"Let me know what I can do to help"

You guys have said it for months.... So I am asking!

I NEED HELP-- I recently put information on the blog (www.gogriergo.com) about the upcoming CURESEARCH walk coming to CHARLOTTE @ Freedom Park on Nov. 15th-- I asked you all to join our team--- OR make a team of your own-- I also need help in other ways to support this event--

Here is what I need you help with--

1) SPONSORS--- If you know of a business that would like to SPONSOR this walk--- This is a national charity that supports children's cancer research--- We have two hospitals in our area that are COG hospitals (Children's Oncology Group)-- Levine and Presbyterian-
There are several different levels of Sponsorship -- Please think about businesses that you know-- I would love to see Bank of America, Wachovia, Target, Lowes, Carolina Panthers, Bobcats-- Possibilities are endless-- CHARLOTTE is BIG-- And it would be nice to show everyone that Charlotte thinks children are a priority- So.. if you have connections with ANY businesses in the area please encourage them to support this cause--- I have forms and contact information--Think Local and National ---

2) POSTERS-- I have a lot of posters that need to be placed around the Charlotte area-- Getting the word out about this walk is a huge priority--

BUT Amy... "we already support the American Cancer Society... and we plan to support the STANDUP2cancer cause on Sept. 5th--" -------
Well--- that is great but if you want to support children than you need to look closely at those causes and see how much goes to pediatric research-- ACS-- is a 2 star charity --($0.22 of every $1.00 the ACS funds goes to breast cancer. Colo-rectal, prostate, lung, leukemia and lymphoma all check in at $0.13 to $0.09. The lowest is childhood cancer at $0.03 for every $1.00 the ACS funds)-- Curesearch is a 4 star charity and 98 cents of every dollar goes to research of ALL pediatric cancers- Sept. 5th will be a huge media blitz about cancer but they are forgetting to partner with a pediatric non-profit group -- Strange... when this a #1 killer of CHILDREN-- And we wonder why there has not been a new cancer drug in 20 years for children--- We need to make it a priority just like breast and colon cancer are in this country-


But what about NB research?--- I am not asking you to choose--- Curesearch covers all pediatric cancers -- In September, there will be many ways to help NB research by buying cookies--- or holding bake sales---- Easy enough huh? I am excited about getting the word out-- but I quickly get disappointed when I ask for help and nothing happens or I get told that we do not like to adopt a specific charity because we can not tell one yes and then others NO--- well--- Now you know why things in the pediatric cancer world has stayed the same and why kids lose their battle---

Please think about where you work.. where your kids go to school or preschool or daycare--- where you worship.. different groups you are involved in... YMCA, YWCA... and encourage them to make or join a team-- or even go the extra mile and help by sponsoring, putting up posters, or helping the day of the event-
Thanks-- email me with any questions--
amychristenbury@carolina.rr.com