Just about a month until our Walk to Cure Diabetes. I’m hoping for a good homestretch. Fundraising is hard.

I actually did get a response from the golf course regarding my request for a "Longest Marshmallow Drive for Diabetes" competition. Just getting a response is half the battle. They said they were intrigued with the idea and asked me to submit a proposal with details of the event. They wanted to know how much space I needed and how far a golfer can hit a marshmallow? Good question. I bought a bag of marshmallows to test it out, but never did because the marshmallows were all conjoined in one big sticky lump. I’m not much of a golfer anyway. I hope I get this fundraising event. Crossing fingers.

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OK, so I haven’t raised a dime yet, but there are a couple things in the works. I contacted our local coffeehouse in town to see if they’d be interested in hosting a small benefit show. It will need to be small. The coffeehouse is about the size of my kitchen.

We haven’t hashed out all the details yet, but a couple friends and I would play some music for a few hours. I guess we’ll ask for a contribution at the door. We’ve played the coffeehouse before and they got my name wrong on their website. "Performing tonight! Mary Potash."

So, I think it’s only appropriate for us to go with it when promoting our fundraising show.

"Mary Potash Gives Back."

"Mary Potash and Friends Fight Diabetes."

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This was going to be the year that I just took a pass on the fundraising; closed down Charlie’s Angels until next year. I just felt burnt out. We’ve done lots of fundraising for JDRF since Charlie’s diagnosis. It’s hard to get up for it every year; especially knowing that with it comes much rejection and wasted energy. It’s also tough to keep telling friends and family that a cure is right around the corner. Is it?

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The Web Warren

Picture the "Easter Parade" that was once the New York City population strolling to and from church in their Sunday best, but which has now become a display for the some of the most outlandish millinery creations seen outside a Hallowe'en Parade, a Mardi Gras float, or a Vegas spectacular. Now transfer that (pardon the pun!) to a T-shirt design contest for people of peripatetic pancreases and put it on a planked walkway peripheral to the plage (beach), and you have the Seaside Heights JDRF walk.

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You should have seen it! It was THIS big! [arms outstretched]. I swear!

When I’m in fundraising mode (typically July through October), I take the "hey, ya never know" and the "can’t hurt to ask" approach ad nauseam. With both email and social networking, potential targets are more accessible than they’ve ever been.

Sure it comes with a 99.8 percent rejection rate, but I try not to let that deter me. Like I said, ya never know. Maybe someone will be moved by Charlie’s story from this "desperate dad doing everything I can to bring about a cure for this dreadful disease." Yes, I’ve written that in countless emails. Barf!

And this …

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So I sit down at my desk and my co-worker is all like, [clap, clap, clap] "congratulations!"

And I'm all like, "excuse me?"

And she's all like, "for being a finalist."

And I'm all like, "I have no idea what you're talking about."

And she's all like, "the employee recognition awards. You're a finalist."

And I'm all like, "I didn't even know I was nominated."

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