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July 5th, 2008
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Our team, Charlie's Angels, has been raising money for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation since 2003 – the year Charlie was diagnosed.

 

For the first few years, we sent out our fundraising letter to friends, family and co-workers and did remarkably well. Last year, however, I started to feel uncomfortable asking the same people to give so generously yet again. I felt like they were investors in a cure that I was falsely promising. A cure that was "closer than ever" or "within reach" or "right around the corner." To be honest, I really don't know how close we are to a cure. But, what else can I do? I can't cure Charlie. I can only raise money and give it to the people who say they possibly can. I'll sell it like a snake oil salesman if I must.

 

What I'm surprised to learn about myself, is how into fundraising I've become. Taking the "it can't hurt to ask" approach and realizing the power of the Internet, I see vast areas of untapped territory ripe for diabetes funding. Just walking around town, I get ideas. Hmm, dog-walkers. Hmm, biker chicks. Hmm, road kill. Hmm, bank robbers.

 

Some of my ideas don't always pan out. I still want to do the Baby Olympics, but my kids are getting a bit old to participate. Guess I can just lie about their age like players do in Major League Baseball. I've seriously considered an all-night dance marathon inspired by the classic Happy Days episode where Fonzie must dance all night with Joanie after his motorcycle breaks down on his way to the competition and he must push it 12 miles. I mean, the guy is freakin' exhausted, but someone needs to teach that snotty cheerleading captain Jill Higgins a lesson for cutting Joanie from the cheerleading squad. Enter the Fonz and his bizarre Russian folk dancing.

 

For this year's fundraising, I'm working on organizing a large-scale indoor soccer tournament and I'm attempting to enlist the Jersey Shore party boat and charter boat operators to take part in "Fishing for a Cure" one day this summer. Anyone have any other fun ideas? Seriously. I'll gladly accept any leads you may have. A good 80 percent of mine are unrealistic and worthless.

 

I recently got a letter from JDRF, identifying me as a potential candidate for the local chapter's board of directors. Not sure if I'll pursue. I have the prospect form in front of me. It's asking that I give my fundraising experience. I suppose I can tell them all about my interest in tapping the prostitution industry (pardon the pun) with my "Whore for a Cure" campaign.

 

Oh, JDRF is going to love me.



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I thought about you guys yesterday. Riley wore his "Bringeth the Cure" shirt.

Best of luck on your fundraising efforts. How about "Pimping for a Cure"? Just a suggestion.


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Carey Potash
Carey is a full-time hater of diabetes. The benefits stink. His 5-year-old son, Charlie, was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes when he was 22 months old. Carey's parenting humor has appeared in various websites and print magazines. He resides in the suburbs of Philadelphia with his wife and three children.(Read More)

Latest Posts: Active Insulin | Adjusting Your Happiness Levels | Planet Diabetes

Nicole Purcell
Nicole has lived successfully with type 1 diabetes for 25 years. She hopes that by writing about her experiences, she can help others to face diabetes - and its challenges - head on.(Read More)

Latest Posts: Baby Steps... | Off the Tracks... And 26 years.... | Disappointing Body, I Still Love You So...

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