PRO
People argue all the time about donating money and purchasing cancer merchandise items and why it doesn’t help.
I’m a very positive, “let’s look at that bright side of things” kind of person and I think donating a couple bucks here and there, and buying pink or purple (depending on the cancer) ribbons gets us one step closer to finding a cure one day.
It’s easy to ask why, with all the organizations and foundations that are out there raising money to help find a cure; scientists and doctors haven’t found a cure yet. What most people don’t understand is that there are over two hundred cancers out there. Scientists and doctors are, and have been trying; they just don’t have all the funds necessary to find cures. Medicine isn’t cheap and that’s where we as consumers and donators come in to help.
By buying that t-shirt, pen, or bracelet with a ribbon and the words “cancer sucks” on it we are helping doctors and scientists get closer to finding cures. Sure it might just be a dollar or two, but multiply those two dollars by all the people out there in the world and you’ve got yourself a whole lot of money, that is if more people start purchasing and donating.
Not only does purchasing cancer merchandise help raise money, but it also helps raise awareness to the public and it shows that you support and are part of the fight to find a cure.
As for those of you who question organizations and their reliability, just because there have been people who have made fake organizations to scam people out of their money and just because there are people who pretend to have cancer just so people will donate money to them, does not mean that all organizations aren’t really raising money to help find a cure. Other organizations like The American Cancer Society and Choose Hope shouldn’t be questioned for other people’s dumb actions.
The American Cancer Society has been around for one hundred years. It’s a bit sad that people question them and accuse them of not really helping find a cure for cancer. Their sole purpose is to help find a cure. They make bracelets, t-shirts, hats, bags, practically anything to sell and help raise money for the cause. Not only do they sell merchandise but they have also been organizing Relay for Life to help raise money and awareness for over thirty years.
Yes, I am aware that they aren’t the only organization out their trying to raise money to help find cures for cancer. They’re just the first that came to my mind.
If you’re worried about where your money really goes when you donate to an organization, then do your research first. Don’t just donate to whatever or whoever comes up to you saying that they’re raising money, be smart, ask questions and get to know the organization first before donating, you could be missing out on an opportunity to help in the fight against cancer.
CON
I know, the huge bold word CON is inserted into the middle of this, but before you fly into a tizzy let me say that I am in no way against fundraising for cancer research, against cancer research itself, or against individuals raising money for treatment or preventive care for cancer.
What I am against is people and organizations who use cancer as a way to make a quick buck. Playing on the emotions of pretty much the entire world for your own monetary gain is a horrific and downright vile thing to do.
Now I know for the most part, organizations that raise money for cancer-related issues really are doing the right thing with it, but on the other hand, they are more than likely not donating even half of their proceeds to research.
With that said, I understand that events have to be paid for in order to get people to come and donate, but it isn’t necessary to spend $100,000 on some gala to raise $150,000.
My main issue is with organizations as well as individuals who use the term cancer in order to prosper financially and to gain sympathy.
In August 2013 a mother in Utah made up a story that her 4-year-old was dying from Leukemia and essentially stole about $3,000 dollars from sympathetic citizens eager to help. This woman has actually convinced her own child that she, the child, was dying. And the award for Mother of the Year goes to … not her.
What a sick individual.
She’s not the only one.
In September 2012 a man in Canada told all his friends he had brain cancer but couldn’t afford treatment so he put on an entire event to raise money for himself.
He raised $7,500 dollars, which he pocketed.
Disgusting,
It sickens me to know that while the man in Canada and the woman in Utah are lying through their teeth about dying and needing money, there truly are people who could use that money that aren’t getting the help they need so desperately.
In 2007, a study was published by a university in Alberta Canada about Dichloroacetic Acid or DCA, this study showed that this chemical was able to break down cancerous cells and shrink tumors in certain types of cancer.
You’d think the researchers would be all over this considering the billions, if not trillions, of dollars that organizations like the American Cancer Society have risen for research such as this.
I wonder where all this money is going.
Oh, only 15 cents of every dollar is actually being donated to research or preventive care (Coalition Against Breast Cancer).
Oh, $10 million is being used to send out mail asking for donations while only $2.7 million is actually being sent to research centers (Children’s Cancer Research Fund).
Oh, that “breast cancer awareness” pink stuffed dog I bought to show my support is just that, a pink stuffed dog.
What a truly disturbing farce.