As promised in my post from a few days ago, I want to share a story that has been one of the most influential and amazing stories I have ever come across.  As a matter of fact, whenever I am feeliing overwhelmed or feeling that I can't accomplish what I believe I need to accomplish regarding aither TheWorkmanshipGroups, or my own, more personal, support or service to others, I only need to read this story for the "umpteenth" time to be both energized and humbled.  I am positive that it will do the same for anyone else.

"Alex's Story" 
reprinted from: http://www.alexslemonade.org/about/meet-alex

Alexandra "Alex" Scott was born to Jay and Liz Scott in Manchester, Connecticut on January 18, 1996, the second of four children.

Shortly before her first birthday, Alex was diagnosed with neuroblastoma, a type of childhood cancer. On her first birthday, the doctors informed Alex's parents that if she beat her cancer it was doubtful that she would ever walk again. Just two weeks later, Alex slightly moved her leg at her parents' request to kick, the first indication of who she would turn out to be-a determined, courageous, confident and inspiring child with big dreams and big accomplishments.

By her second birthday, Alex was crawling and able to stand up with leg braces. She worked hard to gain strength and to learn how to walk. She appeared to be beating the odds, until the shattering discovery within the next year that her tumors had started growing again. In the year 2000, the day after her fourth birthday, Alex received a stem cell transplant and informed her mother, "When I get out of the hospital I want to have a lemonade stand." She said she wanted to give the money to the doctors to help them find a cure. True to her word, she held her first lemonade stand later that year and raised an amazing $2000 for "her hospital."

While bravely battling her own cancer, Alex continued to hold yearly lemonade stands in her front yard to benefit childhood cancer research. News spread of the remarkable sick child dedicated to helping other sick children. People from all over the world, moved by her story, held their own lemonade stands and donated the proceeds to Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation.

In August of 2004, Alex passed away at the age of 8, knowing that, with the help of others, she had raised over $1 million to help find a cure for the disease that took her life. Alex's family-including brothers Patrick, Eddie, and Joey and supporters are committed to continuing her inspiring legacy through Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation.

I (tongue-in-cheek) challenge ANYONE to find a more inspiring, humbling, or energizing "call to action".  I honestly cannot think of any story that can be found out there which will make someone realize just how lax most of us are when it comes to acting on behalf of others.  Who else but a child could be so practical and so full of simple common sense

  • People are sick,
  • this sickness kills people,
  • research is the way we will finally stop it from killing people,
  • research requires money,
  • lets raise some money.

Can't be more simple than that!  But instead, we as "adults" spend all this time and energy looking at the right "percentage" of our income to give, which group "deserves" our time and/or money the most, who else gives to this cause, do we "like" the way the they raise funds, etc., etc., etc.... 

Why do I bring this up?  According to www.volunteeringinamerica.gov between 2006 and 2008, 61.3 million Americans volunteer.  Well, lets say, for the sake of illustration, that an average volunteer spends 2 hours researching and trying to get the best "bang for their buck" when it comes to volunteering.  Do you see where I'm going with this?  
While I am not advocating that we not research the causes we contribute our time and money to, I am simply illustrating that maybe it is not such a bad idea to simplify it a bit.  What if we cut that 2 hours of research down to just one?  How many more lives could be enriched, how much could be saved if we were able to add one more hour to each average voluteers' time?  How much of a resource would 61.3 million more volunteer hours be for those in need in the U.S.? 

These are the numbers that I see.  And Alex asking a simple question of her Doctor is what I think about when I think about the role that TheWorkmanshipGroups can fill in our community today.  Rather than having to spend time researching or analysing different opportunities, we give you the opportunity to give more of your time by presenting numerous opportunities in one place.  And besides that, for those who know where they want to make a difference already, we give you the resources to be able to pursue your call to action and raise awareness through our Input & Awareness Meeting format.

So today, and everyday, remember Alex.  And remember her example of selflessness and simplicity.

Best,

Jeff