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jayfurrRecently I addressed the issue of why I'm so over-the-top dedicated to the cause of finding a cure for breast cancer. I guess I went on at considerable length. I can be a bit long-winded at times. But today I'd like to address a much simpler question: how you, sitting at your desk or dining table or on your sofa, reading this, can help with the fight.
I'd be the first to admit that my walking DOES NOT cure breast cancer. No matter how many Susan G. Komen 3-Day For The Cure events I walk or crew (and I'm scheduled to walk three and crew one this year), we will be no closer to a cure than if I sat on my butt here at my house in Vermont and tuned in to an "It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia" marathon on cable TV.
What brings about a cure is the funding that our walking brings in. We walk to raise awareness, it's true... but we also walk to impress our friends and families and co-workers and even perfect strangers that we're serious and committed to the cause, and are therefore deserving of their financial support.
How many people walk each year, you might ask. How much money DO these sixty-mile, three-day walks bring in?
Well, let's look at some numbers:
In 2008, 14 3-Day walks were held. 37,100 walkers took part, with 5,183 crew helping out. $94,600,000 was raised.
In 2009, 15 3-Day walks were held. 29,650 walkers took part, with 5705 crew helping out. But only $76,100,000 was raised. Presumably the economic troubles contributed to the reduced number of walkers raising the $2,300 minimum.
In 2010, 15 walks are scheduled to be held.
But here's the problem: the numbers are dropping each year. In 2008, the first five walks (the ones held prior to Labor Day) raised $35,000,000 with 13,700 walkers taking part. In 2009, a sixth walk was added to the group held prior to Labor Day -- and 9,400 walkers took part, raising $23,900,000. In 2010, the same six cities' walks involved 8,940 walkers and raised only $23,800,000.
The commitment and dedication of the walkers has not lessened one iota. It's simple hard economic reality that keeps more walkers from taking part -- many thousands more register for the event each year but are not able to raise the minimum $2,300 to take part. (If you're wondering why there is such a high minimum, it's because a significantly lower minimum would result in potentially tens of thousands of walkers and that would be an absolute logistical nightmare with no increase in net proceeds from the walk.)
You can see the trend in the numbers yourself: if things do not turn around in a hurry, 2010 will bring in less than 2009 and much less than 2008. And the real tragedy of that is that the outlook for medical research into the causes, detection, prevention, and treatment of breast cancer has never been more promising. We're going to have research going unfunded and patients going undiagnosed and treated if we can't reverse that trend.
So I ask you: please, please, PLEASE help me raise enough money to fight the specter of breast cancer. Too many people reading this have lost family members. Too many people reading this have suffered from breast cancer themselves. Or you've known co-workers, friends, distant relatives, baggers at the supermarket, policewomen on the beat -- it doesn't matter, you've known them. We need FEWER MEMORIAL RIBBONS and more survivors.
All it takes to make a difference is a small donation. It's quick and easy to donate: you can simply click this link: http://www.the3day.org/goto/jayfurr. It'll take you to my donation page where you can quickly donate $25 or $50 (or more, if you can afford it) and get a tax receipt for your 2011 tax return. All donations are 100% deductible.
Again, my walking is NOT what cures cancer. Your donations make the research grants that are the lifeblood of the anti-cancer movement possible. Without your donations, the 3-Day movement is like a shiny, beautiful pink car -- with NO ENGINE INSIDE.
Please help: http://www.the3day.org/goto/jayfurr -- and thank you from the bottom of my heart for your support. Everyone deserves a lifetime.
I'd be the first to admit that my walking DOES NOT cure breast cancer. No matter how many Susan G. Komen 3-Day For The Cure events I walk or crew (and I'm scheduled to walk three and crew one this year), we will be no closer to a cure than if I sat on my butt here at my house in Vermont and tuned in to an "It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia" marathon on cable TV.
What brings about a cure is the funding that our walking brings in. We walk to raise awareness, it's true... but we also walk to impress our friends and families and co-workers and even perfect strangers that we're serious and committed to the cause, and are therefore deserving of their financial support.
How many people walk each year, you might ask. How much money DO these sixty-mile, three-day walks bring in?
Well, let's look at some numbers:
In 2008, 14 3-Day walks were held. 37,100 walkers took part, with 5,183 crew helping out. $94,600,000 was raised.
In 2009, 15 3-Day walks were held. 29,650 walkers took part, with 5705 crew helping out. But only $76,100,000 was raised. Presumably the economic troubles contributed to the reduced number of walkers raising the $2,300 minimum.
In 2010, 15 walks are scheduled to be held.
But here's the problem: the numbers are dropping each year. In 2008, the first five walks (the ones held prior to Labor Day) raised $35,000,000 with 13,700 walkers taking part. In 2009, a sixth walk was added to the group held prior to Labor Day -- and 9,400 walkers took part, raising $23,900,000. In 2010, the same six cities' walks involved 8,940 walkers and raised only $23,800,000.
The commitment and dedication of the walkers has not lessened one iota. It's simple hard economic reality that keeps more walkers from taking part -- many thousands more register for the event each year but are not able to raise the minimum $2,300 to take part. (If you're wondering why there is such a high minimum, it's because a significantly lower minimum would result in potentially tens of thousands of walkers and that would be an absolute logistical nightmare with no increase in net proceeds from the walk.)
You can see the trend in the numbers yourself: if things do not turn around in a hurry, 2010 will bring in less than 2009 and much less than 2008. And the real tragedy of that is that the outlook for medical research into the causes, detection, prevention, and treatment of breast cancer has never been more promising. We're going to have research going unfunded and patients going undiagnosed and treated if we can't reverse that trend.
So I ask you: please, please, PLEASE help me raise enough money to fight the specter of breast cancer. Too many people reading this have lost family members. Too many people reading this have suffered from breast cancer themselves. Or you've known co-workers, friends, distant relatives, baggers at the supermarket, policewomen on the beat -- it doesn't matter, you've known them. We need FEWER MEMORIAL RIBBONS and more survivors.
All it takes to make a difference is a small donation. It's quick and easy to donate: you can simply click this link: http://www.the3day.org/goto/jayfurr. It'll take you to my donation page where you can quickly donate $25 or $50 (or more, if you can afford it) and get a tax receipt for your 2011 tax return. All donations are 100% deductible.
Again, my walking is NOT what cures cancer. Your donations make the research grants that are the lifeblood of the anti-cancer movement possible. Without your donations, the 3-Day movement is like a shiny, beautiful pink car -- with NO ENGINE INSIDE.
Please help: http://www.the3day.org/goto/jayfurr -- and thank you from the bottom of my heart for your support. Everyone deserves a lifetime.
