Volunteer Spotlight

November 2010

In this edition of Outlook, BCAN is spotlighting two amazing volunteers.

David Rogers ran 16 miles and raised over $2,600 for bladder cancer.

Lynda Haworth has been an active BCAN volunteer for years, but recently took on another project – serving as a Medical Outreach Volunteer.

Visit our Volunteers page to learn about how you can become a BCAN volunteer!

David’s Big Run

On Sunday, September 4th, David Rogers ran 16 miles to raise over $2,600 for BCAN.

David Rogers was diagnosed with bladder cancer in the fall of 2007, and his cancer recurred in 2008. He is doing better now, and has set out to help others affected by bladder cancer by raising money for BCAN.

David started by setting up his own fundraising page on BCAN’s Firstgiving site. He told friends and family about the plans for his run, which he called “David’s Big Run,” and asked that they donate if they could. His original fundraising target was $1,000, but he met that goal in just six days. He increased his goal to $2,000, and so far he has raised more than $2,600 in donations through the Firstgiving page and in checks sent to BCAN. Many of the donations were from people David knew, but even people he had never met donated when they heard about his cause.

David’s race plan wasn’t complicated. He didn’t shut down any streets, or get any permits. Instead, on Sunday, September 4th, he ran 16 miles on sidewalks and paths along the Intracoastal Waterway in West Palm Beach and Riviera Beach. You can watch his progress in this YouTube video, which documents his run.

BCAN is incredibly grateful to David, and volunteers like him, who have worked so hard to raise support for BCAN’s programs. Thank you, David!

Volunteering with BCAN
by Lynda Haworth

When my urologist mentioned the “C” word to me, I was scared to death. Getting another opinion at MD Anderson and hitting the internet for information were my first two steps in this journey. After a restage, MD Anderson recommended BCG immunotherapy. I started that with all the side effects and fear that went with it. Just before my first cystoscopy to check for new tumors, I found BCAN and the online community. Wow, a whole group of people who knew exactly how I felt because they were going through the same thing. This was a place where there was support and suggestions for getting through the treatments and the fear. I jumped right in when I was asked by BCAN to be an online group leader to welcome new members to the community – it just seemed natural to give back what I had gotten and it still does! I especially enjoy “tour guiding” people from the online community who are going to MD Anderson for a second opinion and need help with making arrangements. I think it really helps to talk to someone who has “been there, done that”

This year I thought I should get involved in BCAN’s Medical Outreach program to call urology practices to ask them to stock the patient handbook ‘Bladder Cancer Basics for the Newly Diagnosed’ so anyone with a new bladder cancer diagnosis can have a copy of the handbook. At home I have unlimited long distance telephone service so it seemed like a good fit and so far it has been fairly easy. I find that once doctors’ offices understand that this is free material for their patients, they are all happy to receive it. If more people who have unlimited long distance telephone would volunteer for Medical Outreach, it would help us to reach out to many new patients. And, it is really easy to make “sales!”

My husband, Dan, and I were able to help at the recent BCAN Patient Forum in New York. That was an eye opener – it was great to see so many top urologists coming together on a Saturday morning to talk about bladder cancer. We both really enjoyed the Forum and were very glad to be able to make it happen. Volunteering for BCAN, helping other people who are experiencing what I have gone through, is a big time “feel good” thing for me. I highly recommend volunteering with BCAN!