You may have heard me talk about an organization I am passionate about in my local neighborhood, The Miami Shores Heidi Hewes Chapter of the Woman’s Cancer Association of The University of Miami.  Yes the name is long, but we refer to it as “Heidi Hewes Chapter of the WCA” locally.  I’ve been involved with this cause for almost 4 years now in all kinds of roles including president.   What’s amazing about this organization is that it is a purely a volunteer effort where 100% of proceeds go directly to cancer research.

The organization is composed of a diverse group of Miami Shores residents (and also various close-by neighborhoods) who unselfishly give their time and talents organizing different fundraisers.  We meet the first Wednesday of every month at one of the member’s houses.  There are 2 main fundraisers every year, The Miami Country Day Walk for Cancer and The Miami Shores Homes for the Holiday Walk.  This coming Saturday is the Miami Country Day Walk for Cancer, hosted by the school and organized by the students.

I recently attended the school’s Walk for Cancer Assembly that gets the kids pumped to reach their goal – to raise $50,000 to benefit our “Heidi Hewes Chapter” – here’s what I said about that assembly,

Miami Country Day brought the reality of cancer to the assembly by inviting Dr. John Goldberg from The University of Miami Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center – a pediatric oncologist who specializes in the early phase of clinical trials.  Dr. Goldberg explained how seed money is used to start research and how his team is responsible in many cases, for taking the lab research projects to clinical trials that give hope to real terminal patients -  in some cases even 5 week old infants with Leukemia.

After talking to Dr. Goldberg for a while, I realized how important our grass roots efforts are – the fact that we help fund, with seed money, different research projects, is what gives the chance of life to many.  Dr. Goldberg was so grateful and explained how many of his clinical trials, which have saved many lives, would not be possible without the help from organizations like ours.  (SIGH) – talk about reality slapping you in the face and realizing that we are making a difference.

The Miami Country Day Walk for Cancer will be held this Saturday, October 24th at 7:30 AM at Miami Country Day School (located at 601 NE 107th St. – North Miami, FL 33161-7199  (305) 756-1207).  If you cannot attend but want to help our organization, consider sponsoring the Holiday Walk (sponsorships available in $100, $250, $500, $1000 increments or more).

Please consider getting involved at a local level – you will experience a real sense of community that is absolutely priceless.  Also take a look at what was accomplished at BlogWorld this past week with the help of Social Media.

BeatCancerEverywhere

The Guinness World Record #BeatCancer event is officially over….Thanks to all of you who have tweeted, put up Facebook Posts & mentioned #BeatCancer in your blogs. In the end, you helped raise more than a penny per tweet. In all, four cancer organizations have earned over $70,000.

Just take a look at what went on on Twitter alone – Between the RT’s (Retweets), questions, encouragement…..and awareness of MothersFightingForOthers ….. OVERWHELMING and HEARTWARMING if you ask me.  (The conversation thread starts from the bottom with the latest tweet at the top).

So needless to say – Thanks to everyone that tweeted and retweeted and helped spread the word, as well as those that submitted bids.  We raised $306 in a short couple of days and the winner of the Inman Real Estate Connect Registration Passes is Shar Rundio from Mesa, Arizona.

I think Diane’s comment on Agent Genius sums it up:

Most of us are born hearing “give in order to receive” and if you really pay attention, they are both the same and one can’t occur without the other.  Whether it’s giving compliments, volunteering your time, sharing talents or going out of your way to help people around you.

There’s an ever universal equilibrium with giving and receiving and it simply translates into… the more you give, the more you will receive.   I have never been the one to struggle when it comes to choosing where to volunteer and how to give my time, but I know many out there do.  You may ask yourself “What organization do I donate money to?” “where do I volunteer?” “where will my time be better spent?”.  You are the only one that can answer those questions and my only advice is to choose something you are passionate about – you WILL make a difference.

I volunteer at a local cancer association because the disease has hit home and know in my heart that I’m making a difference.  I also choose to contribute here at Mothers Fighting For Others because I see the passion of all the writers and know that we have the power to inspire people into giving.  But just this past week, 2 people came before me that are passionate about their own projects and I wanted to share a little about them.

The first one is Suzy Newhouse.  Suzy blew my mind with a donation drive she is organizing for a needy family in Miami.  She read an article in the local paper about an unemployed widower raising 4 kids on his own after his wife passed away from cancer and whose 16 year old daughter is completely disabled.  Instead of just reading the article and feeling badly for this family, Suzy chose to do something about it and took action.  At the end of the article she writes:

I’m not asking you to give because God will reward you- because there’s no more proof of that than there is proof of Leprechauns. I’m asking you to donate because if it was you, you’d appreciate the same.

The second one is Tom Vanderwell, a mortgage broker from Grand Rapids, Michigan.  After chatting with him on Twitter he told me about his 2 adopted children and the challenge and life-awakening experience of raising a trans-racial family.  He was so passionate about the adoptions and how he felt blessed and was about to celebrate the kids’ 5-year  “coming home” anniversary.  Take a minute to read his story – Tom is now involved in helping the Haitian orphanage raise $2 million to build a new orphanage.

So there you have 2 examples of extraordinary human beings that don’t just sit idly by and watch others make a difference.  What’s important for us to understand is that we all take action in different ways and there is nothing wrong with that.  But I personally feel inspired when I hear great stories like that of Suzy’s and Tom’s.

I will leave you with some words by Kahlil Gibran in “The Prophet”:

There are those who give little of the much which they have – and they give it for recognition and their hidden desire makes their gifts unwholesome.
And there are those who have little and give it all.
These are the believers in life and the bounty of life, and their coffer is never empty.
There are those who give with joy, and that joy is their reward.
And there are those who give with pain, and that pain is their baptism.
And there are those who give and know not pain in giving, nor do they seek joy, nor give with mindfulness of virtue;
They give as in yonder valley the myrtle breathes its fragrance into space.
Through the hands of such as these God speaks, and from behind their eyes He smiles the earth.

A few years ago I joined a local cancer group in my area because my dad was fighting cancer and I felt I had to give back.  Since then I have become very active in the group, became president and thank God every day because my dad is in remission.

This past Wednesday we had our monthly meeting and prior to the meeting I received several calls from members excusing themselves because of sickness, being busy, having too much on their plate or just feeling down about the times.  If anyone understands, it would be me….(SIGH)….I feel like I’m so overextended at times and can’t find time to take a breath.

But here’s the thing – you are not alone – we all have problems and feel stressed and grasp for air as if we’re suffocating.  It’s important for us to take look around and see the brighter picture.

During the meetings we share “sunshines” and it’s not just about cancer – it’s about the good news around us that make us smile.  A member shared about their new grand daughter, someone else about a negative biopsy, and I decided to give thanks for everyone that was present.

It’s not easy to volunteer, and give your time for a cause when your life is so full and so busy.  In this time where everyone is struggling and the negative news are flowing, it is crucial and even more important to give back.  You have the power to make a difference and this is the time you are needed the most.

I looked at the small group present – a diverse group of moms, grandmothers, dads, students, teachers, professionals, cancer survivors…..and said…..THANK YOU for making a difference, THANK YOU for recognizing that although life can be tough, organizations like this one depend on unselfish individuals that believe in the power of intention.

So if you are sitting at home right now feeling sorry for yourself and trying to get a breath in between all the craziness – take a look at how you can help – MFFO will give you some amazing ideas that won’t take much time away from you, but truly will make a difference.