Behind the Button

cancer Doesn't Stand a Chance Against That Smile!

For me it's always been about the "eyes". I've made thousands of buttons (by hand one by one) sometimes hundreds of the same photo - behind each face there is a powerful story of courage, spirit and hope - making the buttons can be zen-like as I feel like I get to know the person through their eyes - but today it's different, it's all about...THAT SMILE!

My good friend and fellow Mojorider Scott Helms asked me if I would make some buttons for his friend "across the pond". I'm always interested in the stories behind the buttons people make (hint: everyone's interested in the stories - sharing a story is the BEST thing you can do to support your cause - and a photo is the best way to grab somebody's attention!). Well Scott shared the story of Elizabeth Fallon - he met Liz through his mom Wendy who happened upon Liz on Facebook....in Liz' words

"Sometimes...people are so kind and thoughtful that it brings tears to your eyes!!

At the Isle of Wight festival last year (I am in the UK by the way) I was in a tent that sold joke wigs.  I was trying to decide between a green one and a purple one - I chose the purple. I then had a photo taken that ended up being my profile picture on Facebook.

Around this time, a lovely lady in the USA named Wendy, was looking for a long lost school friend on facebook with no success. When the list of all the names of the people who shared her friend's name came on the screen, along with their friends, my picture popped up and she noticed my photo and my purple wig.  She then sent me a message just to say "hello" as she is a "purple person" and loves everything purple. We have been writing to each other ever since and as it turns out she is a lung cancer survivor (and has had more than one recurrence so knows all about the fight!)

Ok...through Wendy, I have become friends with her son Scott who has joined my Facebook group "Elizabeth's 'on the road to recovery' running friends" as he has started running in the past year or so.  Another of his friends, Michael, also joined my running group (he is a cyclist and has a picture of him on his facebook page riding with Lance Armstong in a recent fundraising ride!!!). Michael runs a website called "buttons of hope".  (Buttons in the USA are what we call badges).  Are you with me so far??!!

So, Scott sent a message on facebook last week asking for my address as between the three of them they had a surprise to send me.... and boy what a surprise!!!  Today, a parcel arrived with my very own "Buttons of Hope"  So, what I have done this evening on facebook is tell people that I'll send them one (while stocks last) if they make a donation to Harbour Cancer Support Centre in Gosport http://www.harbourcancer.org.uk/.  What's more, Scott ran a half marathon last week and was true to his word when he said he was running in my honour as he included his finishers medal in the parcel.  Some people are so kind!!!!  And to think... I have never met any of these nice people!!!  What an act of kindness that has given me so much pleasure!"    

Wow! I've often said that the magic of Buttons of Hope is that photo buttons can help people share their story - to put a face on their cause. These little buttons are powerful they can engage (Scott and Wendy), motivate (me) and inspire us ALL to do remarkable things.

I'll leave you with this thought - my vision is to make a million buttons for a million different people - after seeing what one button has done for Liz, her friends and her family - I can only imagine what a million buttons might do! Yup...together we might just be crazy enough to CHANGE THE WORLD!

Godspeed Liz and thank you for your SMILE!

"My Dad will be running with me the whole way" - Michele is going to to fly!

On occasion I make buttons for runners, but much like cyclists runners can be a little different from walkers. I had one runner recently who did not want to wear a button ~ he said it might "weigh him down"! (the buttons are about 1.5 oz!) Well here's a story about a runner who is most certainly going to be lifted up by her button - Michele Kwok is going to fly at the 2009 Chicago Rock & Roll Half Marathon ~ in part because of this button of her Dad!

"I will wear this button on the day of my race, my Dad will be running with me the whole way, he is my inspiration to finish these 13.1 miles without stopping." ~ Michele Kwok

I am no longer surprised by people like Michele BUT I am still in awe of the strength people muster in the most heart-rending of circumstances. Michele lost her dad to cancer less than a year ago and now with the support and motivation of The leukemia and lymphoma Society's awesome Team in Training Michele has the courage to run further than ever before in honor of her Dad. Please take a minute to read Michele's story and if you are touched by her story please consider donating to her cause click here so that in the future people like Michele's dad will be there to run beside her in more than spirit!

From Michele Kwok....

"It has always been a goal of mine to participate in the Chicago Marathon. I have participated in a few 5K races during the past few years and finally this year I decided to take it a notch up towards my goal. I ran in the 2009 Shamrock Shuffle 8K this March even though it was snowing and there were puddles everywhere, as long as it wasn't cancelled, I didn't care, I was going to run it. I finished with a great time and it was a great experience. The next step is at the end of May when I run the 15K at Soldier Field. When I was researching the Rock n Roll 1/2 Marathon, I saw that the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society were offering their training services for this event and I thought that if I could conquer the 1/2 marathon then eventually I could do the full. I signed up right away and I knew that I wouldn't be able to train for this big event by myself and I also wanted to help fundraise for the society. This event means a lot to me, I'm running in memory of my Dad who lost his battle with Leukemia last September.

