For the third year, I will participate in Making Strides Against Breast Cancer. It’s an American Cancer Society 5K event founded on the premise of raising breast cancer awareness, raising hope, and raising funds that may one day help land a cure for this dreaded disease.
Making Strides is an anniversary event for me. It takes place each October (October 20 this year) and comes just before the month of my diagnosis: November. So each time I conquer 3.2 miles, along with a crowd of others accomplishing the same feat, I reflect on having survived breast cancer for another year. It’s overwhelming, the feelings that rush through my body on these October days.
This year, in November, I will have survived cancer for three years. So I am preparing for my Making Strides celebration. Like last year, I hope to raise thousands of dollars. My goal: $4,000. Like last year, I will run the entire distance. Want to come with me?
Donate $25, your name goes on my leg
Donate $50, your name goes on my arm
Donate $100, your name goes on my back
Donate $250, your name goes on my face
Donate $500, you pick!
Click here to make a tax-deductible contribution. I will wear your name proudly with each step I take. And I will forever be grateful for your support in the fight against breast cancer.
Total achieved, August 18: $940.00
Total achieved, September 12: $2,290.00
Total achieved, October 6: $3,040.00
Total achieved, October 20: $3,811.00
Dear Jacki,
Congratulations on the third year running! I hope this finds you well (and stoked to hit the road on October 20). I am writing you to ask for your feedback and advice regarding a new cancer support initiative I am helping to launch.
The Experience Project is looking to launch an online cancer support network–called The Cancer Support Project (CSP)–in the month of October to coincide with breast cancer awareness month. The Experience Project itself is built around dynamic groups of users who come on to the platform, share narratives and personal stories anonymously around their life experiences (for example, “My mother has cancer” or “I have cancer”) and then connect with others who are going through, and who truly understand, the same experiences.
The central goal of the Cancer Support Project (CSP), in turn, is to provide a hub for emotional and psychological support around cancer, online – something that is currently not widely addressed, as most sites today focus on strictly information and therapy. We are using the platform of The Experience Project as the base for CSP given the existing community, culture, and technology on the site.
For cancer patients, caregivers, and their friends, we hope that CSP will empower them with a rallying point of emotional support through the online community of shared heartfelt stories. We would like to partner with nonprofits, foundations, and high-profile individuals who believe in this cause–users will benefit greatly from the resources and information that these partners offer.
I’d love to get your feedback on any thoughts you may have regarding this project, as well as non-profits, foundations, and individuals involved in the cancer space whom you think would be excited about participating in the support network.
Thanks so much,
Mindy
wow.
finally got some ME TIME and am reading your blog.
backward.
you are such a talented writer
I hope you printed and bound this.
C.