Cancer is everywhere. Some have been diagnosed with it, some have had their precious loved ones diagnosed with it, and some consider it to be an "urban legend", but the fact remains that it is all over the place. And because it is so widespread, it is very close to home - no matter where your home is. Many people don't realize this, and that's a very big problem. So, let's try to fix it together. Together, we can make a huge difference - let's raise cancer awareness.
NOTICE
The club was originally for cancer and cancer only, but because diseases, illnesses and conditions of every kind exist, we are opening it up. Feel free to discuss anything from HIV/AIDS to mental illnesses (depression, bipolarity, autism), to physical handicaps, to heart diseases, to just about anything else you can think of. There are no restrictions for this.
HOW IT STARTED
Prepare yourself for a little bit of my history.
I am a high school student, and like most people my age, I am surrounded by ignorance, and tend to be a little bit ignorant on occasion, too. That's why I, and nobody else in my real world, was expecting the mother of one my classmates to be diagnosed with breast cancer. It was a shock for all of us, especially her son. Cancer was so far away... it never happened outside the movies. That was what we all thought. But really, we didn;t have a single clue. And we were all very sorry.
This boy was ostracised after his mother's diagnosis was announced. No one knew how to talk to him anymore, and he always had such a look of anger or pain on his face... we all felt horrible, because we were so helpless. We couldn't do a thing to save him from his misery, despite how much we wanted to. Then, my English teacher stepped up.
She decided to run a marathon in San Francisco (in the United States, depite our living in Canada) to help raise money and awareness of cancer. And I thought, wow. But, before she could run, she had to raise six thousand Canadian dollars (about 3,782 EUR, 5,114 US dollars, 66 925 Mexican pesos, 3 008 United Kingdom pounds), and she needed our help. You don;t even want to know how many fundraisers we organized, how many little pink bracelets we sold, and how hard we worked to help raise money. But, in the end, we got her to a grand total of 8762 CAN dollars, way more than enough.
This was a year ago.
Mrs. English Teacher runs next week in San Francisco. And that's fucking amazing.
What's even more incredible is that, one day, the woman diagnosed with breast cancer came to our class and spoke to us. By the end of her forty five minute lecture about how her life had changed, eeryone in the class, including her, including Mrs. English Teacher, and every one of the guys, was in tears. Some were weeping openly, some cried very silently, and some just had their eyes well up with wetness... but regardless, you can see just how much she influenced us. People swore things like, "I will always appreciate my life from now on, 'cause I realize now that it is a gift to be cherished."
Great.
The thing is, by the next day, everyone forgot their various promises. They were back to their usual selves, complaining about anything and everything, trying their best to be sad. It disgusted me.
And so, this club was born, to not only spread the inspiration and awareness, but to keep it alive and healthy.
WHY?
Why should we raise cancer awareness? Who cares, right?
Many people die because of cancer, each and every year, only because they didn't check themselves out at a doctor's office. If you have a tumor the size of a small grapefruit hanging off of your testicle, but you don't know what testicular cancer is, how would you know you are close to death?
People don't go to the doctor often enough. Catch cancer in its early stages, everyone, and chances of survival are much higher.
Because it takes money to research various forms of cancer, and money to perform chemo and the like. Participating in fundraisers can help raise the money needed.
Because cancer affects everyone.
Because ignorance is a deadly disease.
AWARENESS MUST BE RAISED. IT IS NO LONGER A QUESTION.
WHAT DO WE DO NOW?
This club opened for several reasons.
We want everyone to know that cancer (and other illnesses/conditions) happen, and we want them to believe that life is a very precious gift.
We want people to remember the above, and never stop thanking whichever god exists for our lives.
We want people to get informed about cancer; get to know the official colors for each type, treatments, statistics, and the like.
We would like for people to share their own stories about how cancer touched their lives, and about the healing process. If we can open up to each other, miracles are sure to happen.
We would like for people to share ideas for fundraisers, and maybe even be inspired to organize one for cancer research.
We want to spread the word!!
CLUB RULES
As cancer is a sensitive topic, a few rules have to be laid down. Some of them might be painstakingly obvious, but others won't be, so please bear with me.