My Dad was a kind, loving, genuine, loving, and hardworking man. He was diagnosed with Leukemia right after Christmas in 2007. He went through 2 rounds of Chemo and throughout the whole time, he had the greatest spirit and positive outlook even through all the pain. He had found an article in the newspaper and the title read "I Will Survive!" He clipped it out and posted it next to his bed. He always loved to make jokes and had a unique sense of humor, his cheerfulness always made everyone smile. His chemo sessions resulted well and he was feeling good. He was able to make it to my Commencement and see me walk across the stage, I was so thankful for that.

Maureen Russell Might Just Cure Cancer...

OK so now that I have your attention ~ who's to say it won't be the $1800 Maureen's "Clan Russell" team will raise in this year's Avon Walk Boston, or who's to say it won't be the legions of Alex's Lemonade Stands  or the Yellow Army of Livestrong Challengers, or Komen in pink, or the millions of Relay for Life(rs) in purple...or YOU! Somebody's fundraising dollar is going to be the one dollar that gets us over the hump!

The point is if you have a story to tell (and you do) please tell it ~ honor your loved one and use their story to motivate yourself and then leverage it to engage, motivate inspire others to give or act or both. We're not going to cure anything unless we first cure apathy. Maureen Russell has apathy in a headlock and she is well on her way to charity walk infamy - her resume in part Avon Walk - Boston '08, '09 Medical Crew - New York '09  Medical Volunteer: Susan G Komen 3-Day Walk & ACS Making Strides Against Breast Cancer - Boston ‘08

So what motivates Maureen, what's her story?...Shirley. In Maureen's words...

We are "The Clan Russell." In the tradition of Appalachian Trail hikers, our name was given
to us - by a volunteer at the Avon Walk - Boston ‘08. I walked. My husband, Mark, and son, Ian, crewed – hauling tent and gear. It made a lot of sense for us as a family. My sister is a breast cancer survivor – as is my mother. My aunt was not as lucky; she died several years ago from breast cancer. When I signed up to walk Boston ’08, our sister-in-law, Shirley, was battling the disease.

A long story - made short. I became committed to becoming healthy two years ago. Since that time I have done things that I had never thought possible. Into my early 50’s, one word described my exercise program: “non-existent.” I could barely see my toes, let alone bend over and touch them.  A good diet, and a personal trainer program helped get me into shape. In the spring of ’08, I began to look for new challenge – and found The Avon Walk for Breast Cancer.

There is simply nothing else like it. After closing ceremonies we were hooked. The experience was so powerful for us that we registered immediately for ’09. This year there will be four of us in Boston, as our daughter, Annie, also joins the crew. I’ll be walking in Boston, and joining the Medical Crew as a nurse in New York in October. We had hoped to walk and crew in Shirley’s honor this year, but must now do so in her memory. We lost Shirley to breast cancer last summer. A black belt karate instructor – she taught us all what it means to “Fight like a girl!” She didn’t deny her cancer – she defied it. We miss her terribly. The pins we’ve ordered from Buttons of Hope are meant to show everyone why we’re here – so that one day our daughters may wear pink ribbons in their hair… not on their shirts.

Thank you Maureen for sharing your story you are inspiring others and honoring your sister Shirley. If you'd like to support Maureen's team click here and/or if you'd like to put a dent in that apathy ...well I've got a just the medicine!

Behind the Button honored to be on Alltop Fundraising

Guy Kawasaki is mercurial: "Having the characteristics of eloquence, shrewdness, swiftness, and thievishness attributed to the god Mercury." OK maybe not the thievishness part but the rest applies to this most interesting and prolific of entrepreneurial icons. Guy worked at Apple in the early days and is still at the pulse of the most interesting stuff on the net. Follow him @guykawasaki and me @buttonguy on Twitter.

So why is Behind the Button talking about Guy Kawasaki? Or indeed why is Guy Kawasaki talking about Behind the Button? Because the internet and ecommerce is about three things -- having people Find, Know (like) and Trust you. See the small Alltop badge over to the right -- that means that Guy and his Alltop, one of the top websites on the net has recognized our blog as one of the top fundraising blogs on the internet meaning people have found us, like us and trust us! We are honored to now be side by side with the best fundraising minds and their blogs...

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We are honored and hope we can continue to provide you with inspiring stories of hope along with useful, unique and updated information about the wonderful world of fundraising. Tip o' the hat to Alltop and my friend Guy Kawasaki!