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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU to think that in general cancer fundrasing campaigns are getting quite tasteless / disrespectful?

169 replies

KitKat1985 · 21/03/2014 22:31

Hello all.

Not sure if I'm just being grumpy here (pregnancy hormones) but in general are other people finding that a lot of 'cancer fundraising campaigns' are getting quite tasteless, or even disrespectful? Twenty years ago most fundraising seemed to come from marathon runners, or from bake sales, or charity shops, or even street collections. They may not have made millions, but at least they were dignified and inoffensive.

I'm not going to go into the [infamous] 'no make-up selfie' debate, suffice to say that in my opinion I found the whole thing shallow and the concept of 'braving' your make-up less face as in some way uniting yourself with the bravery of cancer victims quite offensive. The latest craze now seems to be for men to post a picture of themselves with their 'cock in your sock' as a way of fundraising for testicular cancer. I do understand that these campaigns make a lot of money and draw a lot of attention, but AIBU in finding them a bit tasteless, or even offensive? Over the past 5 years I've had to watch my Dad slowly battle cancer, and we know his situation long-term will be terminal. I've had to deal with watching him screaming in pain, go through months of chemo, and God-knows how many anxious nights whilst he's in hospital. My Mum is facing spending her retirement alone, and as a couple my Dad not being able to work for 5 years has essentially ruined them financially. Is it really that wrong that I'd just like to see some cancer fundraising campaign that deals with the issue of cancer with a bit of sensitivity, respect and dignity? Or should I just accept that this is the best way for charities to make the most money now and 'anything goes'?

OP posts:
LyingWitchInTheWardrobe2726 · 21/03/2014 23:19

I think the 'nights in' and 'coffee morning' concept is a great idea.

I also like the advert with Alison Steadman advertising the Macmillan Nurses because they do a wonderful job.

So many people suffering and dying from cancer, I don't care how many adverts there are, there needs to be more fundraising for research and eventual cure.

kim147 · 21/03/2014 23:22

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ScarletLady02 · 21/03/2014 23:24

Yeah my Mum was a fucking law unto herself to be honest. The average prognosis with brain mets is 3 months and my Mum had over 6 months. She fought it off for SO long, multiple surgeries, chemo, radiotherapy...she even survived C.Diff and pneumonia...

The hardest part in the end was trying to convince her it was Ok to let go...she didn't want to leave us, but we knew she had to. The hospice even said we have to give her permission to go

IT's shitty, my Mum was so strong and amazing, I miss her so much

ScarletLady02 · 21/03/2014 23:25

Macmillan is an amazing charity. They gave my Mum reflexology, art classes, massage etc. They made her so much happier.

LyingWitchInTheWardrobe2726 · 21/03/2014 23:28

ScarletLady... So sorry about your mum but you rightly sound so very proud of her as well as missing her like hell.

ScarletLady02 · 21/03/2014 23:31

I hate to sound cheesy but she really was an inspiration to me. She was tireless fundraiser, even up until the end. She raised money for Breast Cancer Care under the moniker "Up Front"

Her name was "One Tit"

Her sense of humour made everything, it really did. If I can be half the woman she was, I'll be a happy woman, I really will.

TheZeeTeam · 21/03/2014 23:37

I think the reason cancer is regarded as more "fashionable" is due to a combination of media coverage and fear of our own mortality. If people are relatively unscathed by cancer, then it conjures up images of losing hair, bravely "battling" and "a fight". A fight you could win. They don't see the scarring, the pain and the sheer terror.

Strokes, on the other hand, conjure images of drooling, at best, and death at worst. Nobody likes the idea of waking up one morning and collapsing on the daily commute. You can't "fight" that.

Obviously, these are not my views, but I do think it's a cynically true reason why cancer charities are the charity de jour.

ScarletLady02 · 21/03/2014 23:41

I agree "TheZeeTeam*

It's cynical, but it's true.

LyingWitchInTheWardrobe2726 · 21/03/2014 23:43

Macmillan is a charity that I make one-off donations to but reading about what they did for your mum makes me really want to sign up for monthly donations because it really sounds as if they look at the person rather than just this horrendous disease and I would be very happy to pay for massages, art class, etc.

I'm going to do that right now, in memory of "One Tit"; made me laugh that did, ScarletLady.

ScarletLady02 · 21/03/2014 23:46

Thank-you Grin

She was a pretty special lady. Her Macmillan nurses really did make a difference to her every day life. She got to go on spa days and things like that, all taken care of by the charity. They really are unsung heroes.

