Need information

leggo

Without going into details, I've asked a friend of mine who recently lost his wife to breast cancer and who is himself struggling with brain cancer, to do something for me at my memorium. Our plan is to have everyone write/email to the powers that be and let them know that there is no reason that this disease (and all cancers) cannot be eradicated and that enough is enough. Problem is, nobody can figure out who to send these voices to. I don't want the letters and e-mails going to the Cancer Society or politicians. These have to go to someone who will not "file" them. Any idea would be greatly appreciated.

Bren-2007

Hi Gracie,

   I'm not sure if this is what you're looking for, but the Huntsman Foundation in Utah may be a good start.

   Or someone with lots of money and a history of philanthropy .. e.g., Bill Gates.

   Or someone who is well known and respected and had cancer, e.g., Melissa Etheridge.

Let me know if I'm way off track .. and I'll go in another direction.

Hugs,

Bren

leggo

Bren, thank you for responding. What we're planning has nothing to do with money. It's more about outrage, really. I've been fortunate enough to get to know so many people in palliative care that are going to do the same thing at their memorials.....ask friends, relatives, etc. to "do" something, rather than "give". I know it sounds wierd, but I think enough money has gone to the cause to cure it ten times over. I know I can't change the world, but I would like to take some sort of action before I check out. My obituary will contain "in leiu of donations to the Cancer Society, please e-mail ____________ to express that a cure must be found, as treatments have failed yet another. My friend is planning to do the same and so on. Who knows, with the six degrees of seperation, at the very least it will get people talking (and sending), their anger. Trouble is, we can't figure out the _________. Does that make more sense?

Bren-2007

Makes sense .. but I don't know who the ______ is either. 

The money part is only attached because of the access to those that have power to make a change.  An unknown person with no money or clout probably won't have the necessary access to make a push for a cure.

A suggestion:  Check with Gina on nosurrender's site .. she might have some ideas.

Bren

Member_of_the_Club

Perhaps your member of congress, and it would be even better if someone could deliver the letters in person and invite the media in.  Another idea would be to set up a website through which people could send automatic e-mails.  Your friends could then share the link with others and maybe it will grow.

hollyann

How about sending them to whoever is in charge of the healthcare bill?.....If they found a cure they woudl save MILLIONS and MILLIONS in treatment alone....Maybe send them directly to Mr.President himself?.....1600 Pennsylvania Ave....

Anonymous

How about the AMA, FDA, and the research divisions of pharmacutical companies?  If the right letter inspires the right researcher, who knows what magic can happen?

dreamwriter

In the old testament God appeared as a burning bush.... why not take the letters to a park with a campfire pit.  Offer them up to God and burn them.  They are your offering.  Afterward have someone say a few words, or each of you say something.

celtic

I have often thought we need to get a well respected or powerful WOMAN in the media to make Breast Cancer the number one topic and to dare the medical folks to find a cure.... like Oprah, Rosie O'Donnell,  Elizabeth Taylor, Robin Roberts of Good Morning America, women that are not afraid to voice themselves and know how to fight, and want to put an end to this disgusting disease.

I dont know if this is what you were looking for, I hope it helps.

spar2

We could all march on the whitehouse.  I would go in a heartbeat even with a walker.  Enough is enough and if anyone comes up with a good idea count me in.  I am sick of this disease and losing my friends.

Bren-2007

Hi Spar .. there is a thread about a march on DC.  Val and I started it awhile back.  We made a lot of progress.  Had a lot of volunteers, got t-shirts designed, etc.  We even made progress on the logistics and the date to hold the march.  I even paid the reservation fee for a date in the mall in front of the WH. 

If you're interested in resurrecting the March in the Mall, let me know and I'll search for the thread.  Actually, there are a couple of threads.

love ya,

Bren

celtic

I somehow feel that I have to take a stand this year, too many women are leaving us and their young children. The cancer walks are not cutting it , they have become a norm and to me has no shock value any longer to folks not facing cancer.

Something different has to be done to " get " the government and medical folks attention... any other ideas?.

leggo

I am Gracie's husband. She wanted me to thank you for all of your suggestions. 

