RE: Help Cancer Guy - Trying Again

Now, as I finally got out the door for a run today (I've missed about 30 miles this week, mostly because of working on this. If there was an excuse for my bad attitude the other day that would be it. Runners not able to get their 100 mile weeks are notoriously unstable. LOL) I realized that there are other obvious things we can do to save money!

Andrew, as I stated, cut his rate in half from the start without even being asked. But, what about airline tickets!? Hotel? Local restaurants even? It occurred to me that there is potential to cut a lot of cost. And, the other big one is the book pub. company.

I'll have Andrew check on the book pub. company because I think he's already done work with them. But! If someone knows anything about working with airlines in any way that would be a tremendous help. I think I have a link to get local help in CG's area for restaurants and hotels. So I'll head that part up.

So! Airlines! How can we get a discount??? Anyone know??? Can anyone offer to fight cost that way???

Thanks!

And remember! Everything over the actual costs for getting the books into CG's family's hands is a donation to their family! Of course, if we can whittle the costs down, there is no need to actually get to the fully $7,500.

Brent. wrote:

There are already 5 donors despite the outrage by a handful of posters who are influencing others to think it's too much to do for CG.

I've felt pretty sympathetic toward you as I've read most of this thread and the other, but you're really twisting people's words with the above statement. There have been a number of criticisms, but no one has complained that this is "too much to do."

I really don't know how you can say that. Quite literally, many are saying, exactly, this is too much to do. If you only take it to mean that "this" refers, narrowly, to making a photo book, then I see your point. But clearly it doesn't.

The problem is, everyone had their chance to step up and have a say. They didn't take it. For them, they weren't going to support it with "my" photographer, and they weren't going to support it with not "my" photographer. It's water under the bridge, though.

But thank you for reading and being sympathetic. I know there are others who understand or are sympathetic also, which is a big reason it has been frustrating. People who are saying, "too much, too much", are influencing others greatly, I believe.

No. Dude you're completely full of yourself! What people are saying is your plan is ridiculous and you are angry and not likeable. Your approach is to guilt trip LR into donating to your cause because nobody came up with a better idea? I got news for you. Everybody who wants to do something for cancer guy has a better idea. Donating directly to him and his family. The only reason it hasn't happened is there is no bank account set up yet. When the brojos are back from London, it will get done.

Please stop explaining and begging. We've heard it all before.

Brent. wrote:

Looking at Erin's rates (the photographer that someone had suggested in CG's thread),

I have no vested interest in whether anyone uses this photographer and I did not suggest that they do. I said that I know from personal experience that she happens to do very good (and I would add compassionate) work, that she started a network of photographers throughout the country that donate their services to families with ill children or parents, and that I am sure many of the other photographers in that network also do good work. I do not know where CG lives but I was assuming he would not use the founder. From the website this group appears to include photographers in every state and several provinces, plus a handful of other countries.

See

- "Child Photographers across the nation have networked together to provide families of desperately ill children* complimentary portrait sessions." (*I believe this group also donates their services if there is a sick parent.)

I also thought (and continue to think) that a photo project is a stellar idea for anyone in this type of unfortunate circumstance.

If the focus of this project is indeed now on trying to do it both well and economically, I would suggest again that you or CG take a look at

to see if there may be a local photographer willing to donate his or her time and talents to this very worthy cause.

Also, for the record, I commend Brent for actually taking the initiative to step up to try to organize this to help someone out (although the bickering back and forth on these threads has been disappointing and moves the focus from where it should be). Also, good for anyone that has donated funds. If Brent's project works out as he envisions, great. If my suggestion or some other path is taken, maybe that presents an opportunity for donations to help out in a different way.

uh oh wrote:

No. Dude you're completely full of yourself! What people are saying is your plan is ridiculous and you are angry and not likeable. Your approach is to guilt trip LR into donating to your cause because nobody came up with a better idea? I got news for you. Everybody who wants to do something for cancer guy has a better idea. Donating directly to him and his family. The only reason it hasn't happened is there is no bank account set up yet. When the brojos are back from London, it will get done.

Please stop explaining and begging. We've heard it all before.

Who's heard it all before??? Think about that for a moment, uh oh.

Please post your real name and real contact info and then say that a measly $7,500 is too much to do a project for caring for CG's family. Are you proud of yourself?

NEWSFLASH! I am giving also. I'm making no money on this. I'm only one person in the pool of people who can very, very easily and quickly get this done. It's not too expensive; not by a long shot.

You mentioned guilt. Is that an indication that you are starting to see how easy and worthy doing this is and you have no excuse for dragging this down?

