Sunday, June 6th, 2010

We care, Do u?

Cancer Society — Relay For Life
Donald WHIZZARD Lambert
Hello,
I started this letter many times.  It is just too difficult sometimes to
try to put to words what you really want to say.
Your life changes immediately when you hear those words… “Your son has
Cancer”.  You think, it is impossible, we were swimming this
afternoon…  He is not sick.  There must be a mistake!
It is at this point your life begins a new.  Everything you thought was
important, really wasn’t.  For me and my family; we made the biggest
decision of our lives.  There are only two ways to go, positive of
negative.  We chose to be positive.
With everything we did, we looked toward the positive.  Things will get
better.  For us they did.  But we saw many many hardships and many
families not as positive as us.  The choice is in everyone, but it is
one that needs to be made and stood behind.  Above all you have to
stay strong and positive, even in the hardest of times.
Being “the Dad”, I needed to stay strong for my family.  I was their
rock.  The one for them to lean on, crush against, and pound on.  I
needed to take their hard times and make them better.  I turned to
friends for my help. Times when I needed to vent, or really just talk;
that is where the support plays such an essential role.  Imagine, IRC,
a chat protocol helping sick people?
IRC played a huge role for me and my family.  My friends on the network
banding together to buy toys and games for my son, to ensure he stayed
a little boy.  There was a lot of people who came forth to show support.
More that I could have imagined.
I got to talk to many people who were in similar situations as I was.
Some even had Cancer themselves.  But it was nice to be able to share
thoughts and feelings with others.  I encourage everyone to do it.
It is definitely good for the soul.
As treatments continued, I need to feel I was helping, so my wife and
I started to work with the Cancer Society (cancer.ca).  Every year there
is an event, much like this year in June, called the Relay For Life.
What happens is teams of around 10 people raise money for Cancer
research.  On the event day, we walk for 12 hours straight, 7pm to
7am in a relay style.  This got me involved and gave me a sense of
accomplishment.
What was shocking was the amount of support that the UnderNet community
brought.  $5 here, $5 there, we raised a lot of money. All for Cancer
research.  The money went directly to the Cancer Society via their
Relay website.  I guess to be honest, I should not be that shocked.
I have always found comfort in our UnderNet.  I have called it home for
a long time now.  I have many many dear and close friends on UnderNet.
I have people that I have never met, talk to me and say thanks.
They are the ones who helped me heal.  In turn, they helped my son heal.
I guess if I had to give some advice for those who have a sickness, or
those who have close ones with illnesses, I would say don’t keep it to
yourself.  Talk to others, know you are not alone.  Know that others
feel exactly the way you feel; they get mad, and sad, happy, tired,
exhausted, giddy and everything in between.  Stay positive even in the
air of sadness.  Look up and stay proud.
I offer my ear if you ever need to talk, look me up.  I am the one with
the largest idle time.  Thanks for letting me tell my story.  I hope it
helps you with yours.
It is that time of year again, when I participate in the Cancer Society
Relay for Life.  It is happening in June this year, so I am trying to
get a good head start on my canvasing.
We all know how bad cancer can be, but with the help of everyone, I am
positive good result will lie ahead.  My little guys last treatment
was in November of 2009 and he is doing great.
I participate in the Relay for Life every year for him and everyone
else who has been touch by Cancer.
Please help me help the Cancer Society by pledging me in this year’s
Relay for Life.  The link below, goes directly to my spot on the
Cancer Society’s web site.  Just below Trent’s picture, is a blue
box “Support Donald!”  Click that button to pledge me.
  • http://convio.cancer.ca/goto/whizzard
Thanks so much for your help and support for such a great cause.
– Donnie — Whizzard@undernet.org