In little rural communities like the one I live in, it isn’t unusual to see donation jars in convenience stores, bbq lunches cooked and sold, and motorcycle rides planned to support someone who has cancer but no insurance.
Team Brilliant has taken fundraising and support for a cancer warrior and his family to an international level.
Last Wednesday, on September 5th, National Team Brilliant Spot Removal Day, my friends asked about my team t-shirt and were impressed with the campaign progress to eliminate a family’s worry about paying for health care when they need all their energy to beat kidney cancer.
Overnight 12 people came off the Free Agent list. We are just 12 team players shy of 1000 donors/team members and less than $4,500 from meeting our goal of raising $100,000 dollars. That’s what community is all about.
People all over the country (and probably around the world, I can’t keep up with all the ways people have stepped up) have sold art, handmade goods, web site design work, and weekend yoga classes. At least one restaurant has devoted an entire day’s business as a “pay what you can” so their customers could join the team.
We need to meet the 1000 team members and $100,000. Hear John and Patti share their deep appreciation for those who have become part of this phenomenal community and then join Team Brilliant.
Thanks so much for your note. I can see that you are angry, and while I don’t feel compelled to answer your “charges,” I would like to refund your $50. Please do send your name and email address so I can do so.
Responsibility is a verb. Some of us have to go to work to pay for health insurance for ourselves and our families. What do they do? Not bother and go about their merry way until something goes wrong and then a big oops. This is why people should get fined for not having health insurance. Where does their money go? How does the daughter pay for an apartment all summer while working serving tables? What was John doing that prevented him from getting a job and pay for health insurance. They’re both educated enough. What stopped them from caring for their family enough so that they could pay for their own health care. How crazy is that? So a nice fine 100,000 get’s raised. Where has it gone? Kidney surgery and all it entails? Let’s list that at 60,000 tops and that’s being generous. Fancy organic food, nutritionists for the whole family, new haircuts for Patti, spa days for the girls, vacations booked, those fancy new boots. The list goes on. How about some limits on spending and get saving to pay for your own health care? We all have to do it. It’s part of being a responsible adult. Responsibility is a verb. We don’t live in a society where you can just live like this and now pay for it in the end. Step up and stop spending unless you can afford it. If you can’t afford health insurance, you can’t afford spa days and new boots and fancy organic food. It’s simple math. Your youngest will teach you.
Yes, I gave $50 for John. I don’t earn much but I am OK. I work 50 hours a week to raise my family and provide health care. That makes me a lucky one. But, we don’t have vacations, we can’t afford organic, no spas, or cute boots. I don’t like seeing my $50 stamped as a picture of Patti’s new boots that you don’t need. People who can’t afford health insurance don’t do that. I didn’t need cute new boots which is why I gave $50. If I got my $50 back would I buy cute new boots? No. Would I buy my daughter cute new boots? No. It would go towards next month’s bills so everything would be a little lighter.