Today and tomorrow are the local Relay for Life activities here in Grand Haven. I have decided not to walk this year. I have done it for the past 2 years but due to the attitude of The American Cancer Society, I can no longer back it. I am notifying the local branch, along with the National organization of my feelings about this. It is not just the Relay for Life, but their whole attitude of any type of cancer other than breast.
To let you know whats going on here, I still have not received a sign up sheet for this weekends walk. Not even an article in the paper about it. There are darn few signs around town, but no advertizing other than the few signs. Something is definitely wrong with this organization.
Will spend what God given time I have left on this earth notifying my friends, relatives and yes even my enemies, if I should have any, to donate to any other cancer organization, research facilities, or care units other than the American Cancer Society. Yes I would like to have them donate money to Lung Cancer, and I will request they consider Lung Cancer research, but at this time I feel we all need a fair share of the pot when it comes to CANCER RESEARCH!!!
Thank you for allowing me to spout off.
Sharon Leach
Grand Haven, MI
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Just thought I would let you all know
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22 replies
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- By pashagin
- Posted September 11, 2009 at 11:17 am
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Sharon, I'm also frustrated with the ACS. As a Relay for Life team captain for several years, my team an I raised thousands of dollars. I was always welcome at the local business office delivering checks until I was diagnosed with SCLC. No help there, except a few tissues and a handkerchief. My fund raising will go to the Cancer Foundation, and because there is breast cancer in my family, I will continue to support the Susan Komen Foundation. The ACS has become a bureaucracy that is only interested in collecting money. Money is needed for research and patient care, but I'm amazed at their administrative and fund raising costs. To give credit where it's due, the national ACS office seemed well organized and provided some valuable services but the local organization is a waste of resources, despite the hard working volunteers who are crying out for direction.
- By cards7up
- Posted September 11, 2009 at 11:46 am
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I commend both of you for standing up for what you believe to be a slight against all LC patients. There are other LC organizations making a difference and I agree with you, go support them. Have a great day!
Take care, JC
- By Barb267
- Posted September 11, 2009 at 1:31 pm
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Right there with ya Sharon. Told my team captain that I would no longer support ACS, he wanted to know why (in a not to nice tone) and boy did I let him have it. He understands now. Any donation I give will go to Lung cancer only. I too have family that has had breast cancer, but they are very well funded already.
Blessings,
Barb
s4m3p2
- By sharon717
- Posted September 11, 2009 at 2:49 pm
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I think we all know some one who has had breast cancer. Whether it be family, friend or just and acquaintance. But enough is enough!!! Time to start fighting for the rest of us.
Sharon
- By BetsyT
- Posted September 11, 2009 at 4:12 pm
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I tried to organize a group to Rally AGAINST the Relay in my town-Too controversial for most . And I couldn't do it alone. They're not even about Breast Cancer. They are about big biz-All about $$$.Perfect marketing tool-Exploit ALL the poor bastards that have cancer.
They are the wall that stands between LC & funding $$$.
Way to go Sharon-Spread the word.
- By cuddles53
- Posted September 11, 2009 at 11:15 pm
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I am so proud of this group, and proud to be a part of it all with you. I know the lung cancer alliance is also a good one to support. I must say though i wish the money would go more into cancer research than any oher place. this early detection is good but they haven't been able to get that far with that either, so lets get on with finding a cure for this dam disease, let the paperwork for things lie dormant, and get the money to research where it may do some good. We have to believe things are getting better??
sANDY
- By jmlavey
- Posted September 12, 2009 at 2:45 am
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Hi Sharon,
I admire you for stating your convictions. I have lost 3 sisters to this disease and am 5-yr. out. I do public speaking here in the Bay Area about removing the stigma of this diagnosis and educating the public. None of my dollars go the ACS. I'm also breast cancer survivor of 20 yr., so am well aware of the difference in survival rates and research/treatment dollars.
Best wishes, Joyce
- By mawoni
- Posted September 12, 2009 at 7:17 am
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I'm with you, Sharon! I think it's disgraceful and haven't sent 'them' any money for a long while!
... Deb
- By BeBeReader
- Posted September 12, 2009 at 8:06 am
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I would appreciate your listing the names of charities who will put donations to use for lung cancer research. Thanks.
