1. In the process of volunteering for ACS and Relay For Life, one of the big things set out to do during the year is educate... What can people do toward cancer prevention and healthy lifestyle.

The title of your article is saying don't donate. In the process of your education are you also discouraging people from donating? Just curious.

Posted at 9:36AM on Jul 13th 2007 by Keri

2. Good point -- I am saying suspend donating for a year and educate people one-on-one with your time (which is worth money). Just an idea ;-)

Posted at 9:53AM on Jul 13th 2007 by Brian White

3. Thanks for the response, Brian.

I appreciate hearing people's views when they have a problem with ACS, but there are some very rabid opponents who are not even interested in engaging in discussion whatsoever. Being a lowly volunteer far from the organization itself, interested only in giving back a little and trying to help people learn an ounce of prevention when all around me people are being diagnosed, I hate to see interest in our Relay dropping off. So when people are turning away, I like to learn why. Is it because of as you point out, their "willingness to "get in bed" with product manufacturers and food makers who have no interest in cancer prevention outside of large donations to the organization so that an official logo can be used."

Definitely something to keep in mind, I guess. It isn't something we are hearing when we ask the question of teams who decide not to participate after years of involvement...

Posted at 3:20PM on Jul 13th 2007 by Keri

4. I'll be doing both actually. There is an international event called the Blogathon (http://blogathon.org) where bloggers from all over the world blog for 24 hours posting every 30 minutes for the charity of their choice.

I'm blogging to raise money for the Association for International Cancer Research. At the same time, come Blogathon, I'll be blogging about cancer (being a Medical Science student) to raise public knowledge about cancer and hopefully educate people enough not to fall prey to ridiculous alternative therapies that do them more harm.

There is no harm in donating if you can, but you're right, it starts with educating the public first because a lot of damage is caused when people simply don't listen.

Anyway, I thought I might put this in here as well. If people are keen on supporting or at least publicizing the 24 hour Blogathon for cancer research here is the link to information regarding it on my blog:

http://kamigoroshi.net/blogathon/blogathon-the-summary-of-my-cause

Posted at 11:44AM on Jul 15th 2007 by Edrei