Would you get REAL already?!

  I've noticed that it's that time of the year in Texas.  The Susan G. Komen  - Race for the Cure was held last  weekend in San Antonio and I know that teams are forming now for the Relay for Life coming up in May.  It is exciting to see the growing number of participants and the large amounts of money raised to support these causes to find cures for cancer.  Cancer is undeniably a threatening and scary diagnosis for all involved, not just the diagnosed individual.  We were approached by a number of friends to donate money to support their cause.

And then I saw something so unbelievable that it sent me over the edge and made me rethink donating.

  What shot my Irish/German temper STRAIGHT through the roof was a photo a friend had posted on Facebook about a fundraiser that was held to raise money for the Race for the Cure. (I'm getting royally peeved right now just thinking about it.) They were selling hotdogs, chips, and soda.  Let me say it again a little louder. THEY WERE SELLING HOTDOGS, CHIPS, AND SODAS!!!!!

  Can someone PLEASE explain WHY???  Please explain WHY we are being asked to donate millions of dollars to find a cure for cancer when the volunteers are going to raise money selling cancer causing agents?! Why not just go buy a carton of cigarettes and sell them for $1 each?  That would raise ALOT of money to donate to these organizations.  Harsh, maybe...but if you really think about it, it's true.

  I have a number of friends and family that have been touched in some way by cancer; from the removal of pre-cancerous cells, to lumpectomies, to chemo treatment and radiation, and those that have succumbed leaving behind their loved ones .  Cancer obviously doesn't care if you're rich or poor, American, Mexican, German, or African, skinny or fat, young or old.  But why cook with plastic in your microwave, or drink out of water bottles that have set who knows how long in a warehouse lacking central A/C?  Why dump that nasty orange powder into your noodles and call it a homemade dinner?  So WHY should I go buy a hot dog, chips, and a soda to help raise money for cancer research when eating that kind of food will just increase my risk of cancer in the future?

  As sad as it is to say, it's almost as if the public is serving themselves up to these organizations to be researched on later as subjects themselves!!

  I am not against raising money and donating for good causes.  Finding a cure for cancer is a NOBLE cause.  But please, start at home.  Use REAL butter and eat REAL cheese.  Instead of sodas laden with high fructose corn syrup and who knows that else, make tea using REAL sugar.  Have a REAL lunch with a green salad instead of grabbing that artificial food from Taco Bell.  Go for a walk everyday and encourage your neighbors, friends, and family to do it, too instead of walking once a year.

Get REAL!!