I'm not going to hijack the thread as I really could talk about my Mum all night.

DarylDixonsDarlin · 22/03/2014 00:06

Sorry for your losses, all of you.

I think these pics on Facebook are annoying, tasteless and yes I personally find them offensive. No one has been stupid enough to nominate me yet, I have temporarily deactivated my FB account as there were too many to hide from my newsfeed. (Sounds trivial I know, but I actually only have real friends and family on my Facebook and genuinely use it for my social interactions!)

I lost my Dad to cancer last year, and I think he would have been less than amused at the images circulating now...the male one is bordering on obscene and will be stopped before long I expect. Facebook regularly removes breastfeeding pics, whether we like it or not there are younger people than 13 yo using FB and I'm not sure the male one is appropriate.

None of the images relate to my family's experience of cancer, in any way shape or form. It is making me feel really uncomfortable that people are being so frivolous about it. (I totally accept this is probably because I am still fairly deep in grief, 5 years on I would feel less strongly about it I'm sure)

AlbertoFrog · 22/03/2014 00:08

One Tit sounds like one fantastic lady Scarlet

I raise my glass to her and everyone on here.

Wine
ScarletLady02 · 22/03/2014 00:09

Thankyou my darlin' xx

DietCokeMultipackCan · 22/03/2014 00:12

I was diagnosed with cervical cancer three years ago and it want pretty and it wasn't fun but I did my selfie and was pleased to see my friends do it too. I'm sorry this offends you all so much.

Spero · 22/03/2014 00:15

It all pisses me off. Attention seeking wanky nonsense. Would Facebook let me put up a picture of my mum in the morgue after she died just 3 months after her diagnosis . Would they fuck.

Donate to cancer charities, yes please. But don't ask me to congratulate or applaud this narcissistic nonsense.

winkbingo · 22/03/2014 00:18

Kim, same here, all my lot have died off with various cancers

I've not bothered with a pension either.

DietCokeMultipackCan · 22/03/2014 00:19

You have lost people and you are hurt and angry. But it's misguided to vent at people who perhaps don't have these experiences and think they are helping in some way. Even if it just raises money, it's a good thing.

penguinpaperback · 22/03/2014 00:20

Hi Scarlet, I think I knew your Mum, I wasn't lucky enough to have met her in person but I used to use the Breast Cancer Care forums a lot. Not with this user name. Like your Mum had I have Stage 4 and I don't do the battle stuff. The selfie has made some money, that's good, I don't like parts of fundraising but if you question it you are in for such a hard time. I've been living with stage 4 since 2003, had a couple of very good responses to treatment, it's certainly not down to me being positive. I'm scared stiff most days. X

Spero · 22/03/2014 00:24

I will vent all I want thanks. I had cancer last year, my mum died this year.

I will vent how and when I like. It pisses me off.

DietCokeMultipackCan · 22/03/2014 00:25

Good for you

ScarletLady02 · 22/03/2014 00:27

penguinpaperback - She used the forums a lot a few years ago. Sorry to hear you'r going through a shitty time now. It never gets easier does it?

expatinscotland · 22/03/2014 00:30

It would be really nice if umbrella charities distributed funds for research equitably among all cancers, but CRUK does not.

This is my problem and why I do not donate to them, on top of their large administration costs which mean not a lot actually goes to research funding.

trappedinsuburbia · 22/03/2014 00:30

The pictures are annoying and shocking (dicks in socks yuk) but alot more money is being donated which is only a good thing.
My dad died from cancer that met'd to the brain, not pleasant so im grateful for any extra cash to go to resesrch, I just don't log into Facebook if im going to be eating soon ..........

DietCokeMultipackCan · 22/03/2014 00:31

Sorry for snapping. I can't deal with threads like this, usually stay away and will continue to do so in future. Ima left for everyone but mostly for myself and my dc (as you can probably tell). Sad

expatinscotland · 22/03/2014 00:37

Angry?! Damn right! Only 14% of all diagnosed with brain cancer are alive after 5 years, 4% of those with pancreatic cancer. Brain Tumour Trust put out an appeal after all this came out, desperate for funds.

And then there are the kids. Oh, it's 'rare', all of the sudden, and gets FA research.

No proton beam therapy treatment centre in place for children until 2017, so the NHS spends millions sending those kids abroad from treatment that is now standard there, or the parents spend time begging for money for treatments that are standard in the US and Germany, not quackery, known and proven treatments.

Not even one for adults open until this year.

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