- By beckylynn
- Posted September 12, 2009 at 8:14 am
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Sharon, good for you. It's your money - donate it to the cause you feel it will do the most good. So many good causes, too little money. Go with your heart
I think as far as advertising since it's so expensive they rely on the coordinators to get some free mention in the local free presses.
I know this November I am going to submit an articile on Lung Cancer to our local press and hope it gets published. I will tell them what a great support this inspire website is for anyone who is dealing with this disease.
We all have to do our part in some small way. I recently purchased 20 lung cancer awareness braclets from LCA to pass out to my friends and family. I already had someone ask me what the bracelet represented and I told them. Lung Cancer Awareness.
That day I made another person more aware of the cause....1 person at a time, 1 day at a time, whatever it takes. We can get Lung Cancer Awareness out there.
Becky :)
- By 8wall
- Posted September 12, 2009 at 8:26 am
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Bravo
Well said and Good For You! I Support You.
- By RMSSyr
- Posted September 12, 2009 at 8:47 am
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On the bright side, I'm pretty sure my local ACS receives almost their entire operating budget from pink campaigns. So they do have a pretty easy existence. I received free wigs, they did ask for them back! Good thing I kept them. It seems I'll be wearing them again in two weeks!
I figured ACS out early on and have shared my experiences with anyone that would listen.
Has anyone in government taken on tracing all of the "pink" donations that have been generously donated via "pink" purchases? Even if only a penny or two goes to breast cancer research, there are a whole lot of pennies being collected!
A craft supply store sent me an e-mail advertising pink yarn in support of the foundation and breast cancer awareness month. I sent them an e-mail asking what they were planning for November, lung cancer awareness month. Needless to say, I haven't heard back from them!
Sharon - thanks for posting, the more people that receive information about how the organization operates the better.
R
- By Chi-Dreamer
- Posted September 12, 2009 at 10:30 am
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Add me to the list against ACS. Years ago I too was doing a relay for life when I asked a friend who was a sales manager for ACS to donate. I was shocked by his response, he said he would not recommend any donations to ACS. He was disgusted with the waste and political bureaucracy he found within the organization. And like other corrupt politicians he witnessed parties, trips and total waste of the publics funding.
I am a little bummed out this morning as they are holding a LungRun in Chicago as I am typing this. I had all intentions of going but just couldn't crawl out of bed to make it.
Linda
- By larrah
- Posted September 12, 2009 at 11:57 am
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I didn't know that. Thanks for telling us. I am in Lansing.
- By CKP
- Posted September 12, 2009 at 12:42 pm
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I don't participate for the same reason.
I have written the ACS more than once about their lack of funding and press they give lung cancer and the canned answer is "We support smoking cessation programs".
Sheesh.
Cindy
- By Nelzter
- Posted September 12, 2009 at 1:27 pm
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Hey guys. And Gals.
I just wanted everyone to know that people here care. I do not have cancer (At least I hope not - I go in to make sure my benign tumor is still a benign tumor in November and I would do it now but I can't because I started a new job and have to wait because of the "pre-condition" 6 month waiting period, and I do not want to end up owing a lot of money.
All I want to say is this: It sucks that people make money off this. But sooner or later, cancer or not, we will all die. That's a fact of life.
We have it in our hearts to know what the right thing to do is. Some people make money off that. And that is a terrible thing.
I just wanted to say that people and corporations like this are going to be judged one day. Make sure you know that. It doesn't excuse them, nor should it make you any less upset...
But I guarantee you...
They * Will * be held accountable. In one form, or another.
But I will say this. The "Other" form of accountibility, will happen. And when it does, I will feel very sorry for them.
- By dusteerose
- Posted September 12, 2009 at 8:32 pm
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Sharon,
I am with you!!! They don't do enough for lung cancer or any other except brest cancer. The past few weeks they have been advertising the Koman walk/run in Cleveland, Ohio today. They showed it on the news.
But nothing about any other cancer.
Jen
- By jazzbo
- Posted September 12, 2009 at 11:14 pm
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The Massachusetts office of the ACS I went by the other day and there is a big pink banner across the front of the building. I wanted to be sick and I was. End of story, we don't exist in thier eyes and they don't in mine.
- By lbp08
- Posted September 13, 2009 at 12:12 am
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Sharon - very well put. Until my mom was diagnosed with LC our family never had any idea of how poorly the other cancers were acknowledged - or how wasteful the ACS was. I have spread the word to anyone who will stand still long enough to let me get it out of my mouth.
Bridget
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