And this is the kicker!

CG SAID HE WANTED THIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

HIS WIFE SAID SHE WAS EXCITED ABOUT THIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

But I'm sure that CG and his wife will be happy to know that you, uh oh, actually know what's better for them.

You posers had your chance! You can moan and bellyache all you want. I have already been in contact with the brojos, letting them know all about me, and they said they were going to do something to support this. Weldon asked about the cost, and when I got back to him he said he would link it as soon as CG decided if he wanted to accept the offer or not.

People don't like me (in your opinion) because a few, of whom you are one, have come and brought the toxic waste that most of Lets Run is and dumped it on me. You couldn't be content to just not give, but had to tear down the whole project, making yourselves the arbiters of what is supposedly too much. And I am full of myself? Clearly, that is projection. Especially in the face of me offering almost too many times to count to hand this off to the LRC.

It's alright. If bringing down a project that boils down to $38 over 200 people, or even $75 over 100 is your worthy cause, let's just be clear about it and let others decide who has a more worthy cause.

Just give, uh oh! It is sooo easy and you will feel better when you give up your cynicism (and I'm being sincere here).

Franklin! A guy with an actual name!!!

Thank you so much. It is obvious that you care. Will you please contact me via email. It's linked to my name. I'll then reply and give you my normal email address. If you could, please let me know where you are located.

Thanks again! I'll take any support I can get!

You must be tired again. You are really pissy.

Actually, I am not nearly as pissy as that reads. I'm just not going to let others tear this down, and will use their illogical, incoherent, and petty words against them if necessary. It's no fun and doesn't have to be this way.

Really, really??????, this is such an important thing. CG's little children are quite possibly going to have to grow up and go through their whole lives without knowing their father. This top-notch photo book is going to be absolutely cherished like probably little else they'll own.

really??????, please give!

http://www.giveforward.com/fight-like-a-runner

I'm in contact with CG and am trying to get donation account information to an account he already has set up. Apparently someone had set it up for him previously.

This is about helping Cancer Guy in any way possible. This photo book project isn't the only way. When I get the info I will paste the link here, and start a new thread.

Sorry, i just don't get all this. We all probably know people with cancer. I have a friend with stage 4 breastcancer. Why would i do this instead of donating or doing something for my friend? Cancer sucks but i am not going to donate to your cause for a variety of reasons.

I should refocus a bit here.I started this new thread to focus on those who see the value of the project. Because no one would take the offer to do this differently, it is now "my" project (though I really don't like to say that), and not any official, or quasi-official, LRC project (though I would love for it to be at least quasi-officially an LRC project). Therefore, those who are still speaking against this really have no basis for doing so. I'm just trying to drum up support from here as much as possible. Those who honestly, without being influenced from what I think irrational posters here that the cost is too high, are free to just move on.Quote for those who don't realize that CG actually would like to do this. First is him. Second is . . . was going to be, his wife.

Cancer Guy wrote:

Brent, this is amazing. I think I would like to move forward. We have had a few photo shoots. I just want to be careful to not do anything to "out of the norm" to cue the kids into the "why's that guy here?" kind of questions. I am deeply moved by the offer. I spoke with my wife about it and she is excited about the prospect. Hopefully, as you said so well, this would all be something that can be looked back in years as a remember-that-cancer-phase snapshot. I will send you an email directly so we can get the details ironed out. Most days letsrun makes me go wow for a wide variety of reasons, but, today, I am blessed and thankful to be a part of this community! Thanks so much...sincerely.

I was going to quote his wife also, but don't have permission and thought better of it. Suffice it to say, she is also happy about the idea. Very much so!

I agree with those who are saying we can/should donate directly to the family. I plan to do both (of course, if we raise the full $7,500 goal, it looks like about $2,000 or so will be left to donate also).

It doesn't have to be either/or. It can be both/and!

Love & Thanks!

(still waiting for the link to the direct donation account)

WWPD

really?????? wrote:

Sorry, i just don't get all this. We all probably know people with cancer. I have a friend with stage 4 breastcancer. Why would i do this instead of donating or doing something for my friend? Cancer sucks but i am not going to donate to your cause for a variety of reasons.

I'm not sure about you, really??????. I originally put you waaay over on the hyper-opposition side of this, but you probably don't belong there.

Anyway, I think you have a great reason not to give. I think you should do anything and everything you can do for your friend. If you have anything left over, whether for a precious memories photo book for CG's family or a direct donation (or both), great. But it's completely understandable if you don't.

