In lieu of flowers for Elizabeth Edwards, please make a donation to the American Cancer Society

[DainBramaged]

in her name.

5 years ago, after having recovered from colon cancer 4 years previous, my Ex mother in law was diagnosed with bone cancer. Being a poor woman, her treatment was limited, and approximately one year later, she passed on, with my beloved ex taking care of her in her last weeks and at her side.

Please pray for Elizabeth Edwards, but please make a contribution to the American Cancer Society instead of flowers.

http://www.cancer.org/docroot/home/index.asp?level=0
1·800·ACS·2345


https://www.cancer.org/docroot/don/don_1_Donate_Online_Now.asp?from=hpbutton


Be well


PS, some of you hate my wrinkled old ass, and I stir up a lot of shit, but this is really important, The Edward's family is in trouble, as are so many with the same disease, make the donation, please.

[NMDemDist2]

1. i suggested the same thing on the flowers for Elizabeth thread

i'm going to send $25 to the Cancer Soc in her name and $25 to their campaign to show my support

wish I could send more...

[skooooo]

2. lieu

[Cabcere]

3. K&R for a great post and an excellent idea.

I'm sorry to hear about your Ex-MIL's bone cancer and subsequent death. :hug: But yeah, a donation to the American Cancer Society is a great idea. :) :thumbsup:

[DainBramaged]

4. I have to kick this, it is so important to me

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

5. On a political note....

Regardless of which Democrat you support in 2008, understand that under Republican control, funding for medical and scientific research has been stagnant for five years and has actually decreased when you account for inflation. The survival of every cancer patient depends on research, and it won't happen fast enough for millions if scientifically-challenged Republicans maintain control of the White House and Congress. Any Democrat -- with the possible exceptions of Joe Lieberman and Zell Miller -- will be an improvement over what we have right now.

Work for our candidates as though somebody's life depends on it. Because, in fact, it does.

[DainBramaged]

6. Well said, thank you

[seemunkee]

43. NCI is having to cut back on clinical trials

My wife works in the field and they are having to decide which trials to open and which to put on hold due to funding cuts.

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

45. Recent article

I think this was in the NY Times, but I forget where I saw it, said that only about 20% of research proposal are getting funded, and that the average age of an NIH-funded researcher is getting older (over 40). The concern was the younger scientists with innovative ideas might just give up.

[Momgonepostal]

7. I think this is a good idea

I used to be a big fan of sending flowers, but this past year have learned that they're pretty to look at, but when you get too many, they're just a problem. My mom had a couple of hospitalizations in 2006, and loves flowers, but got enough that there was no place to really put them, so ended up giving a lot away, and even throwing some away before it was time.

A donation is so much more practical, and has the potential to do more good.

[DainBramaged]

8. Having had a tumor removed from my head in 2000, I agree

Hence, DainBramaged!

Be well

[sandnsea]

9. Many DUers have enough money to do both

Flowers are joyful and life needs gifts of joy too.

[myrna minx]

10. I like this idea. n/t

[DainBramaged]

18. Me too

:hi:

[Nikki Stone1]

11. No reason we can't do both

....

[DainBramaged]

13. True, but how many flowers can their house hold?

[wicket]

20. Oh come on!!!

Not that again :eyes:

[DainBramaged]

23. I did NOT mean it the way you took it, AT ALL

They will get THOUSANDS of flowers, where will they put them?

[wicket]

24. My apologies

Sorry for being so flippant, I was just hoping it wasn't going to turn into another flamewar about the size of their house.

Again, my apologies.

:hi:

[wicket]

25. BTW, I'm sorry for your loss

We lost my 10 year old cousin a little over a year ago to an inoperable brain tumor. Cancer is such a terrible thing :cry:

[DainBramaged]

29. I know what you mean, sorry for your loss

I pop another, I setting sail for Maui, might as well wear a grass skirt for the time.

[sandnsea]

22. I know

I read how much some people on DU have. A lot of DUers can give their campaign limit, a generous cancer donation, and $50 bucks for flowers and not even have to give up a vacation to do it. If they find joy in giving joy, let them.

[smoogatz]

12. Most cut flowers sold in the U.S. now come from South America--Ecuador

or Peru. It's good to buy them because doing so puts money in the pockets of indigenous farmers (not much, but some). It's bad to buy them because the cut-flower cash crop has supplanted food farming in many areas, and made those same indigenous farmers less self-sufficient, and more dependant on chemical fertilizers and the global economy. No buying decision is simple anymore. So yeah, donations are good.

[Toucano]

34. Dole controls the cut flower industry.

http://www.laborrights.org/press/Flowers/mothersday_ilrf_041006.htm

"The International Labor Rights Fund’s (ILRF) Fairness in Flowers Campaign has found that women flower workers in these countries suffer from discrimination, sexual harassment, and health problems caused by the many toxic pesticides used on the plantations.

ILRF’s 2005 study in Ecuador found that over 55% of flower workers (and 71% aged 20-24) had been the victims of some kind of sexual harassment. 19% had been forced to have sex with a coworker or superior.

70 percent of Colombian flower workers are women.

A 1990 survey of 8000 workers in plantations near Bogotá found that workers were exposed to 127 different pesticides, three of which are considered extremely toxic by the World Health Organization. Pregnant flower workers were found to have an elevated rate of miscarriages, premature births, and congenital malformations. In one group of children born to former flower workers, 222 of 1,320 children (17%) had congenital malformations.

ILRF works with a number of organizations and unions in Colombia and Ecuador to promote respect for these workers’ rights according to local labor law, including the elimination of the practice of discrimination, proper health precautions, and respect for the right to freedom of association.

