Hi everyone:
This blog entry represents a “first”, – if only because this time I am not sitting at my computer back home in Hamilton. This time, I write this entry “live” from the October 14 2009 HAPPEN Burlington meeting. We hold these meetings every Wednesday morning from 8:30 to 12 noon at the Burlington Art Centre. In other words, this is the first time I have tried what you might call a “remote” blog entry – from somewhere other than at home, and on another computer. I’m sure this will come through fine, and apologize if there are any undue complications.
Before I get started, I also want to thank all of you who reacted to my recent entry here about HAPPEN. The comments were very positive and I am grateful to all of you for your kindnesses and encouragement. To learn more about the organization: http://www.happen.ca
As I write this, it’s just past 11:00 a.m. on a cool, crisp October morning. The second half of our regular Wednesday morning meeting has just begun. The current members are working together as part of our usual networking session that runs during the second half of most of our meetings, while our Executive Director is meeting with those attending for the first time, leading a New Member Orientation that will give them important and valuable information about HAPPEN – in particular about the benefits of being a member of our organization.
Since I now have some “quiet time”, I want to take some time out to address a serious issue and my small contribution to same. For starters, let’s just say that right now my appearance is rather different from the usual. No – I am not talking about wearing formal business clothing (as in shirt, tie…) because I always do that at HAPPEN. It’s important to dress appropriately I feel it’s part of maintaining a professional image. Instead, it’s my hairstyle that’s a bit different from the norm. Those of you reading this who know me are aware that I do prefer shorter hairstyles. But this time, I have gone much shorter than usual. Why? Because at the urging of some friends I decided to get involved in a “Shave Your Head For Cancer” initiative as part of Breast Cancer Awarness Month. So not only did I have my head shaved, but I was encouraged to leave my hair that way for the entire month of October. The final part of the initiative was to promote this as appropriate, and encourage others to make a donation for breast cancer research.
Although I had heard about this sort of thing before, and heard from others who had done this “Shave your head” thing, this was the first time I had actually considered doing it. And I must say that it felt good to be able to make a small contribution to help find a cure for breast cancer. I should also note that like many people, I am motivated by personal emotions here, and as such this paragraph is difficult to write. I lost my maternal grandmother, Lillian Hayes to breast cancer. I never knew her, because she died 10 years before I was born. But on many occasions, I heard wonderful things about her. I remember in particular once when visiting some of my American cousins in Portland, Oregon, my grandmother was mentioned in very positive terms. Two of my-great uncles (her brothers) spoke very lovingly and poignantly about their sister. I must say it had a great impression on me that day, and still does now. Something like 30 years later, those words still ring inside me.
A second woman who died from breast cancer has had an indirect involvement in my life. That’s Sheila Netten, the mother of my four step-sisters, who passed away in 1986. Our 2 families lived in the same city (St. Lambert, Quebec), attended the same church (St. Barnabas) and the girls, my brother and I attended many of the same schools. And when my mother, brother and I moved to Mississauga in 1978, Sheila was one of many who helped us settle into our new home. I must confess that I didn’t really know her well, but Sheila and my mother were close friends for many years. In fact, our two families have known each other for a long time – dating back to the 1950’s. So it’s important to pay tribute to her as well.
As a result, finding a cure for breast cancer is an emotional issue for me. And I think about it every year when October arrives and we observe Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Now more than ever, let’s all work together to find a cure for this terrible disease that has taken the lives of millions of women around the world.
This year, I wanted to make a contribution and do something different – something that people would notice and see that I meant it. When the opportunity came to participate in a “Shave Your Head for Cancer” initiative as outlined earlier, I decided to do it.
As part of this I decided to keep my head shaved for all of October. I know that by mid to late November, my hair will likely be back to its “normal” length again, but that’s not the point here. I wanted to join others in creating a public and visible sign to show people of my support. I hope that as I travel around Toronto and surrounding area in the next few weeks that people will see my shaven head and ask me about this. In that small way, I can be an advocate for breast cancer awareness.
And if anyone is wondering – yes I did announce this at some of our recent HAPPEN meetings. I have been told that in fact a few people have made online donations to the Canadian Cancer Society after talking to me about this. If you did make a donation, and you’re reading this blog entry, I want to personally thank you so much for supporting this, it means a lot to me that you would do that.
I suppose one disadvantage in writing this message on another computer (and the fact that I am not at home right now), is that I am a bit limited for time. So I really should close this off with a couple of final thoughts.
First, let’s all work together to find a cure for breast cancer. And of course for prostate cancer too – since that can be seen as the corresponding cancer for men. I hope that each of you reading this will join me in supporting various research and other intiatives that are working for a cure.
Second, if you support what I have decided to do (or if you enjoy readng my blog entries), please consider making a donation to the Canadian Cancer Society, the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation, or similar group of your choice that seeks to find a cure not just for breast cancer, but for so many other cancers. You can donate online to the CCS at:
The Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation site is found at:
As has been said many times – let’s make cancer history. A third breast cancer site that deserves attention is
http://www.thebreastcancersite.com
When I started telling people at HAPPEN about all this, one of my female friends tipped me off to the above site and asked me if I would promote it. By visiting the site, you can help those who sponsor and fund it to meet their quota of donating at least one free mammogram a day to an underprivileged woman. It takes less than a minute to go to their site and click on ‘donating a mammogram’ for free (pink window in the middle). This doesn’t cost you a thing. Their corporate sponsors /advertisers use the number of daily visits to donate mammogram in exchange for advertising.
Nikolette – if you are reading this, thank you for sharing that info with me. I am delighted to help you promote this site, and wish those involved with that Web site the very best.
Finally, I wish to dedicate this blog entry in memory of two very special women. First, to my grandmother – Lillian Laura Hayes (1904-1946). I never met you, Grandma, but I still love you and always will. Second, to the memory of Sheila Netten, the mother of my 4 stepsisters (Linda, June, Cynthia, Shirley), and first wife to my stepfather Ted. May they both rest in peace today and always.
And to you, dear reader, if you have lost a special woman in your life to breast cancer, I feel and share your pain. Perhaps you might wish to make a donation to the organizations I noted earlier or to others that have a mandate to find a cure for breast cancer in their memory. I hope you do, and encourage you to do so. Even if only one person does this – or if only one person reading this becomes an advocate for breast cancer awareness, this article will be worth it.
Just before I publish this entry – a couple of last things. First, while Breast Cancer Awareness Month is taking place in October, the need to find a cure exists all year long. If you’re reading this after October 2009, why not make a donation today. Thanks in advance for doing that!
Second, I would encourage other men out there reading this to do the same initiative I have done. Get your head shaved (either by a barber or other “professional”, or do it yourself). Another alternative is to contact an organization such as the ones I noted earlier and locate a “shave your head” initiative in your area. That way, your hair may be used in wigs given to women who undergo chemotherapy treatments. After that, keep your head shaved for a one month period. Finally, tell your family, friends, co-workers… what you have done. Encourage them to make a donation to breast cancer research. And encourage other guys to do the same. Let’s show the women in our lives that we love them, and that it’s time to find a cure today! As part of all this, please share this blog entry with as many of your family and friends as possible. Encourage them to do the same.
That’s all for now. Until next time, I wish all my blog readers the best of everything that life has to offer. Signing off from the HAPPEN Burlington meeting, I’ll be back soon.
Thanks for helping to find a cure for breast cancer. It affects too many people including my own mother, who is a breast cancer survivor. I hope everyone helps in their own way to find a way to beat this disease.