Why are some compelled to give but others are not?  I am not saying those that do not give are bad people; I  am merely wondering why some individuals are more compelled than others to support a cause, volunteer and do things for other people. What is it inside each of us that drive us to do good?This has been an area of speculation for me lately as I have noticed a significant decline in participation on the Pink Cosmos team this year’s Susan G Komen Race for the Cure, as well as a decline on supporting donations. I know and understand that financial times are tough for many right now, but I do not believe that is the primary reason for this decline in support. I attribute this change in support to my successful completion of breast cancer treatment. You see, last year at this time I had no hair (looked like a plucked chicken), a yellowed complexion from chemo, had a minimalist attitude when it came to expelling energy, and was about to embark upon a series of surgeries.  There was no escaping the issue for all who came into contact with me.   

Now that I have recovered from treatment, I am focused on contributing to this cause with a volume of force that surprises many, even other survivors. Many survivors just want to forget and have no desire to relive this disease.  Plus the 'getting over it' phase can last months, even years, if you ever truly do.  I am not over it – merely transitioned my focus from fighting the disease to supporting the cause.

When talking with a representative from Susan G Komen regarding the volunteer team in place for this year's Susan G Komen, Race for the Cure in Milwaukee, I was surprised to learn the team of volunteers (95%+ are volunteers) are not survivors, just women that want to do good.  That is astounding.  All these women volunteering, essentially taking on a part time job for no pay to support a solving for a disease that they themselves have not personally had to fight. So I wonder, what compels them to dedicate an average of 20 extra hours each week to this cause? The only conculsion I arrived at is they just want to ‘do good’.

I am not sure what it is in each of us that compels us to do good. I only know that by supporting this cause I feel like I am in some way helping to educate and support integral funding to stop this disease. I pray every day that some day in the near future there will be a cure and this will only be a race.

Feel free to respond and let me know your thoughts on what compels some people to donate their time or money to a cause.  If you have an interest in supporting Susan G Komen Milwaukee Race for the Cure, please check out the website: http://www.komenmilwaukee.org/rftc/

Or join my team:http://komenmilwaukee.kintera.org/faf/search/searchTeamPart.asp?ievent=261838&lis=1&kntae261838=FA31FDB50AB6491B918E088580B94FF6&team=2798417

Story #3I worked all throughout my breast cancer treatment journey.  It was quite difficult, I made it through, but let me tell you, if I were to do it again (not volunteering here) – I would have taken more time off to rest and regroup. Anyway, due to my hair loss I wore colorful hats every day into the office.  It was my hope that people would focus more on the hat then my lack of hair.  This tactic worked most of the time.   

One day I stepped into the elevator and another female passenger commented on my hat.  I thanked her for the compliment.  She then asked me if I was undergoing chemotherapy and if so, for which type of cancer?  When I responded and told her breast cancer, she said, “Oh, my neighbor had breast cancer and she died.”  It was not just what she said, but how she said it – quite factually with an emphasis on the word ‘died’.  My jaw dropped, I was at a loss for words.  Luckily the elevator stopped and she got off.   

My head was spinning.  This is definitely the type of comment that should be thought but not said to an individual in the thick of fighting said disease.