Bras for a Cause!

Last night I helped out my friends at Gildas Club at the fundraising event Bras for a Cause.  I had a great time helping to make sure all the souvenir and raffle people had enough change and that their aprons didn't get too stuffed with money.  What a problem to have!  

I just walked around all night collecting money and observing people.  I love people watching.  I knew there were a lot of tickets sold, but I didn't realize how many people would actually show up. Are there so many people in our community touched by cancer or with loved ones or friends with cancer that they are willing to contribute to yet another cause?  And I observed that most people attending  seemed happy and most were interested in contributing even more to our club.  That made me feel good.  

It was quite crowded with all sorts of people.  Some dressed to the hilt, some more casual. A good mixture of young and old. Although there did seem to be a lot of younger women there,  I understand why.  There are way too many young women that get breast cancer.  Now, I am considered young to have gotten prostate cancer, but a person in their twenties or thirties should not have to deal with this. 

So it was an evening of mixed emotions. I felt so much for Kevin, the husband of Shannon who died this past April.  He seems so strong and confident, I admire him.  It was a joy to watch the breast cancer survivors parading onto the stage confident and sure that they were participating in a great event that encompassed all survivors of all types of cancer.  Standing up and showing all that cancer is not the end, but teaches us to enjoy the life we do have,  and fully embrace the time we have in this world.  My friend Nancy.  The leader of the pack, so to say.  Her energy, organization, and pure will to make sure this night succeeded is an inspiration to me.  
There is one more heroine in this story of joy in life and perseverance.  A woman who could not participate like she wanted to.  But chose to attend even though it was physically and mentally challenging to do so.  A person that cancer is trying to beat down but through her good humor, courage, kind and supportive manner, is facing this round of treatment like a boxer that refuses to go down and rallies to win.  No matter how she feels she always greets me with a huge smile and nice hug....my friend and inspiration....Alex.

Bras for a cause has done a lot for me.  I have some new friends. I have learned  what it means to overcome grief, sorrow and the pain of losing someone close to you and turn that grief into something positive and, yes I will say it, an uplifting event. And even though I helped in a very small way, my help was appreciated. And it is so nice to be thought of.  I will do it again next year, I already have ideas and can't wait for the event that has so helped Gildas Club and it's members.  Maybe we can add boxers for a cause.  I will so be there.