Bren-2007

Dear Gracie's Husband,

   Thank you for sending the msg from Gracie.  Is she okay?

Please send her my best wishes.

Bren

ananda8

A non politician who really understands what it is like to have cancer and can have a high profile if he wants it is Ted Kennedy Junior.    When he was 12 he was diagnosed with osteosarcoma. His right leg had to be surgically amputated.  Of course he is the son of Senator Ted Kennedy who recently passed away from brain cancer.

Mr. Kennedy is on the board of directors of the American Association of People with Disabilities.  He is also well respect for his work with cancer. 

http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/spotlighthealth/2002-11-25-kennedy-cancer_x.htm

spar2

Binva I pm'd you.  The Kennedy center may be a good place to start.  We could each send a letter of our outrage to Ted Jr and a copy to robin on one news show and hooda on the other news show.  They both have bc.  Whatever you guys decide to do or write to, I will also

Bren-2007

Spar .. got your note .. let me know if you want me to find the info on the March.  You're more than welcome to take over where we left off.

hugs,

Bren

Bren-2007

Checking this thread again to see if anyone has heard from Gracie or her hubby.

Sending love to Gracie and her family,

Bren

konakat

Hi Gracie and Gracie's husband -- Here is an organization that might be useful to contact.  I've also included the addresses of the PM, House of Commons, and the HoC Standing Committee that deals with health -- perhaps email/mail the Chairperson?  -- no postage is required for letters to the PM and MPs. 

http://www.partnershipagainstcancer.ca/

The Right Honourable Stephen Harper
Prime Minister of Canada
Office of the Prime Minister
80 Wellington Street
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0A2

House of Commons   (Click here to find your MP:  http://www.elections.ca/scripts/pss/FindED.aspx?L=e)
Parliament Buildings
Ottawa, Ontario
Canada
K1A 0A6

Here's a link to the Standing Committee on Social Affairs, Science, and Technology.  Heathcare comes under the domain of this committee.  http://www.parl.gc.ca/common/Committee_SenMembers.asp?Language=E&Parl=40&Ses=3&comm_id=47

Gracie and Gracie's husband -- just in case you haven't visited this site much lately, the thread on Canadian Healthcare that Gracie started last August is a great resource -- we Canadians (and non-Canadian friends) continue to reach out to each other on this thread -- one of the most active ones in the Canadian Forum.  Thank-you Gracie!!  Hugs,

Elizabeth

Bren-2007

Dear Gracie .. I'm not Canadian, but the thread you started on Canadian Healthcare is the most fun and loving one on this site. 

Hoping to hear from you or your hubby. 

Sending you love and warm thoughts,

Bren

shokk

Unfortunately there is no cure for cancer........it doesn't matter who you contact.........as long as organisms are comprised of cell division cancer will always happen........it is deeply rooted in our DNA..........we all will always have good healthy cells and bad unhealthy cells..........the only thing we can do is try and control the bad cells and keep them from dividing.........which will probably never be possible...........

So far we have been able to keep the bad cell division in some control and are getting better at it all the time......but still we can no more control cancer then we can control the weather or many other things in our lives............as long as there are multi cell organisms cancer will always happen......trees can get cancer........plants........anything that starts it's life from cell division.....

some Scientists believe that it is nature having it's form of population control........I personally don't give nature that much credit.......I think it is just a flaw that happens in DNA coding.......passed on from generation to generation........and why some bad cells never divide and some do..........why one sister will have bc and another will not.........what code is set in motion to trigger a cell to start dividing may be some answer to having some control over cancer but there will still be the low risk or no history that they are aware of that will get cancer.......Shokk

Bren-2007

I sent Gracie's husband a PM via her account.  Still haven't heard back.  I'm getting worried about Gracie.

Sending love to Gracie and her family.

Bren

PS:  Shokk, the very worst words I ever heard were "there is no cure" about a week after I was diagnosed.  I will never forget them .. and they still haunt me.

Terry3N

Here is a link to a good article that helps to explain why we do not yet have a cure for cancer.

 http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/2005/09/19/8272884/index.htm

 We need politicians to sponsor a bill to change the way our federal money is being spent on research and then the researchers patent their discoveries thereby tying up the knowledge and making money for themselves.