Miami-based Dole Fresh Flowers is the sole U.S. wholesaler that owns flower plantations abroad. Dole owns and operates 23 farms in Colombia and controls 20% of the flower export from that country. ILRF and the US/Labor Education in the Americas Project (US/LEAP) have been working to pressure Dole into sitting down and negotiating with the independent union at Dole-owned Splendor Flowers in good faith for over a year.

Colombian flower workers are often terminated or do not have their job contracts renewed if they become pregnant while employed at the plantation, according to the union. During the peak seasons around Valentine’s and Mother’s Days, employees at the Splendor plantation say they work up to 80 hours per week, without overtime pay, and earn less than $180 per month. In November 2004, flower workers at the Splendor plantations formed the first independent and democratic union at Dole’s operations in Colombia.

To date, Dole Fresh Flowers denies any wrongdoing in Colombia and despite a commitment in September 2005, executives at the company have still not negotiated with union representatives in good faith."

[DainBramaged]

14. I want to keep this at the top, for obvious reasons

[Solly Mack]

15. recommended

a donation would go to helping others...something EE would like.

[Triana]

16. I think donating to the ACS, sending flowers, or contributing to Edwards08

...in her name would all be great things to do! I encourage DUers to do whichever one they feel most comfortable with, or two of them, or all three, or something else. The important thing is that we support the Edwards family in whatever way we each feel is most appropriate right now.

EDIT: K & R for your ACS post - for those who want to do this one.

[DainBramaged]

17. .

:bounce: :cry:

[DainBramaged]

19. I ain't letteing this fall

[woo me with science]

21. MUCH better idea. Thanks. nt

[tkmorris]

26. Credit where it's due

DB probably has me on ignore due to some messiness in another thread, but this idea is a good one. I lost my mother not long ago to cancer. It CAN be cured, we just need the will and the money.

[DainBramaged]

31. Nope I sees ya, thanks much

:hi:

[Maddy McCall]

27. I agree...either donate to the campaign or to cancer research.

Flowers will die, and besides, Elizabeth's schedule won't allow her the time to enjoy them.

[Rhiannon12866]

28. K&R from me, my friend. And thank you.

This is a lovely idea, and fine with me if this is what will make her happy. I lost my Dad to cancer, at far too young an age, and he had very good treatments, so I'm with you. And nobody here hates your "wrinkled old ass," LOL, which I doubt is true. Just chill out and you'll be fine.

Rhiannon:hi:

[DainBramaged]

30. Thanks, I love the name Rhiannon

We wanted to name our Daughter that but Mom won, but I got the Middle name, Whitney Alliana

[Rhiannon12866]

33. Thank you so much, my friend.

You once sent me a PM, telling me that you liked my name, and about your daughter, but I didn't see it right away and felt like an idiot writing back after so long and I've always regretted that. For some reason, it's hit-or-miss whether or not I get an e-mail notification when I receive a PM. Anyway, what I meant to say was to thank you and that I think that your daughter has a beautiful name. If I had a daughter, that would be one of my top choices. BTW, my father named me. My mother wanted to call me "Melisande." Yikes! Thank God that my father prevailed, LOL.:D

Rhiannon:hi:

[DainBramaged]

36. Your beautiful name will forever distinguish you, thank you for responding

[Rhiannon12866]

38. Thanks so much. What a lovely compliment...

And of course I would respond. I apologize for having been remiss before. Give my best to Whitney, who also has a lovely name. And thank you for the kind words.:-)

Rhiannon:hi:

[DainBramaged]

42. You are welcome, ve well

[DainBramaged]

32. Kickers

[AZBlue]

35. K&R

Much better idea than flowers - flowers will wilt, a donation to the cancer society might save her life.

[LibraLiz1973]

37. Just

made an 80 dollar donation in honor of her

[NMMNG]

39. Done

A worthy cause for a wonderful woman.

My maternal grandmother and her first husband both died of cancer, he before I was even born. We truly need to find a cure.

[Nicole]

40. Great idea.

:kick:

[JNelson6563]

41. She asked for donations to the campaign

Just throwin' that out there.

And Dain Branaged, I'm not among those who don't like you. I appreciate your strong support of the working men and women in organized labor. A couple of my best pals are UAW people and their tireless efforts on behalf of the people they represent never fail to impress me.

Julie

[DainBramaged]

46. Thank you so much

It bothers me so much that many many of the DU family do not support Unions in any way, and in fact use the subject to taunt those of us that do, and I wonder if they really are Democrats or Progressives.

Be well

[OzarkDem]

44. Better idea - Virginia Clinton Kelley Fund at National Breast Cancer Coalition

http://www.natlbcc.org/bin/index.asp?strid=781&depid=16

snip

The Virginia Clinton Kelley Fund pays tribute to a woman whose life exemplified the vision and strength to overcome seemingly insurmountable odds to achieve her goals, and who embodied the grassroots spirit of the National Breast Cancer Coalition.

The fund will support NBCCF programs, which educate and train breast cancer survivors to influence research and public policy, foster innovation in research and health care, and expand access to quality care. This fund will also support collaborations among women with breast cancer, researchers and health care stakeholders.

Virginia Clinton Kelley lost her personal struggle with breast cancer. In her honor, this fund will result in bold strategies and creative approaches to achieve NBCCF's goal of eradicating breast cancer - another seemingly insurmountable challenge.

snip

ACS has become a dinosaur in the world of breast cancer. In our state, they're refusing to lobby for increased access to Medicaid coverage for uninsured cancer patients. They are good at raising money, however.