March on Washington June 2008

Beth,

I just don't know what to say.  My little idea started as a Memorial to the 40,900 angels lost.  That was it.  It has certainly evolved.  From what I've been reading of the suggestions and ideas, the main thrust appears to be awareness of the 787 women who die each week (in the U.S. alone), and focusing on a cure, which would entail funding for research specifically focused on finding a cure, not prevention or another chemo medication or AI.  

Does this help at all?

As Gina wrote, the majority of the funding is for AIDs.  Also, as Bimmer pointed out, 58,000 soldiers died over 9 years in Vietnam, we lose 40,900 in one year ... where is the public outrage???

Thank you for meeting with the folks from Lance Armstrong's group.  He's a great advocate.  You rock friend!!

Brenda

valerie we need to exchange info and start talking via email or the phone.

Someone needs to research 2009 dates in DC DURING THE WEEK when congress is in session with the NIH, or with other health issues on the docket-- don't even know if thats the term or how you spell it.

It has to be during the week-- I've been doing some research of my own-- you and I need to talk, and we need to get a new part of the board for this, and we're gonna need an ARMY of help.

xoxoxoxo

b

Katie, as much as I feel for everyone who has cancer, many people think that breast cancer is "easily" curable: ie .. have your little lump out, maybe some chemo and 95% are cured.  People still think of it as "the cancer to have" IF you have to have cancer. People don't realize how many mothers, sisters and aunts are dying.

Sheryl Crow is a public figure and didn't have to have chemo --- many think that this was our story, too.  Granted, my story was not the same as Melissa's Etheridge's either but her story is closer to many of us who didn't do so well on our chemo days.

People need to know just how bad BREAST cancer is and there is nothing selfish about us raising awareness for ourselves.  If we don't do it, who will? As much as the Komen Foundation has done, they are not "mad as hell" about it (and I am not trying to offend them).  Black t-shirts or chamo t-shirts, this is a war and we have DEAD sisters, DYING sisters and SCARED sisters. The world needs to know this. 

At first I loved the idea of comparing how many women die each year with the number of names on the war memorial(s).  Then I began to think about how those people died fighting for our country (no matter how you feel about the particular war) and I think we need to be careful about how we do these "comparisons."  There is likely to be a backlash....no matter how tragic the deaths from cancer, they shouldn't be compared with deaths of those who gave up their lives on behalf of our freedom and democracy.  Please don't misunderstand what I'm saying, I just think we need to be tactful if we are to do any marches near the memorials.

badboob, your experiece is why I say this March should be about only BC and not include all types of cancer.

Right, you don't see men wearing blue ribbons on their ties, on their lapels, on the side of their car. But I do think some men are still embarrassed about even talking about it since it has to do with a sexual organ.

I know when my uncle got prostrate cancer, everyone was very serious whereas some, a few, in my family thought, Oh bc is so curable these days.  Maybe they were being ho-hum because it was an attempt at being "positive" or maybe they don't know how deadly it is.

I think its a great idea.  Sat works best for me, as I too am living in the Bible Belt. 

Two t-shirt colors.  One for those of us that have/had BC...black with pink.  And one for those there for support.  white with pink.

Just my 2 cents.  Keep us updated.

Beth and everybody,

Valerie and I really appreciate all your efforts in contacting Lance's organization.  However, the initial idea of the memorial was simply that, a memorial march to commemorate the 40,900 lost each year to breast cancer.  We were not seeking outside funding from any other organized breast cancer or other cancer foundation to pull this off.  We are not seeking donations to any particular organization.  We had no desire for celebrity association, nor were we seeking it, as the focus of the memorial was not to be switched to celebrities with cancer, but to stay focused on the 40,000+ who die each year.

The idea of the memorial started off as a simple one for me.  It has taken on a life of it's own.  It started with my checking into dates to get a permit to use the Mall in DC.  All the dates are full to use the Mall in DC through 2008.  Either we plan this for 2009 or seek a different location for 2008.

I like the idea of getting info from Lance's group, however, I have concerns about being funded through another cancer organization.  For obvious reasons ... this memorial is by and for breast cancer survivors only to show their love and support for all the sisters lost.  The spotlight for organizing this memorial will shine only on the sisters ... not a specific organization.

I also like all the ideas flowing in about t-shirt designs, logos, dates to march, etc.  It has taken on a life of it's own.  However, very basic decisions still need to be made.  Namely, a central organizing committee.  This has yet to be established.  Valerie and I have been involved since the inception of having a memorial was decided and have done the initial groundwork.  My feeling is that everything should be coordinated through us so that there is a central location for all the information.  I will be contacting Melissa and the techs again to find out how soon will we be getting our own forum set up for this.

