NYCkayaker The Hudson River Swim For Life

[Richard Clifford]

NYCKayaker, April and others,

    The "Swim For Life" event I posted is is a charity event seeking 
volunteer support. The event intends to raise money for several very 
worthwhile charities. They ask for $25 to be a contribution by a 
kayaker. What I am totally missing in these types of postings on 
NYCKayaker (April's is the most recent) is any notion that the money 
contributed goes to those causes. I find those diseases vastly more 
/disturbing /than any comments or critiques I have read to date.

    There are a million + reasons to find fault with any charity event 
or the organization or organizers. Ultimately, it comes down to a 
personal choice and decision to step over those barriers. My original 
observation was that if folks could not help out then they should not 
feel badly about it. Just move on. And, this charity event really is not 
going to become another one of those seemingly endless threads on 
NYCKayaker where kayakers are sobbing about everything that is wrong in 
this world.

    To put a point on it, I have friends and family who have ALS and who 
have died of Leukemia. $25 bucks is what they are asking kayakers and 
some volunteers to contribute. Diandra Kodl from The Leukemia & Lymphoma 
Society has explained where some of that monies go in a direct exchange 
with another kayaker. (Below) Apparently April and some others are 
"disturbed" by a request for a $25 and they say so, but they make no 
mention of the disease. I'll repeat myself, if you are "disturbed" then 
find something else to do. In the bigger picture these complaints are 
missing the point. If you are able to get over this then I will make a 
point to introduce you to the folks involved with the charities.

    And to really put a sharp point on this. The Swim Across America 
event is on Saturday, July 26. There is NO sign up fee for volunteers. 
They need help. Maybe you could join me that day. Their funds go 
directly to a cancer/hospital research center immediately after they are 
collected. And, as an uncle I have seen the benefits of this charity's 
fund-raising when a nephew had cancer.I will be kayaking for some 6-mile 
swimmers and will need plenty of experienced kayakers on the water. Give 
that one a review if the Sept. 7 just doesn't do it for you.

    It is easy for us to say that "life is too short to be bothered with 
this stuff." Unfortunately, for the beneficiaries of these charities, 
life is potentially an even shorter proposition. I hope to see you out 
there. - Richard Clifford


    Glad you are interested in helping out at our Hudson River Swim For
    Life. Yes, there is a registration fee for kayakers, as well as
    swimmers. *The money donated at our event goes towards keeping our
    expense costs down, therefore assuring the most money goes to supporting
    the 2 charities involved. Kayakers will also be thanked with a t-shirt,
    food, and all day entertainment at the event*.

    Hope you are able to join us.

    Diandra

    Diandra Kodl
    Deputy Executive Director
    The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
    Westchester/Hudson Valley Chapter
    1311 Mamaroneck Ave, Suite 130
    White Plains, NY 10605
    phone: (914) 949-0084, ext 8993
    fax: (914) 949-0391
    diandra.kodl at lls.org
    www.hikefordiscovery.org/wch
    www.lightthenight.org/wch
    www.hudsonriverswim.org

    Upcoming Events:
    Hike For Discovery
    The Great Smoky Mts- Sept. 2008

    The Hudson River Swim For Life
    September 7, 2008

    Light The Night Walk
    September & October

    Please join our Chapter's Advocacy Network: www.lls.org/wchadvocacy

April Tam wrote:
> It's one thing to "suggest" kayakers who can to donate. It's another to "require" it. 
>  
> Kayakers have higher expense than swimmers attending an event. Parking, gas & toll easily exceed $25 for those coming from outside of the city. 
>  
> Yes, many volunteers do contribute money in addition to time. But this is the first I've heard of requiring volunterr to coming up with a "registration" fee. It's not even clear if the "fee" is tax deductable. 
>  
> Maybe it's just me. I found the idea ... disturbing.
>  
>