If it hasn’t touched your life yet, I can almost guarantee that it will.
We don’t like to talk about cancer so we can start believing that we’re alone in facing its cold hand. The reality is that since I’ve started talking to others about it I’ve only encountered one person who hasn’t been personally affected by cancer.
Back in February my wife’s sister passed away at the age of 41 from cancer. It wasn’t the first time that our family had journeyed with loved ones facing cancer.
I believe that it’s time to give people who have been touched by the many forms of this terrible disease a chance to tell their story. Whether you’ve lost a loved one or survived cancer, I want you to break the silence and let people know that you’ve been through some deep waters. Together we can let others who have been touched by cancer to know they’re not alone.
What’s your story?
Please use the comments section of this post to share your story. Have you been touched by cancer? Are you battling cancer now or beaten it in the past? Does a loved one have cancer? Have you lost a friend? If you’d rather not leave your story in the comments section of this post, you can go to my contact page and send me an email.
Help spread the word.
I’d also ask you to share the link to this post through your blog or whatever other means you have available. To make it easy you can simply click the following links to share on Facebook or Twitter.
Cycling to make a difference.
As well as giving people opportunity to tell their story I’m about to undertake a bike ride of over 500 km to raise funds for Cancer Council Western Australia. Click here if you’d like to donate through a secure website.
I’ll be joined by six other cyclists and each morning for a week I’ll be sharing cancer stories on my 98.5 Sonshine FM radio programme before hopping onto my bike just after midday to cycle to the next town.
Here’s the itinerary:
Saturday 17th October 2009: Perth to York – 97km
Sunday 18th October 2009: Rest Day
Monday 19th October 2009: York to Pingelly – 87 km
Tuesday 20th October 2009: Pingelly to Wagin – 100 km
Wednesday 21st October 2009: Wagin to Katanning – 55 km
Thursday 22nd October 2009: Katanning to Cranbrook – 80 km
Friday 23rd October 2009: Cranbrook to Albany – 91 km
TOTAL: 510 km
If you’d like to donate towards a wonderful cause, just click this link.
[...] Rodney Olsen has an excellent blog that I like to follow. You can also hear him most days presenting on Sonshine FM 98.5. Currently he’s blogging about a topic close to his heart – cancer and it’s effect of people’s lives. As a doctor I’m only too aware of how common and devastating a problem cancer can be, but if it’s not directly impacting your life then it’s easy for people to foget about it. Rodney is planning a big cycling trip from Perth to Albany in October to try and raise money for cancer charities. Please visit his blog, share your stories, and show your support for this worthy cause… Breaking the silence on cancer. [...]
Hi Rodney, Thanks for the email about your ride – I wish you best of luck and lots of energy in your good works.
I wanted to respond to a point your email made – that to support those with cancer, or cancer charities, it is to “break the silence.” As a health researcher and someone interested in social issues, I take issue with this characterization. What we consider to be “cancer” is in fact not one disease but thousands. Every cancer is caused by at least one different factor, if not multiples. As a phenomenon, cancer certainly affects many people, but isn’t even the number one killer in industrialized countries – yet it gets disproportionate amounts of fundraising because of very skillful and compelling advertising and event like this one.
These events are genius, really. We had a similar one in my area recently that raised hundreds of thousands. Breast Cancer charities alone raise millions each year between branded merchandise, walks, runs, retreats, clothing and commercials.
Some food for thought:
Hypertension and cardiovascular disease cause more death in industrialized countries than all cancers together.
Communicable diseases – conquered in rich countries – still rule the lives of people in poorer nations, where young children die of things like measles and diarrhea, things our kids may only read about in books.
It’s important to me that we be shrewd with our contributions, that we do not reinforce traditional inequalities with our charitable contributions. I do not believe this is the case with you, Rodney, because you have always been eager to use your talents for any cause that needed your help. I applaud that!
I just think it’s important to communicate to your readers and listeners that, through their contributions, they can make decisions that both contribute to bettering the life of another, but also direct money where the population is both in need and at imminent risk.
Best of luck with your ride!
Thanks for your thoughts, Jocelyn.
The idea of breaking the silence is really about getting people talking about their experiences with cancer. My experience would suggest that while cancer is widespread and often widely highlighted, many people remain silent about their own journeys with cancer. While fund raising is an integral part of the event, the ride’s main purpose is not to raise funds but to give people a voice and an opportunity to tell their stories.
I certainly agree that we need to ensure that we are using our donor dollars to the best possible effect and as you know I am keenly involved in creating a better world for those in developing countries, as well as highlighting conditions and diseases in western countries which do not attract the kind of attention they deserve.
[...] Rodney is doing something about it. I applaud his efforts. I also believe that pain shared is pain halved, and so I encourage you to check out his blog post and share your story. You might just be a huge blessing to someone else who is struggling with the impact of cancer, and the telling of stories is a very powerful thing. [...]
[...] Rodney Olsen: Breaking the silence on cancer [...]
[...] can read Rod’s blog post about it, and you can make your own donation [...]
Your question regarding cancer struck a cord with me …
My mother died at 47 from ovarian cancer, my father at 67 from leukemia and I had malignant melanoma at the age of 40.
It is forever a worry,
c
[...] studios will almost double the distance I’ll have to cycle which will be great training for our cancer ride coming up next [...]
Hi Rodney
I’m Shu, a student journalist writing for the Western Independent in Curtin University. I sent you an email yesterday but there seemed to be a problem with a delivery so I’m here to leave a comment.
I’d like to write an article about your upcoming ride for cancer and its purpose. I think it’d be a good opportunity to let more people know about what you’re doing for the Cancer Council.
I know you’re busy with Perth Royal Show right now, so if it’s okay with you, I would like to ask you some questions via email.
Also, I’d be sure to show you a copy of my article if it gets published in the university paper.
If you could get back to me before Friday, October 2, that would be awesome! Thank you.
Shuduan Ong
Journalism student from Curtin University
shuduan_ong@hotmail.com
Hello Shu
I’d be more than happy for you to write something about the ride.
You can email me at rodney@rodneyolsen.net or rodney@sonshinefm.ws
If you still have problems emailing, just phone Sonshine FM on 9313 0800 and I’m sure we can arrange something.
Hello again Rodney
I’ve emailed you at rodney@sonshinefm.ws
Looking forward to your reply. A big thank you!
Shuduan Ong
[...] If this is the first you’ve heard of the ride you can fill in all the gaps by reading my previous post, Breaking the silence on cancer. [...]