You are, under no circumstances, to insult or act disrespectfully or rudely towards any other member. And this means always, not just in the club's forums and comments. You cannot send hate messages or comments to ANYONE, because life is too short to be feuding with someone for no reason.
INSULTS OF ANY KIND ARE PROHIBITED. I have read flames on the internet akin to; "You're such a bastard, I hope your mom gets cancer," or, "You're a freaking bitchy retard." WE DO NOT WISH THESE THINGS ON ANYONE, UNDERSTOOD? Any comment I find insulting or rude will be IMMEDIATELY deleted, and you will be banned. I'm not kidding.
Please stay on topic in this club's comments. Which means, no spamming. I don't want to find comments about how awesome Code Geass is in a forum titled "How Cancer Affects Your Life," because, let's face it, that sort of thing is inappropriate in every way.
Please post our club banner somewhere in your profile/signature/both to help raise awareness. It'd be nice to link it back to us, too.(This is optional, but would be greatly appreciated). You can find the banner when you scroll down.
We accept lurkers here. That means, you can join without contributing to the forums or comments, and just silently read them. Of course, opening up and offering your stories or replies to other stories is encouraged, but not necessary.
Please remember that some people who open up here have not talked to anyone else. So, be nice to them. Don't reply saying, "Sucks to be you~!!".. go for a more civil, "I'm so sorry to hear that. Is that anything I can do?" Or something to that effect.
We want this club to be active, so let's try our best to invite as many people to it as we can, and to provide as many relevant comments to the forums as we can.
You may post some club pictures if you want to, but please, nothing too graphic. There is a thread for that here.
More rules might come soon.
OFFICERS AND ADMINS
If you would like to be one, please contact me via PM or comments. However, you will have to take on certain jobs if you become admin:
Moniter the direction of the conversation in the forums + comments and delete any that deviate or insult.
Ban/report members, if necessary, if they are being rude or inappropriate.
Invite other users/spread the word.
Maybe make some more club banners? Completely optional. If you want to, banner sizes are 350x20 for now. :)
Current Admins:
ashgary (me)
FreedomWings
Pika876
RULES FOR STARTING A NEW THREAD
Please make sure that it is not a duplicate thread.
The title should inform other members of what they can find within the thread. No titles like, ".." or "Click here", please.
They should be relevant to cancer or any other disease/condition... or relevant to something, at the very least. No topics like, "Bored? Come heree", or something.
I will have list of threads to be opened - Please don't open them without my consent.
We will also soon have a list of websites useful for their information on cancer.
CLUB GOALS
20 members YES! And it took less than two hours xDDD
50 members In less than a day :D
75 members Three days :D So, since this goal has been reached, we'll have another thread opening soon.
100 members If I don't start another thread soon, we're going to reach our next goal xD It'll open up, one of these days.
150 members takes us a month to get to 100, and two days to get to 150 o.O Though I can't say I'm not happy about it!! :DDDDD
200 members. CELEBRATION :D a bunch of new threads will open up soon. yayz. :]
300 members
400 members
500 members
FUTURE REWARDS
Under construction!
We plan to give the member rewards as we reach our goals. First reward will be issued at the "100 member" mark, second at the "200 member", third at the "300", and so on.
If you have ideas for the kinds of rewards to be issued, please reply to this thread.
CLUB BANNERS
Please post one of these on your profile, or signature, or both, and link back to us.
more coming soon ^-^
If you'd like to help us out and donate a banner to us, it would be appreciated :D For now, banner sizes will be 350x20, and will include the sentence: "Raise cancer awareness."
EVENTS > These will be events that will open soon - as soon as we get more members. HRCA Alphabet
Story Writing
Design a Logo
Who Can Invite the Most Users?
Claiming?doubtful, but... maybe someday. Nominate Club Mascot
Please contribute, and make the event a success! Remember, winning banner will be posted up here.
VALUED AFFIES!
If you want to affiliate, PLEASE send me (ashgary), or one of the admins a message! We will INSTANTLY accept, and love you forever & ever, desu. ^-^
our WONDERFUL first affie! :DD
THANK YOU FOR VISITNG! REMEMBER TO INVITE YOUR FRIENDS!
