Blogathon: The Summary Of My Cause

Blogathon 2007: Help Sponsor Today! Blogathon is an international event where bloggers from all over the world blog for 24 hours straight posting every half an hour till the end in order to raise donations for the charity of their choice. As a veteran blogger that has taken part in this global event for the past 3 years, I have continuously supported charities and foundations that stand in the fight against cancer. Last year alone a total of more than $220 USD was raised and donated to the Association for International Cancer Research. A pitiful sum in comparison to the $760 USD raised for the National Cancer Council of Malaysia the previous year's Blogathon.

This year, on the 28th of July at 0600 PST (or 2300 Sydney time) I am again entering the Blogathon for the 4th year to raise money for the Association for International Cancer Research. It is with hopes that I can surpass the goal of $1000 USD. A lofty sum, but one I can but hope to achieve with your support.

Yet why cancer? Why has all the of my efforts been towards supporting cancer based charities? The reason is simple. Cancer is a name that everyone has heard off in the lifetime and it's hard-pressed to find someone who hasn't been affected by it in some way. Many years ago, I lost a close friend to Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma. Since then, I have made a promise to myself and her family that I would never rest until I absolve the loss that stems from cancer. While I know nothing I can do can bring her back, it doesn't mean that I can't at least try and stop the same things from happening again to people that don't deserve to die and to people that shouldn't lose the ones that care and love.

In the years after her death, I have since completed my degree in Applied Medical Biotechnology and now completing my final year in a degree of Medical Science (Pathology) in the hopes of joining the ranks of researchers who dedicate their lives to finding an answer to cancer. After discovering Blogathon, supporting cancer charities was only a natural reaction. After all, we do our best in what we believe in, shouldn't we?

You can help make a difference as well for all the people afflicted by cancer as well as the people close to those afflicted by cancer. Help find a way to stop cancer where it stands by supporting my pledge for the AICR during my Blogathon. While previous Blogathons were posts without a general direction and theme. This year, given that I know more than a thing or two about it. I will be blogging about the things you should know and understand about cancer in the most layman of terms. What is cancer? How does it arise? How is it diagnosed? How is it treated? Things I think every one should know so that they won't have to fear it if ever they face it. They say little knowledge is a dangerous thing. I hope that with what I'll be writing, most of what you don't know will see its light.

If you're interested in helping any Blogathoner (not just me) by sponsoring their charity, this is a summary of how it works:

  1. Go to the Blogathon website.
  2. On the right hand corner there will be link pointing you to the list of bloggers and charities that they are blogging for.
  3. Choose your blogger to sponsor by clinking on them (in this case, look for Footsteps in the Mirror who will be blogging for the Association for International Cancer Research or just click here).
  4. If you haven't signed up yet, you have to register before you can pledge. Don't worry, all you need is your name, email address and password for yourself. If you already have signed up, you need to log in by using the email address you entered and the password you chose.
  5. Enter the amount you wish to donate and the currency you're donating in. If you wish to be anonymous, there is an option for you to do so.
  6. Once you continue, you'll be asked to confirm your amount again.
  7. After confirming it, you're done.

Now I cannot stress enough that by the end of it, the money that people donate will be donated directly to the charity's donation page itself and not through the bloggers that blog for them nor through the Blogathon website itself. The reason why you have to sign up to pledge is a matter of data. At the end of the day, Blogathon totals up the amount of people and the amount of money that's raised. It helps us all know that events like this does do some good and regardless of the 24 hours of madness that ensues, what every participating Blogathoner does is not in vain, especially for the charities that they are raising money for.

I hope that you will find it in your heart to help out in this cause. If not in pledges and donation, then at least in spreading the word to the people you know. Sometimes we need all the help we can get and in that 24 hours for a cause that we believe in. It isn't just one person that makes a difference. It's the collective understanding that every one plays their part to change the world.

A part that starts with you.

For more on the Blogathon 2007 series, you can read them below:

20 Trackback and Pingbacks: »

6 People Said A Couple Of Things: »

  • GravatarTine wrote from Malaysia on July 16, 2007 at 10:38 and said:

    Hey Ed, great cause. Count me in on the pledges. I’m afraid I can’t donate much, but at least it’s a start :)

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  • GravatarKamigoroshi wrote from Australia on July 16, 2007 at 10:47 and said:

    Thanks a lot!! It’s definitely a start Tine. It’s the dedication that counts. We can always pile the money high over time. :)

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  • Gravatartanya wrote from Germany on July 19, 2007 at 03:58 and said:

    I’m in for my fellow 9Rulers. I’ll set up the sponsorhip thing later tonight. Good luck!

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  • GravatarGnorb wrote from United States on July 20, 2007 at 23:18 and said:

    Links in the article blurb changed (links to this post and main blogathon site supplanted previous links). I may even write another post on this. I’ll be putting up instead of shutting up by adding some sponsorship funds. Can’t do all that much, but I can do some.

    Comment Permalink

  • GravatarAh Pek wrote from Malaysia on July 28, 2007 at 23:19 and said:

    Way to go!!

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  • Gravatarhelen_H wrote from Australia on July 29, 2007 at 16:58 and said:

    All the best!

    Comment Permalink

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