Research Funds

1lung
  • By 1lung
  • Posted November 21, 2008 at 11:20 pm · 3 replies
  • In Survivor stories
  • Edited November 21, 2008 at 11:24 pm
0 Recommendations

I just wanted to ask, why is it that the ones of us that have been effected with cancer are the ones that get all the mail on donating to research funds??
Even this past year I was sent a letter from Relay for Life saying I was invited to participate in the events for the day. It starts with breakfast for the survivors, note.. I have just been out of surgery at this point 5 months and even less time out of radiation. I wasn't well enough to go, however in the packet there was an additional form for all the survivors to donate funds to research and the letter said I was lucky to benefit from the research and I should pay it forward for the next person who gets cancer that they may have a chance with the new research..
There would be a ceremony where all the survivors announce the total that they give as a group, and last years was in the thousands!!! I come from a small town! I could have given $20 but that is not what they expected!! Why do they want us who are in deep debt due to the cancer to donate! Do they not think what its like to lose your income, go in debt over your head for hospital bills, prescriptions and all the travel expenses! My husband even was off work atleast 4 months in one year to take care of me while I was out of state.
I get multiple letters from all hospitals I've had treatment at wanting me to donate to research even during chemo or whatever treatment I was doing at the time and it just don't make since. Is it because they think we are the only ones who care??
Give me a few years to get back on my feet and get my hospital bills paid off then I would be glad to donate. Does this happen to all of you as well??
Don't get me wrong I plan on doing something big soon to collect money but it will be for the patient who needs it to survive.

3 replies

Ramona

I too am extremely financialy stressed. That does not seem to be of any concern. I do not seem to be on as many lists as you but I do get solicitations as well. Some of these are from organizations from whom asked for any crumb they could give. They gave me nothing. They say all their money goes to "research." I am begining to get the idea that for some, most of their research dollars are spent on ways to collect more money.

1lung

I just got approved for disability , I was afraid I would get turned down and I got approved in 2 weeks! What about you? Have you tried?
Its hard not to say anything when you are in bed suffering and you get a phone call to donate to police funds or similar funds and they try so hard that any money would help. I just want to say I have cancer !start me a fund please any money would help greatly! but I don't not their fault or concern!

stephanie410

I think they go for us because they know how desperately we want to see the research happen (and we are on a mailing list...). I am just glad they are asking anyone--in fact, I wished they'd ask everyone! I recently gathered a team for a lung cancer walk, expecting to raise a few thousand dollars (my individual goal was originally $1,000). Because of my situation and the impact it has had on others around me, we ended up raising over $11,000, and people donated over $5,000 of that sum to me directly. We are lightening rods for the funds to come in because we are the real faces of the story. This is important, and I'm glad I capitalized on my situation (I'll do it again next year), because I want to see more dollars in research.

That being said, you have some very serious circumstances, and you can't beat yourself up about your ability to give. If you are feeling well enough, you might consider starting a web page on Firstgiving...they have a lot of non-profits listed like Lung Cancer Alliance and Lung Cancer Partnership, and just email your friends and family to request donations online (and they can forward the request to others as well), if they have the means. People are happy to do it. There are lots of ways to contibute, but don't give it a second thought if you are unable to fork over the dough on all those solicitations.

I'm sorry you've been though so much, so young. Take good care of yourself!

--Stephanie

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