Matthew on 28/4/2009 at 13:58
Yeah, that'll show them! Fuck them and their fundraising!
MsLedd on 28/4/2009 at 21:54
Quote Posted by Rogue Keeper
I pitched $10 in, but there's no transfer marked yet on my online balance sheet and that's usually almost instant. :erg:
Well... according to my progress on the site, it shows your donation (and lists you as BRnumbers on my (
http://www.avonwalk.org/goto/maralove) personal page).
Inline Image:
http://www.msledd.com/mslips.gif THANK YOU THANK YOU ALL!!! Inline Image:
http://www.msledd.com/mslips.gifDisplacer: Sad, but true, there are many fuckwads out there selling "pink ribbon" and other merchandise for self-gain claiming to represent one of the breast cancer organizations... I don't know if this was the case with your flowers, or not, but it's possibility.
Anyway, I can say with 100% certainty that the for these walks, the Avon Foundation takes NOTHING for themselves. The only money spent outside the charity is for equipment, food, medical and other supplies needed to make the walks happen (much of which is donated). Ultimately, the breast cancer causes end up with an average of 85% of the total money that comes in each year (which is AMAZING when you consider this is for 8 walks per year/ 3 days each / average 2,500 walkers + hundreds of crew and other volunteers).
For those that may not wish to donate online, you can write a check, or money order, or pay with a credit card using this (
http://www.msledd.com/avonwalk/AvonDonationForm-951330.pdf) PDF donation form. You can fill in the form using Acrobat Reader, or print and fill it in manually. Then mail it directly to Avon Foundation.
As for PayPal... I have asked before why they do not offer this as an option. Everyone I've talked to agrees it should be, but so far... it's still not. :confused:
In past years I have offered my own PayPal account as a means to make a donation, and many people made use of this option. Whatever amounts were sent to my PayPal account I wrote a check for and submitted in the name of the person who donated to the Avon Foundation (and those people's names showed up on my "Donor List"). In each case, I wrote the check for the exact amount donated (absorbing the PayPal fees myself). If anyone is interested in this option, please contact me. (note that my personal funds are extremely limited right now, and I may not be able to cover all the Paypal fees, especially with larger amounts).
On a personal note: Thank you to everyone for your warm wishes regarding my father. I felt a bit strange adding that bit about him to my posting, I don't want anyone to think it was a ploy for sympathy... It's just still so close, the pain still so raw... and it more than adds to my determination to beat this cancer beast, which has now taken both my parents from me.*MsLedd puts on her running shoes and hits the trail*Kolya on 29/4/2009 at 10:49
I see this sort of fund raising with mixed emotions. On hand it's a great and honourable endeavour and all participants have my respect. On the other hand it's still a poor substitute for lack of a working health insurance system for all Americans. I hope Obama soon manages to implement his plans in this regard.
Rogue Keeper on 29/4/2009 at 11:30
Glad to help Msledd. =)
Didn't Obama criticize Clinton's intention to establish common health insurance system during primaries, as "objection of freedom"?
D'Arcy on 29/4/2009 at 11:35
This sort of fund raisings happens everywhere. Having a working health insurance or not has little to do with it. Over here we have a working public health care system, and we hardly have to pay a cent for any medical assistance we might need, yet fund raisers still take place. If anything, to raise awareness to the problem in question. The money that is raised usually goes into research, or non-governmental/charity institutions.
Kolya on 29/4/2009 at 12:17
Yes, here it may go into research. In America it goes (
http://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/) into providing mammographies for uninsured women. I dare say this has something to do with (not) having a working health insurance.
This is how the AvonWalk donations are spent: (
http://walk.avonfoundation.org/site/PageServer?pagename=walk_how_spent) awareness and education; screening and diagnosis; access to treatment; support services; and, scientific research.
At least 4 of these 5 points are covered by public health insurance where you and I live.
Matthew on 29/4/2009 at 12:41
Er, I live in a country with a publicly-funded health care system, but our charities still carry out at least 3 of those 5 functions. For a charity not to think about awareness or support strikes me as being remarkably odd (depending on their aims of course; Marie Curie is likely to focus on the latter, whilst Cancer Research UK will naturally channel more funds to scientific projects).
Kolya on 29/4/2009 at 12:56
Of course charities may give additional support and there's nothing wrong with that. But people shouldn't have to rely on that.
If you were a 40yo uninsured American woman you will only go to a mammography once you have an initial suspicion that something may be wrong. And then you still need to hope for someone like the NBCF to pay for it, if you can't do so by yourself. By then it may be too late.
Women from 40 onward here are being informed about the risks and invited to free regular checkups by their doctor.
Matthew on 29/4/2009 at 13:40
I agree that charities shouldn't be the first line of support. I do think that it's not really the point of the thread though.
Starrfall on 29/4/2009 at 14:29
Cancer sucks, boobs rock. THE PATH IS CLEAR
