I would venture to say that MANY people shortly after diagnosis sign up for some sort of MS event. I did a walk which I think may be the most common but there are also bike events, runs, marathons, golf events...and so on. I think "getting involved" is part of the acceptance process. I think its good for everyone to do it at least once. I had a stupid experience, which I may post about later but nevertheless, I've done it. As we all know the main goal of all this is to raise money for MS. So we all go out soliciting our friends and family members to help us raise money for this personal and ever so important cause. That's all fine and dandy.
But here's what seriously annoys me to no end. I have a big problem when people with MS...ask other people with MS for donations. Maybe many people haven't had this experience, but because I've run the newsletter and have the myspace and all that jazz, I get link after link after link to so and so's MS Walk page. I was just on a local chapters Facebook page and saw a post by someone with their own personal sob story...and I just thought...no one here buys it. We all know what you're going through, yea it sucks, but if I'm walking too I'm not going to give you a donation. Maybe I feel this way because I'm young and poor. But I can't see a cancer patient asking another cancer patient for a donation to the 3 Day, ya know? Am I out of line here? Is it totally acceptable to shamelessly ask people who share your disease for their dollars?
AND if you are going to give me a link to your damn walk page...at least make the effing effort to change the default text on the page. Jesus people, we're trying to raise money for our cause. This is about making it personal. Now IS the time to tell your story and help people understand, so the default text the MS Society puts up there (which is nice and informative) is not going to sell you. And lets face it, this is about selling your disease. Selling your story.
Atleast I had the decency to change the default text on the walk page AND, get this, in the thank you letters to my supporters. There is nothing worse than getting a generic thank you after you've donated 25+ of your hard earned dollars. These people care about us, they are just handing over their money to us. Take some fucking time to actually thank them.
ok. done.
Now go donate to Dana's Generic Default MS Walk Page. Suckaz.
