Tuesday, October 1, 2013

Canning for a cure

Several years ago, a dear woman in my writer's group dropped a bombshell on us: she had breast cancer. I clearly remember the gasp of horror that rose from our close-knit group at her announcement.

Throughout the ensuing year, we followed Bonnie's struggles with great concern. One lovely woman made her a prayer shawl -- a hand-knit shawl that was only created while praying. Bonnie was so touched she was seldom seen without that shawl thereafter, particularly as the chemotherapy often made her chilly even on warm days.

Despite her cheerfulness and bravery, Bonnie passed away. We still miss her.

Since then, I've tried to do what I can to pass the word about women's cancer awareness, anything from doing a daily click on the Fight Breast Cancer site to making donations to making announcements about fundraisers for cancer research.

So when Brad Stieg, president of Tattler Reusable Canning Lids, contacted some people about a promotion the company is doing for women's cancer research, I immediately said I'd help pass the word.

Starting today, October 1, Tattler is selling special edition PINK reusable canning lids, and donating 35% of all sales revenue from these lids to the Munson Medical Center Women's Cancer Fund in Traverse City, Michigan.


Tattler put up a beautiful announcement here, with instructions on purchasing these special lids. Here is their press release: On October 1, 2013, Tattler Reusable Canning Lids will begin a month-long campaign in support of Breast Cancer Awareness month. We will be offering Special Edition TATTLER Reusable Canning Lids in the color PINK during the entire month. More importantly we will be donating 35% of the sales proceeds from the PINK lids to the Women's Cancer Fund which provides financial assistance for supportive care, to women battling cancer, when other means have been exhausted. We have researched and found this program to be very worthy and extremely beneficial to those who have sought support, and we encourage you to help us in our endeavor to help women battle this devastating disease.


There are very few people who have not been touched in some adverse way by breast cancer and other women's cancer issues. In the case of Brad Stieg, it was a cousin who benefited from this cancer fund and who now works as a volunteer advocate. I'm pleased to be able to support the fundraiser.

I plan to do a lot of canning in the next few weeks, and I'll be using these pink lids first of all. If nothing else, they'll be a lovely and colorful addition to my canning closet.


If you're planning on purchasing any Tattler lids (and I can't recommend them highly enough), please consider the pink edition and supporting a worthy cause.

17 comments:

  1. Dear Patrice - I am sorry about your friend's suffering and death. Here's a link regarding breast cancer reduction and prevention - I'm convinced that most cancer "research" and most recommendations coming from the American Cancer Society et al are at best, not helpful, and at worst actually increasing the incidence of the disease.

    This link is just a start - tons of info out there and we can start at home with our standard american diets and our conditioning to obey "authorities". I believe there are a number of physical causes of any kinds of cancer - most connected to and originating from a spiritual vulnerability which opens us up to the body "turning" on itself.


    http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2008/12/16/my-one-hour-vitamin-d-lecture-to-clear-up-all-your-confusion-on-this-vital-nutrient.aspx

    Nancy

    ReplyDelete
  2. Please check the salaries of CEO and American Cancer Execs before committing money to them. If you are ok with their outrageous salaries, then please donate. I'll send my $$ to local families in need. Several websites rate non-profits and list salaries and % of money that is used internally.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Cancer is scary. I am a cancer survivor and once again waiting the result of another biopsy (due tomorrow). I am frustrated with the slow almost non-existent progress of modern medicine to deal with the more serious cancers. I truly believe that the superstition based comments by the previous commenter and the quacks like Dr Mercola who take advantage of this ignorance are counter productive. You are not going to cure or prevent cancer by taking massive doses of vitamin D or whatever else the snake oil salesmen are pushing.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You are "frustrated with the slow almost non-existent progress of modern medicine to deal with the more serious cancers. I truly believe that the superstition based comments by the previous commentator and the quacks like Dr. Mercola who take advantage of this ignorance are counter productive."

      What specifically did I say that you think is wrong?

      Nancy

      Delete
  4. Thank you, thank you, thank you Patrice for passing this on and to Tattler for doing it. Blessings to all!

