Yeah, I was challenged

[cupcake_goth]

Watch on YouTube

Nicole Stavenau challenged me to do this. I made a donation, but I also agreed to go through with the ice water. I’m not challenging anyone specifically to do this, but I AM challenging everyone to donate - time or money - to causes close to their heart.

http://www.alsa.org/fight-als/ice-bucket-challenge.html

Comments

[staxxy.livejournal.com]

Squeak? not Tickybox? or is that the same girl?

[cupcake-goth.livejournal.com]

Same kidling. She just goes by different names. Squeakaboo is one of her nicknames from babyhood. :)

[staxxy.livejournal.com]

just making sure there wasn't a kidlet I missed in the accounting.

[ashbet]

You are so cute <3

And I like your challenge -- there's no way I could take on an ice bucket (mixing Raynaud's/EDS and icy temperatures results in a world of hurt), but it's incredibly important for people to remember that whether or not they have *money* to donate, they often have *something* to give that would be immensely valuable to people in need, whether it's a medical issue or being part of a marginalized population or just straight-up poverty.

Dear Everyone:

You don't have to be organized to give -- I'm too ill to make plans to show up to volunteer at an organization, but what I do, the thing I contribute regularly, is that when people join the Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome support group, when they come in and say "I/my child just got this diagnosis," or "we have all of the symptoms but need to find someone who can diagnose us, we don't know where to go or what to do or what we can expect from this disease" . . .

. . . I always, always reach out to them, share resources, give reassurances and realistic expectations, talk to people who are grieving, help people who aren't getting the medical support that they need.

It's what I have to give, and even though it's given when I can spare the spoons and on my own schedule, it's still a way that I can help people -- even when I'm not in a good physical/mental place myself.

Get creative about what you have to give -- money isn't the be-all and end-all, in terms of genuinely helping others.

If peanut-butter-and-jelly sandwiches are all that you can afford, make a few and pass them out to people who are homeless. Donate to a food bank -- they always need staples, especially since they've been dealing with years of high demand. Call your local food bank to find out what they need most right now -- it might be bags of flour, it might be salt and pepper. Things that most of us can afford to spare a little of, even when money is tight.

Help your friends, help strangers. There is almost always *something* that you can give, even if it isn't material. Listen to someone who needs to talk. Be there. You can do it.

*big big hugs*

-- A <3

[cupcake-goth.livejournal.com]

I really wanted to bring up the idea that helping a cause didn't have to involve cash. Sometimes being able to give time or information is even more useful.

[javagoth.livejournal.com]

Well done!

[ethrosdemon.livejournal.com]

I know you're not jewish, but this is a mitzvah, and if there is an accounting, you just did something that will count for you.

Also my computer jumps and deletes shit when I'm typing.

[sirriamnis.livejournal.com]

I was kind of terrified you were going to challenge me in it, actually. And Ogre was rooting for that.

So, thank you.

[cupcake-goth.livejournal.com]

There was no way I was challenging someone without checking with them first. (Nicole was kind enough to do that with me.)