This weekend I got to participate in my community's biggest fund-raiser and awareness campaign against vampires, "Take Back the Jugular." I like to think of it as my opportunity to fight with the best weapon I've got - my big mouth. I talked people into buying over-priced plastic "wooden stakes" that lit up, silver foil covered chocolate bullets, and t-shirts that said "Vampires Can Bite Me." All the money went to help the effort against the foul creatures. And while we didn't actually kill any vamps that night, it felt good to know that there were so many of us united against the Abiding Evils. I got to shake the hands of people who'd survived the most vicious and deadly of attacks, and I got to hear them tell their stories of epic battles and how they'd killed their attackers. It made me think of The Huntress and her fight, of how I hope she knows she's not alone, either.
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As of 8:00AM Saturday morning when the event was over, the Texas Bay Area Relay for Life had raised over $770,000 for the American Cancer Society. My feet and throat hurt when it was all over, but it felt really good to help fight against something that has taken so many people from me. I know it's not the same disease (and I swear, if there's a campaign against Crohn's in my area, I'll get out there and sell t-shirts with the best of them), but the event really helped crystallize the game for me - "Screw the disease, we're going to keep living well and beating the crap out of it until it's gone!"
I really hope you're doing OK, Jess. Please post if you feel up to it.
Very awesome, Carrie. That is an awesome cause. There is a chance I may be coming to TX in November for the 3 day walk. I'll let you know if I do.
ReplyDeleteKudos to you and all who participated. I think we need to make a Crohn's campaign.
That's really awesome, Carrie!! Good for you!! I love what you said about how it helped crystalize the game for you. The hardest part sometimes for those with chronic illness is that there is never an end - we'll never be cured, and hopefully it won't kill us - and that makes it hard to see ourselves in any kind of positive light. Events like these can change that, and give hope. I'm super proud of you for your hard work!
ReplyDeleteAs for Crohn's - there aren't many events, and they aren't as well publicized as the cancer-related events. There is CCFA (Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America) Team Challenge (ahttp://www.ccteamchallenge.org/) that hosts events around the country, including Hawaii and Las Vegas. They also do the Take Steps fundraising walks (http://online.ccfa.org/site/PageServer?pagename=TS_homepage). I wish CCFA or somebody would step up the fundraising and advocacy efforts, because they just don't have the number of events or pathways for involvement that other disease-related organizations do.