fight like susan
In the past year I was fortunate to have been introduced to Elden Nelson. For those of you into cycling or who like to read a very funny and often times emotionally engaging blog, you may know him as the Fat Cyclist.
Elden’s story is a familiar one – in that his wife Susan was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2003 and for the past 5 ½ years has waged an unbelievably noble fight against the disease that over time ravaged her entire body (you can read a much better version of Susan’s fight here).
What is unique about Elden, Susan and their family is that not only have they waged a tireless battle against the cancer within their own home, they have taken the fight worldwide…through Elden’s blog and the influence he has become to people everywhere. His readers include people from all walks of life including cyclists, cancer survivors, those currently fighting cancer, friends and relatives of cancer survivors as well as those who waged the battle as long as they could.
Lance Armstrong is one of the more influential followers of Elden’s blog. As well he should be. Because as near as a few of us could surmise on a ride up the canyon this morning, Elden and Susan’s efforts have likely generated close to $1 million for Lance Armstrong’s LiveStrong Foundation (including a staggering $506K generated so far this year).
Hence the reason for my message to you today.
I didn’t really know what I could do to help until late last night, when I decided to send this message to everyone I could asking for your help to reach Elden and Susan’s goal of raising $1 million in 2009 alone.
If you are willing and able please click here to visit Elden’s LiveStrong page and donate whatever you can – $5 is a really great start.
I also encourage you to pass this post along to as many people as you can to help find a cure and to visit www.fatcyclist.com to read more about what Elden is doing.
Over the last month, Elden has changed the mantra from “Win Susan” to “Fight Like Susan”.
Susan did her part (and then some) – now it’s our turn to Fight Like Susan.
PS – Click here to donate to Elden’s LiveStrong page
theZeph 
I just came on this message. How sad that Susan has died; I know nothing about Susan other than what I’ve read here, but I’m sure that both she and her family felt that she should have had many more years.
What really concerns me however, is the constant reference in this posting about ‘fighting’ cancer and waging a ‘battle’ against this disease. I am a cancer survivor myself and have since qualified as a counsellor and now run support groups for cancer patients, survivors and their families. Something that a majority of members of these groups tell me is that they hate it when their loved one tell them they must ‘fight’ if they are to ‘win’ against cancer. What message is this sending? If you die from cancer, then you’re a loser?
One particularly beautiful young woman who died three days before her 25th birthday had her own blog and some readers here might find a post by her husband enlightening: http://www.dyingforbeginners.com/brave-battle-with-cancer/
Jane Gillespie
August 6, 2009 at 6:52 pm
Jane – thanks for dropping by.
I am happy to hear that you are a cancer survivor and that you have parlayed that into helping others diagnosed with the illness.
I also appreciate the post you shared about Jessi.
Much like the people diagnosed with cancer are very different, so too are the words they use to describe their life with cancer.
Elden and Susan are comfortable describing their 5 1/2 years with cancer as a fight. I am comfortable describing the outcome of their efforts as a win. Check out http://www.fatcyclist.com and see for your self…pretty amazing the number of lives they have influenced.
Whether people view it as “facing” their life with cancer or “fighting” against cancer – they all do it with dignity.
In the end, it’s semantics and probably not a debate we should let hinder us from finding a cure.
Thanks again for dropping by and sharing another perspective.
zeph
August 6, 2009 at 8:44 pm
I inadvertently hit the submit button on my first post before I had finished. I do want to say that I appreciate that we are all individuals and everyone finds the way that works best for them to face something as challenging as cancer.
I certainly didn’t mean to imply that someone who chooses to deal with cancer by ‘fighting’ is wrong. I was simply sharing another way of looking at it because I personally put on a brave face and tried to protect my nearest and dearest from knowing exactly how I was feeling while going through surgery and chemo. This backfired badly on me and after the end of treatment I had a complete breakdown because I’d tried to be so brave and positive when it wasn’t how I felt at all.
I appreciate that you saw my comment as just that, a different perspective, albeit one that is shared by many people with whom I come into contact through my work. Thanks.
Jane Gillespie
August 6, 2009 at 9:26 pm