I also agree that perhaps using the numbers from the Vietnam war may not be the way to go.  It's useful only for giving people an "actual" idea of the numbers they can wrap their head around to relate to the number of breast cancer deaths each year.  Maybe we can break the number down to 787 p/week. 

As far as scheduling the memorial when the NIH is before congress, that may be useful in calling attention to the issue of breast cancer deaths and needing a cure, but may be too late for actual funding in that year.  Their budget would have already been planned by that time and brought before congress.  However, I will look into the dates of when they go before congress for more funding. 

I agree ... we are angry ... we're outraged.  Whether we're diagnosed early stage initially or Stage IV ... THERE IS NO CURE!!

That is the only message a memorial carries ... THERE IS NO CURE!!

It will take some time to get organized, but we will do it and we will come together in DC to mourn our sisters and our message will be heard.

love,

Bren

I've been reading about this planned march in DC to show that far to many are loosing their lives to BC.  I can't commit to going until we have a set date and hesistated to post that I would be there and then can't.  I certainly will do what I can otherwise to help.

One thing I have noticed though - you can only have one chief or two that act as co-chiefs - then you need your committee chairmen and those that are willing to work on a committee.  Everyone is excited  and wants to help but we need to let Bren get the information to us - it doesn't have to be done today or tomorrow.  I feel like we are close to trying to control, in  our excitement, what was Bren's  idea and I feel bad about that.  

Personally, I would just like this to be from BC women - if we start other associations then haven't we lost some of our message already?  Dang it we are some of the strongest and talented people I know and we can do this ourselves without having to ask for organizational skills.  We manage homes, finances, businesses - we are good!!!!!!!!!

Bren this was your idea after Dianne's death and you have gotten things in motion - this can't be planned overnight.  I have seen you in action in other situations and you certainly have the skills to get this done and done well.   Enjoy your mom and we'll be waiting to see what you hear from Melissa on setting up a thread just for this.  

bren I think your plan is brilliant. I am behind you all the way. I agree that you should be the one running everything with Valerie. You have a vision that you made happen. Naniam I agree with you too. bren and valerie should be the spokespeople of this cause.

bethny I was just trying to say that they seemed to have things running ok and that if those groups were involved then what bren and valerie were trying to do would be ruined because they would take over and their idea would be totally overshadowed.

badboob rock on!

bren you let us know what we need to do to help you.

Katie 

I think it's a wonderful thing for Beth to get ideas and input from Lance's group.  The big difference between what we are trying to do and your "typical" walk, relay or fund raising event by other cancer organizations, is that we are not collecting donations first, then getting together and being handed t-shirts with pre-printed slogans and then walking in a circle, and the money collected going to whatever organization sponsored the event.

We aren't fund raising.  We aren't a breast cancer organization. 

As far as t-shirts, caps, etc. go, if we set up a shop on cafepress.com for our own designs for these items, everyone can buy their t-shirts, or whatever there.  We can also find ways to help those who need airfare or t-shirts.  We're a very generous, creative group of gals. 

We already have volunteers working on logo designs and slogans.  We'll get these narrowed down over the next few months.  I'll continue investigating dates in DC.  I have a few more ideas to pursue.  After the first, I'll have a little bit of time to go through all the threads and get everyones ideas down on paper and send out all the information in one pkg.  I hope we'll have Beth's info from Lance's group to add to it.  Their advice will be invaluable. 

Above all, we need to keep in mind that as a Memorial, the family's of the fallen will be involved as well.  This is also a tribute to them.  They are the survivors of the disease in every sense of the word.  They know THERE IS NO CURE.  And I hope whatever we come up with will keep this in mind.  We honor them, as well as the angels we have lost. 

Beth ... you're one smart cookie and a go-getter ... just what this project needs!

I've got some family stuff I need to do in the next few days, but I'll hit this hard after the first.

love,

Bren

I think the "March" is a great concept and I'll help in any way I can.  Does that entitle me to add my 2 cents?

My take on a slogan is BREAST CANCER KILLS.  That's the main point.  "There is no cure" is true and important, but doesn't convey that women die from BC.

Love the 787-woman die-in, the camo T-shirt and the tattered pink ribbon. 

Thanks to all the organizers - you're doing a fantastic job.

Hi everyone,

I am seeing this really late and probably  will not have a chance to catch up.  I am interested in being part of this but I only read half of the first page.  Can someone PM me and let me know where  everything stands right now. 

Badboob, love the avatar

Thank you thank you thank you.

Newter

Badboob I love your new avatar- i love pink camo!

I hope we are still going to do this-

I was thinking that it would be really powerful to have the CHILDREN of those sisters who we have lost present... it breaks my heart when I think about the young children who are without their moms because of this wretched disease.