World Cancer Day Round 3
For those who were not aware tomorrow is World Cancer Day. The day when charities look to come together to aim to try and use it as a focal point to raise money, around something that for a lot of people you feel bombarded about every day.
Since I got to over a year, post treatment I have only really written this almost as my yearly reflection on where life is going. So for this yearly review, what I am going to try and do in this piece, is reflect on how things are different this being my third one. Second, building on those reflections, and how I am seeing the world a little bit differently. I am going to talk a little bit about ways your money can make a unique difference, beyond simply funding more medical research, not saying that isn’t important. Finally, if you make it all the way to end of this piece, that I will treat you to my own reflections on what I want to be doing before I get to round 4.
Firstly the difference between round 3 and round 2(well if you actually want to know do have a look through the archives). Last year, I was slowly recognizing I think that my time in the “Youth advocacy” was coming to an end. This coming February 4th, I am feeling more distant from the world I had called a second home from the point I finished treatment as felt like I was in wilderness. I think, in a way this feeling of distance can and should be viewed as a transition which has felt lonely at times. I am privileged to know some really amazing people, who having come into this world have really found a home. This has meant that, as I have got on with my job which has been an experience in off its self, I have turned into the guy getting FOMO following everyone’s social media as they have gone about changing the world. It has been a struggle to not only feeling like I have missed out on amazing once in a life time time opportunities. But one of the things, I like to claim is that as I am getting older, I am trying to not be chasing the next rush. I think in the last year, I have maybe been asked to attend maybe 2 events. I have gone from a advocate to an ambassador so am starting to feel my age haha. Feeling my age kind of fits with what I wanted to touch on next.
How your money can help. In the position, I am writing this is and as I touched on last year I hopefully recognize that I am coming from a life of privilege. This has meant, the professional position I am in is partly down to the situation I have grown up in. But secondly, because I was supported by organisations who gave me the self confidence and believe to know I can achieve.
Like I said I have got to know some truly amazing people through this aspect of my life. But unfortunately, there experience is the one in a million for most young people going through cancer. Something which I am passionate about, is working out how charities and organisations can best support young people to find out what their life looks like on the other side. Finding your thing in your early to mid twenties, is hard enough. So to be working out, that out whilst your also trying to re build your life work out who your friends are, and what “skills” you have leave people to often lost in the wilderness. To get to my unnecessary long point, yes the medical research matter of course it does. But if you can, find the charities and the organisations, who are actually helping to to thrive in life. Not just send them on their way, when its confirmed they have survived.
Finally, my reflection for the next year. In all honesty I am not to sure. I think one of the other aspect I didn’t touch on above, is feeling a bit lost. I still feel like I have ideas, and I see other friends who are also in my position applying for this and for that, and I am kind of just living. I don’t know have I had my time of “things”, let some other people have a go. But I don’t know I still think I have got something left to give. It might also be the fact, I have been spending the last year working on something which has not exactly given me a sense of getting things done haha. You miss the feeling of fulfillment you get from going out and trying to deliver change for a cause you passionately believe in.
For those looking to donate this year a few charities to send money to.
CLIC Sargent- https://www.clicsargent.org.uk/join-our-fight/get-fundraising/world-cancer-day/
Trekstock- https://www.trekstock.com/Appeal/donate-now