    ReplyDelete
  5. I'm with Spynerdr above and I'll save my money for my neighbors.
    The Cancer Industry in this country is a big business. I'm sorry to see that Mr. Stieg has fallen for the Pink Ribbon Propaganda. Tattler is a fantastic product but the pink lids are too much.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for your comments, but we have not fallen into any pink ribbon propaganda. The program we are supporting gives every dollar it takes in to support women battling cancer. It may be in the form of mileage reimbursement for travel to treatment facilities, helping pay medical expenses directly, or in my own cousin's case, her heating oil bill was paid. These are direct payments determined to fall within the scope of the program, which directly affects the people battling cancer. While I too am somewhat cynical about "research programs", I do my homework before supporting or bashing anything.

      Delete
    2. Brad -
      We just happen to disagree. I personally am averse to "pink ribbon" anything and see it as a slick marketing gimmick. It's a turn off.
      I live within a large Amish community and just happen to believe that local churches and local communities are better equipped for charity and to access individual needs.

      Delete
    3. Granny...
      I totally agree. Pink has been hi-jacked. And Amen to churches providing for the needy. Oh, I could go on and on....
      Thanks Patrice, for the format to air our thoughts.

      Delete
  6. To spynedr: I share your frustration that many Cancer nonprofit execs seem to be raking in enormous salaries. I think that makes it particularly awesome that Tattler has teamed up with an organization that gives money directly to the cancer victims/survivors to get treatment and supportive care rather than letting it go through the money-sucking "research" nonprofits!

    ReplyDelete
  7. I thank the Tattler Company and Patrice for stepping forward for a good cause. I personally have lost friends, family members to cancer. It's not pretty and the loss is great within the family circle, especially with children involved. Though I don't care for big business and big exec salaries, those of us who can help in some way to help others with this disease whether money or time is greatly appreciated. I live in the country and a small town. Though it would be wonderful to think there are people within this small community that would come forward and reach out to people in need, unfortunately there just isn't that many people willing to do it. Yes, there are fundraisers, etc., to help people with cancer and children who have health issues that are in need of care and can't afford it, but over all, if I think of how many people out there that have health issues and those willing to help, the difference is great. So in the end, I'd say we should be thankful that we have people out there trying to help others in and out of their own community. We sometimes need to look beyond our own backyard and see how we can help. Thanks to everyone who does and can help those in need financially and emotionally. I know they appreciate it greatly. By the way, what is wrong with the color pink?

    ReplyDelete
  8. Sad to say but cancer is big money for the industry. Do you really think they want to "cure" cancer and give up their big salaries? I don't think so. There is no money in healthy people. The "pink" propaganda is so corrupt. Glad to see the money here is going to help the individual.

    ReplyDelete
  9. In the 2009-2010 fiscal year, ending March 31, 2010, Komen reported approximately US $400 million in earnings. Of this, $365 million (91.3 percent) came from contributions from the public, including donations, sponsorships, race entry fees, and contributed goods and services. Approximately $35 million (8.8 percent) came from interest and dividends and gains on investments.[30]

    That same fiscal year, Komen reported approximately US $360 million in expenses. $283.2 million of this went towards program services: $75.4 million (20.9 percent of total expenditure) went to research, $140.8 million (39.1 percent) went to public health education, $46.9 million (13 percent) went to health screening services, and $20.1 million (5.6 percent) went to treatment services. The other $76.8 million went to supporting services, including $36.1 million (10 percent of total expenditure) toward fund-raising costs and $40.6 million (11.3 percent) toward general and administrative costs.[30]

    The Komen CEO salary in 2010 was $459,406 a year.[31] Komen paid founder and former CEO Nancy Brinker $417,712 in 2011,[32] and currently pays her $684,000 a year, according to the charity’s latest available tax filing.[33]

    ReplyDelete
  10. As a breast cancer survivor I try to avoid any "pink" products. Merchandise has been over-pinked and I don't have the time to investigate each and every company to see how much of the sales of "pink" products go to research or services. As one survivor on a blog wrote, "Why the *bleep* are my husbands eggs pink?" The shells were stamped with pink ribbons. Really.
    Jo

    ReplyDelete
  11. Cancer research and treatment within the AMA are total scams. If a cure were ever announced, what would happen to those billions of dollars a year that go into research and treatment? What would all those people making a living off of the scam do then? They will NEVER find a cure. They want to keep you sick as long as possible to bleed you dry then let you die. The cures (and preventions) are out there, just not within the mainstream medical association.
    Dave

    ReplyDelete