Fighting Cancer with Unusual Fundraiser: Pole Dancing With a Purpose
(Guest Column by Lori Glaza, July 4, 2014)
Fifteen months ago breast cancer touched my family. Five days after my loved one was diagnosed, I signed up to participate in the Susan G. Komen 3 Day. I felt it was the best way to show support as my family member began to fight her battle against breast cancer.
The $2,300 goal for the privilege of walking sixty miles over three days means financial assistance for those who cannot afford treatment. This money means transportation to and from treatment for those who don’t have the physical strength to do it themselves. It will provide mammograms for women who otherwise would not have access to them. Most importantly, it means research grants that will one day lead to a cure for breast and eventually all forms of cancer.
$2,300 is a great deal of money, and I have had to think outside the box with my fundraising. I have hosted charity garage sales, March madness brackets, washed co-worker’s dishes, panhandled, and touched a fish (which I’m terrified of). I pick up every bottle and can I’ve find on the side of the road because I want to do everything I can to see the day we discover a cure.
The kindness I have encountered on my journey has been astounding. Many local businesses have donated goods and services for a charity raffle. Strangers fill the garbage can on my lawn with empty bottles and cans. My friends and family have generously contributed toward this intimidating goal and I am eternally grateful. I am overwhelmed by how much can be accomplished when kind people come together to do good things.
Currently, I am $356.40 from reaching my goal, but I have some creative ideas on how to raise the funds. As a fledgling pole dancer and person with very little shame, I created an event called “Pole Dancing With A Purpose”.
The idea is that I will accept pole dancing song requests and donation offers. For the highest donation made, I will choreograph and perform a routine of that song request which I will then post on Facebook. My friends have a wide knowledge of music, so I’ve had some interesting requests.
As of this moment, I will be pole dancing to William Shatner’s version of Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds for a donation of $70. Make your pledge and song choice at https://www.facebook.com/events/1426989270915985/?ref_dashboard_filter=upcoming Bidding is available until 9:00pm on Sunday July 6th to make pledge/requests on this event page.
Donations and request should be made on the link above, but here is the 3 Day page for those who just want to donate directly: http://www.the3day.org/site/TR/2014/MichiganEvent2014?px=7110749&pg=personal&fr_id=1862
I’m delighted to say my loved one is now a cancer survivor, and I couldn’t be happier for her.
Lori Glaza is a veterinary technician who lives in Royal Oak. She is 31 years old and has been taking Pole Dancing Classes for six months at Pole Fit Revolution in Madison Heights.