considerable amount of money and made "Gold team" status - which is just a fun way to stay motivated and raise more money before and during the Relay event. For being a brand new team and never having even heard of Relay before, I'd say that leading a team to Gold Team status the first year is a pretty awesome accomplishment.
But then I remember that I really had nothing to do with that. I had nothing to do with the amount of money our team raised, because each individual team member had their own story. And their family and friends had stories too. And their neighbors and local businesses all had a cancer story. And so, the people on "my team" happened to do a kick-ass job at raising money to benefit Relay.
The following year, I committed to helping our church team do even better. So, early on - we formed two teams and called it the "men's team" and the "women's team" which was really a bad idea since there were so many more women than men and we had to move some women over to the men's team. But, it was still fun and we still made a ton of money. We got even more creative last year than we did the year before and raised even more money through different fundraising events (like the bake sale at church on a Sunday and the raffle baskets that were up for auction during the Relay event). I loved the experience of doing relay, and I mostly loved that I was able to actively participate in an event that raises money for an organization that I really believe in - The American Cancer Society.
Right after Relay last year, or rather, during the Relay event, I remember feeling the pull to do more. I wanted to give up my "Team Captain" title and turn it in for something that meant I was a little more committed, a little more invested in the event. I thought that by giving up being team captain, I was then freeing myself to be more available to help out on the committee.... and I'm happy to say that it worked. I'm on the committee this year, which means that I will help out with the Relay event coordinators on the night of Relay instead of doing all the fund-raising work and then just participating in Relay during the event. Oh yes, I'm fund raising, but I'm also working "behind the scenes" as an ACS CAN Relay Chair. ....which is just a big acronym'ic way of saying I'm going to be promoting ACS CAN during Relay.
What is ACS CAN? It's a grassroots effort to promote political and legislative support for cancer patients. I'm sure their website can explain it much better than I can. Anyway, I'm going to hold a voter registration drive at Relay this year and try to spread the word about advocacy during the event.
I have some inhibitions about this. I'll probably blog about those at a later time because, after all, blogging really is cheaper than therapy. BUT
But anyway... I am soliciting friends, family, church members, blog readers, people in my community, and anybody else I can find for donations.
Yes, I want you to donate money towards my efforts in raising funds for the American Cancer Society through Relay for Life.Here's the way I see it: the ACS has a great mission statement. And I believe in it. I've been to a few ACS CAN meetings and have heard about and seen what the ACS can do for cancer patients, cancer survivors and even those left behind by individuals who have lost a battle with cancer.
My own best friend, Abbey, told me about a positive, uplifting experience she had in March of this year, thanks to the ACS. And if the ACS is doing something to help my bestest friend in the whole wide world feel better, then I want to support the ACS with some of the money God has given me to use.
I have personally been deeply affected by the ceremonies and intent of Relay for Life, and so now I want to contribute and give back to the organization. They have enriched my life, so I'd like to help them in return. And, I know that my small donation will matter. I'll be honest right here, right now and let you know that I've only donated $15 personally so far this year. I gave what I could, when I could give it. And this summer, I plan to donate more - because I will sacrifice a luxury so that I can give... even if it's only another $20. It will still matter to the American Cancer Society. It will help somebody somewhere. Maybe it will buy a wig. Or maybe it will pay for a speaker that will reach out to a community somewhere. Or maybe it will help somebody afford a certain medication... because my $15 plus someone else's $5 plus someone else's $35 plus someone else's $xx will equal enough to do what God intended for that money to do through the ACS.
And I truly, whole heartedly believe this.
So - there's my solicitation. Will you please donate through my personal fund raising page? Help out my local Relay for Life this year. Thank you in advance. Godspeed.
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