A letter to Scott Gilmore
You don't know me. We have never met, and I doubt that we ever will. I read your article, and although I didn’t agree with everything that you said that was obviously personal opinion on the matter, and even after that, some of the ways you went around conveying statistics, it didn’t make me angry. No, not angry, but sad. I always try to give money to charities, no matter what they are, wherever possible. Whether this is by throwing coins in a bucket, being a regular donator, holding fundraising events, taking part in Movember, or any other number of ways, I will always do what I can. And, for that reason, I shall be taking part in the Ice Bucket Challenge. Not because it is, as you say, a “gimmick”, but because I want to help raise awareness of this disease. I’m sure that I am not the only person in the world who acts or feels this way.
I live in the UK, so over here we refer to ALS as MND. My Grandfather was diagnosed with MND a few years ago. My family had to watch as the muscles his body slowly started to stop working properly. Although it wasn’t to as great an extent of some sufferers, it was still too much for his body to cope with. He died two years ago. My father was diagnosed with bowel cancer not long after I turned 21. He went to hospital to undergo surgery and have it removed, but soon after was admitted into intensive care, was found to have hypertensive heart disease, and pulmonary edema. He died in hospital, only three months after being diagnosed with cancer. My Uncle has recently just gone through a battle with cancer, but thankfully, is now in remission. I have also know many people who suffer from depression, some of them even getting to the point of wanting to take their own lives, and doing so. I, myself, have been at this point many times. This is why I choose to help others. Why I choose to do what I can. And, if there is any way I can get other people to donate to any good cause, then I will do it. Once again, I can only hope that there are others that feel the same as me.
Now, to the three factors you say need to be considered.
1. Where is the greatest need?
You talk about the top 20 fatal diseases in Canada, and how even though the number of deaths due to ALS “sounds like a lot,” it was “not even close” to them. You say “thankfully, only about 600 people die from it every year in Canada.” Does this number make their lives any less significant compared to those of the people who died from the top 20 fatal diseases? Or should all lives around the world be treated with the same amount of respect, and significance, inclusive of those who die in fewer numbers? Just because a disease is “rare”, doesn’t make it any less relevant.
2. Where will my dollars have the greatest influence?
This is one of the parts that really upset me. You say how ALS is extremely well funded, and even though you may see it this way, would you not agree that, along with many other charities, it could still benefit from receiving more donations and funding. You then talk about cash donated to death ratios. Can you not see how somebody may see this as offensive, and of you basically putting a price on somebodies life? You then say, “If you want your donation to make the biggest difference, fund the diseases that need the most money.” Would you not agree that because ALS itself is pretty much a mystery as to what causes it, and that donations for it may help work towards learning more about it, and even possibly, working on preventing it? This work has been done with numerous other charities that collect donations to fund research on diseases, and we now have a clearer idea as to what causes them, and how to help treat, or live with them. In no way am I saying that they are less important, but surely, any research that can be done into something we currently know little on would be of much benefit of mankind.
3. What is the most urgent problem?
Finally, there is the factor for which your answer is that “ALS research is not an urgent need.” The way that you write here make it sound like ALS is not deserving of peoples money. That time is not “of the essence” for it. Although I agree that there other pressing matters going on around the world, it doesn’t mean that people shouldn’t be donating for ALS, let alone any other charity.
Which brings me to your closing statement. You say that “the diseases that are far more likely to kill you and your loved ones are ignored.” Now going back to where you talk about the top 20 fatal diseases for Canada, you state how the top 2 were cancer, and heart disease. The money raised by the Komen Race for the Cure, which is to fundraise for Breast Cancer, and Movember, which in the chart says it for Prostate Cancer (when money raised by Movember also covers other men’s health issues, such as depression, whether or not this has been taken into account for this figure) comes to $404.85M. Jump Rope for Heart, which raises money for Heart Disease, raised $54.1M. I would hardly call this ignoring the diseases more likely to kill people.
In conclusion, I do not believe the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge to be bad for me, or for you. Though it may annoy people, and I’m though there are loads of people who are doing it without donating, there are still those people who are donating, raising awareness of a “rare”, and otherwise unknown disease to some. In short, these donations, no matter how they come, can only be good. Not just for you, or me, but to mankind as a whole, and for our future, however long it may be.
P.S. I shall be partaking in the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge tomorrow, having received my nomination earlier. And, just so you know, I am donating £10 to the ALS Association, £10 to the MND Association, and £10 to Macmillan Cancer Support. I hope that you may join me in this act of donating money, but you need not pour a bucket of ice water over yourself. Just choose a charity, any charity you wish, and make a donation. Be it $1, or $100, it will still make a difference. Thank you.
