Archive - Volume 1, Number 1
Doc's Commentary
American Cancer Society NEEDS YOU!
And they are pointing their finger at YOU. I’m deviating from the usual tenor of these commentaries this time to introduce you to a subject very close to my heart. While Wellness is my business - I have to be aware that there are millions of folks out there that are battling the war of their lives against an insidious enemy - one that strikes one in five of us humans. A healthy lifestyle goes a long way to preventing an attack by this unseen enemy - but early detection is still one of your best chances for an extension of your life. I don’t believe there is anyone on the planet that has not been affected by Cancer in some way, either personally or by a family member or close friend .
The timing of this commentary is for a reason. All over the country this summer The American Cancer Society "Relay for Life" programs are being conducted. This is a special program to me because my wife, Myrna is a cancer survivor. Our small county last year had its first Relay and it was a fabulous success. Of course, we are confident that our second one will be even better. For obvious reasons Cosmos Wellness has supported the activities of the Relay for Life by financial and personal involvement. We would like to encourage you to support your local Relay for Life through; hosting a team, personal participation on a committee, raising funds for research and education, or if your can’t find your local Relay and want to contribute you may send your check made out to American Cancer Society and mail to Cosmos Wellness;
P.O. Box 544,
Rabun Gap, Ga. 30568. Myrna has set a personal goal to raise $5,000 herself this year. In addition to being a cancer survivor, Myrna is also an inspirational speaker, she has presented many testimonials locally in a short emotional speech. I thought maybe you may like to read it. A copy of it follows:
Relay For Life Speech
Thank you for this opportunity to speak to you about a most important subject and one which touches us all either directly or indirectly.
How many of you have had cancer? You are my brothers and/or sisters. We form a unique brotherhood (or sisterhood) for we know what it is like to be told; "You have cancer." I heard these words only minutes after being told for a woman my age I was in excellent health.
I stand before you today and angry woman. I am angry because 50 years ago this past May at the age of 13 I watched my older brother die from cancer two weeks before his 19th birthday. I am angry because it has been 50 years and cancer is still with us, still causing untold suffering and death. Cancer is not something new. Cancer has been the scourge of mankind since the beginning of civilization and its with us still and its time we find a cure!
I am angry because young adults with families to support are dying with cancer but we have telephones we can carry in our pocket and be in constant contact any where in the world. I am angry because middle age adults, at their most productive time in life, are dying with cancer but we have microwaves that can cook a meal in minutes or even seconds. I am angry because our older people, who have so much wisdom and experience to share with our young, are dying with cancer but we have computers that can do everything but cut your grass.
While all these inventions, all these advances, have been of great benefit to mankind and I am thankful we have them, we have to ask ourselves the question....If as much time, intellect, the same amount of money and research that was invested to put a man on the moon, to develop microwaves, cell phones, computers, had been invested in finding a cure for cancer would it still be with us today? I believe the answer is NO!
Cancer would now be a dead or manageable disease such as scarlet fever, diphtheria, measles, T.B., polio. To find a cure for cancer requires research and research costs money! The American Cancer Society is doing valuable research to find a cure for this terrible and deadly disease.
The Relay For Life, an annual fund raiser for the American Cancer Society, provides
