Who Cares And Why?

There was an article in the McCook Gazette the other day about the American Cancer Society and their Relay For Life kickoff. The Relay is a big fund raiser for cancer research and more, and volunteers put a lot of effort into the planning and staging of this worthwhile event.

If you have been following this blog from the beginning, you know that I'm a cancer survivor, so I volunteered Margie and me to help with the Furnas County Relay this year. We've attended a couple planning meetings, and helped with the Furnas county kickoff.

I gotta tell ya, I was really disappointed with the turnout. There were more volunteers manning tables to provide information about the event than people showing up. Food and other refreshments went unused, and many hours of volunteers time spent in preparation and set up was enjoyed by a very few visitors.

So I got to wondering why we do it. Why do people volunteer their time and effort for something that sometimes seems like nobody cares? Every volunteer I've met so far has been affected by cancer one way or another. Whether a survivor, family member, or friend of a victim of this horrible disease, each has somehow had to deal with cancer.

I can only speak for myself, but my reason for volunteering for ACS and Relay For Life is that I want to do whatever I can so you don't have to experience cancer. This year I hope you will consider helping the Relay For Life in your area any way you can. You, or someone you love just might be the direct benefactor of your help someday.