I'd honestly love to hear the variety of reasons (beside the obvious that you will probably be doing things already for your friend) for not giving. If you think they are valuable to post here and won't unnecessarily negatively influence others, please post them. If you would like, you can email them to me. Perhaps it would help me to see things more clearly from others' perspective.

I'm sorry about your friend. We can surely all agree cancer sucks. I still grieve the loss of Mariko, one of the most sweet, caring, and innocent girls I've ever met. She was my English student. She was, I believe, 13 when she finally passed away last year.

Some of the bickering going on is pathetic - if you don't want to donate to CG then don't, but don't post negatively and put others off who may have donated as you are then basically preventing money that would've donated to CG. Why do people feel the need to stop others from donating? Brent, well done for setting this up and spending so much time on it. I really hope you get as much as you can, so CG gets his photo books as well as 3000+ bucks to do whatever he wants with.

isaac wrote:

Some of the bickering going on is pathetic - if you don't want to donate to CG then don't, but don't post negatively and put others off who may have donated as you are then basically preventing money that would've donated to CG. Why do people feel the need to stop others from donating? Brent, well done for setting this up and spending so much time on it. I really hope you get as much as you can, so CG gets his photo books as well as 3000+ bucks to do whatever he wants with.

Thank you!

Posts like this can also go a looong way in influencing others. You took the time to post this when you didn't have to, so thank you so much.

And I agree! Let's try to donate $3,000 or more of the money directly to CG and his family.

To those who don't know how the donation drive is set up through Give Forward, they only send the money to the beneficiary. So, somehow CG will get the money, all of it, but I will then need him to forward funds to the appropriate people to actually pay for the project. By that time, we should know pretty accurately how much is needed for what, and then CG will simply have the rest to use as he and his family see best. I honestly didn't want to do it that way because I don't want CG spending any of his time on this other than welcoming a photographer to join he and his family for a couple of days. But, understandably, that's how Give Forward insists on operating.

Love and Thanks!

(Still don't quite have the direct donation account info. Sorry)

WWPD

Just a new email to make it more straightforward to contact me, both linked to my name and listed below.

Fight Like a Runner!

http://fight-like-a-runner.blogspot.jp/

http://www.giveforward.com/fight-like-a-runner

brent.long.fightlikearunner@gmail.com

WWPD

llamarunner wrote:

I would donate, but when a too large % of my donation is going to the photographer's travel expenses when there are many local ones who would do just as well or better, I decided not to.

llamarunner,

I owe you an apology. I really should have replied to this earlier but somehow missed the significance of it while I was dealing with other questions. You at least put it very succinctly and clearly why you, and others, feel this is not a good way to contribute to CG.

First, a little perspective change is necessary I think. The entire percentage of funds goes to the creation of the photo book (minus 7% for Give Forward's operating and credit card acceptance costs). While I agree completely that any time we give financially to support a cause, we should determine what percentage goes to the cause and what to the "overhead", organizers, etc. To look at the photographer expense as some sort of overhead or organizer cost is unwarranted.

Someone immediately balked that, "the photographer should be free", in the first thread. But, that is very arbitrary. Even when fundraisers are going straight to medical expenses, for example, we could just as easily make the same statement, "The medical team should donate their time and expertise for free". And, sometimes, that does indeed happen. But for us to say it must happen is irrational and illogical. To say that very quickly leads to practical absurdity.

What I mean is, why doesn't CG get "free" groceries? Actually, he probably does get free groceries; those that people BUY for them. They are free to CG and his family, but down the line, somewhere and somehow, someone is paying, and someone is making money, for better or worse, either directly or indirectly, from CG. And it's that way for everything. If Andrew (or any photographer), for example, donates the entire shoot instead of only half, it just means that he and his family are "paying" more for the photo book project. The only reason there is a need at all for anyone to donate anything, whether time or money, is for the very fact that someone, somewhere, is getting paid.

Essentially, then, those who are demanding that we use another photographer who will work for free (or much less) are simply putting a demand on some photographer to donate more --- much, much more --- than others to the project. It really becomes hypocritical in the extreme. For example, until now the largest donation was (I think astounding) $250.00! But even if that person who donated that much were to demand the photographer be free, he is actually demanding that the photographer donate waaaay more than he did! And that, in the name of donating, which entails freely giving, is hypocritical!

desmoplastic small round cell tumor (soft tissue sarcoma)

Dr. Know wrote:

What kind of terminal cancer?

I have Chronic Leukocytic Leukemia. It's incurable, but very slow in progressing, and I might actually end up dying of something else.

What's the story with cancer guy?