March on Washington June 2008

Valeriel,

Do

Valerie,

Do you have a specific date in mind? I would need to know more particulars before I could make a firm commitment. Keep us posted.

Cherryl

I think somehow we need to focus on that it is 40,000+ dying women leaving grief behind every single year. This year, last year, next year and the next. We are dying out here - across the country. In every senator's and congressman's constituency there are women suffering and doctors saying "I'm sorry, there's nothing more we can do."

This is bigger than BC.org

Lisa

Count me in! I'll do whatever you need!!

A good idea indeed.



Associated with the War Memorial is a very good idea. Can it also be connected to environmental issues in some way? Progress that kills?



Is it possible to march in silence...at least for a significant period? Silence can be deafening.



If you share the details to women's clubs ... an example... Federation of American Women's Clubs Overseas (FAWCO) that is non political, very organized to disseminate useful information .... or go the route of hospital/clinic bulletin boards, blogs, etc. I'm sure you've thought of all of this.



The Komen Race is usually May in Rome...and it's very warm then...and draining for those of us not in such great shape....not humid though.



I don't know if I can get back there at that time, I have family arriving here until early June...but if it's possible, I'd like to be there.



Shirley is right .. the heat and humidity might deter people who otherwise might want to be there...I'm thinking to those who can not ambulate so easily. But no matter when .... it will always be something



Best wishes for your venture ...

I agree with you in some ways, alicesuzy, but...

I think we need to make an impact in Washington DC, right there where the congress is and where they make decisions as to where money goes and why they need to get their priorities straight.

Other countries follow what happens in the United States. When it comes to research and treatments for breast cancer, we, in Israel, follow the American Cancer Society guidelines (which is why it was so darn hard for me to get Taxol with my node negative status despite my triple neg tumor in 2005).

Therefore, I'm still convinced that we need to march in DC. And I'd like to see ACS there as well. And people from all over the US. It's important to make a strong impact all at once, I think.

I think the idea is that this is NOT a fundraiser nor a walk. The walks have become centered on fun and have made the whole thing look pink and "in". I thought the idea was to get away from that and make it a memorial for those who have died and to show America and our politicians that bc is not only about getting mammos but getting a cure so that over 40,000 americans won't die yearly from this disease. My point being that this should be separate from the forum on walks and special events.

I do want to say that I'm not against the walks. I sounded like I was. I'm not. Those are good. Just that this something else.

I agree with you alicesuzy...focal point in DC and noticeable support in other cities. Good idea. I like that. We could get, for example, ABC news in Chicago to do something, and so on...

Hi Ladies,

Thanks so much for all your interest and ideas.  I am so overwhelmed by the response.  Valerie posted this msg in a number of spots in the hopes of getting some idea of how many would be interested in a Memorial march in Washington.

I'm working on trying to get our own heading for a "Memorial March in DC 2008" created.  I've been in touch with Melissa and am waiting on a followup from her.  That way we'll have one location for all the information and current updates.  I realize we're spread out all over the boards right now and need to get coordinated into one location. 

I'll let everyone know as soon as we get one place set up. 

Thanks everybody.

Brenda

I don't recall a march per se for BC.  We have been far too complacent.

Ladies,

This is a wonderful idea that I would absolutely LOVE to be part of. Unfortunately, the "facts of life" of dealing with metastatic bc won't allow my participation. If I knew I would be physically able to "march" in June, finances would not allow me to do so.  I imagine that many other mets sisters are in similar circumstances.

Would you consider having "proxy" marchers for those of us with metastatic bc that cannot attend? perhaps having a different t-shirt color or something that would be visible in a group photograph? I think the impact of a certain percentage of the marchers being visibly identifiable as metastatic with the standard 2-5 year prognosis would be great. 

ravdeb, what if it were a 2-day march? That way, Saturday worshippers could march on Sunday and vice-versa!

I think one day for the March has more impact actually. Sunday early afternoon and onward should be okay for most people.

Suzy..I agree with you and I hope that you can help coordinate this so that people can participate.

 I think one t-shirt color and type is enough. We are not focusing, I believe, on t-shirts and paraphanelia but rather are united in commemorating those who have died and the fact that this is a deadly disease.

Well, Sunday would be out for me here. I live in the "bible belt" and most people would not participate on a Sunday for reasons similar to ravdeb's Saturday issues.

As for the t-shirts, it doesn't really matter to me if there is a different color for mets. I do think the visual impact should be considered, though. If there is substantial media coverage, there will likely be wide shots that should be exploited for the greatest impact. 

I haven't read all the threads here yet as they are scattered about. I can tell you that waiting on the moderators to do anything is not likely to produce the desired result. They are "understaffed and underfunded" to the point where they can't attent to spam threads; I doubt if they will take the time and effort involved in adding a separate section to the boards. 

I suggest that someone start an "official" march thread on one of the sections near the top of the boards. Newbies are less likely to realize the "active conversations" option is available and are more likely to see a message posted near the top of the main page.  I don't think the "not diagnosed but worried" section would be the best; people who are coming here worried about being diagnosed are not going to want to be slapped in the face with an event like this when seeking information and support.  The recurrence and mets section would be great except for the fact that it doesn't get very much traffic from non-recurrent or non-metastatic people.

Good luck to you all