Relay for Life and Other Fundraisers

Today our little town comes together on the High School Football field for Relay-For-Life, a fundraiser for the American Cancer Society. Before moving here, I wasn't that familiar with the national fundraiser, but now a carnival breaks forth every spring to remember people who lost their lives to cancer and celebrate the lives of those who survived the horrid disease. I lost two grandparents to cancer so I remember them. And I know the probabilities that I will one day have a face off with the dreaded disease are also high, given the current state of environmental pollutants which we assume are harmless. The girls' cheerleading team is performing for this event and the big church in town is going to have things for kids to play on. They'll light the luminaries tonight and everyone will remember someone. I think of my friend who just lost his brother to cancer and of a church member who just had her cancer removed for a second time. I remember the breast cancer survivors who celebrate their cancer-free bodies every year after they get a good update from the doctor. I celebrate my pastor friend who is retiring after fighting and surviving cancer, but who was told by her doctor that she will never be cancer free due to the hormonal nature of her particular cancer. And I hope the funds will be enough to pay all of the researchers well enough and that their research will in fact find a cure.

And more on fundraising . . . lately I've really started thinking a lot about fundraising. I know part of this is because I just got the figures that need to be raised to pay for next year's cheerleading, but also I want to help other people with their funds. I have a creative bent and with that comes a desire to raise money with what I create. But I also know that not everyone has the same kind of gift that i do and so I wonder how I can help others with their fundraising. I've talked with the coach about heading up a summer of fundraisers that can be fun for the kids and beneficial to adults and I think she's got a few other adults who are willing to share responsibility with me. I know that God has provided and continues to provide for my needs and while cheerleading doesn't sound like anyone's "need" it has provided friendships for my kids as well as health and wellness and a sense of pride. Self-esteem has grown along with learning what it means to be a part of the community. One of the fundraisers I'd like to see would be a "Serve-A-Thon" which works like other "a-thon's" except that people pledge a quarter or a dollar for every hour the kids serve their community. I'm wanting to urge the kids to serve their community for up to 20 hours over the summer and hopefully we can get a bunch of people to participate in the fundraiser while the kids also learn what it means to be part of something bigger than their own thing. If you have any fundraiser ideas that don't involve door to door selling of pizzas, cookie dough, magazines, or anything else in a really "fun" catalog, let me know.

And this is the news from Arbuckle Creek, where the community comes together to find a cure for cancer, where the cheerleading team is more about self-esteem than a popularity image, and where the kids are looking forward to FUNdraising over the summer.