Friday, February 10, 2012

Of Girls, Mail and Hope

This post is about a story I heard on our local public radio station in town (capradio.org).

The story was about a "charity" of sorts that is asking for handwritten letters.

From the website. "The goal of Girls Love Mail is to give the gift of a hand-written letter to a woman newly diagnosed with breast cancer. Anyone with a story to share or desire to encourage another woman can write a letter. You begin with “Dear Friend” or “Dear Sister” and write from the heart. Once your letter is ready, send it to Girls Love Mail. We will then distribute the letters via appropriate physician offices, support groups, and cancer centers."  


Now from my perspective, I cannot think of a more appropriate thing for the letter writing community to get involved with than something we all do on a daily basis.  


I personally have one immediate family member that just had a double mastectomy.  Kim just went through thyroid cancer, and a co-worker is currently going through hell trying to stay alive after being told she would be dead in 6 months 5 years ago.  It came back with a vengeance.  She is currently going through her 3rd round of Chemo getting ready for a bone marrow transplant.  She also is one of the strongest persons I have ever had the pleasure of knowing.


SO..  This is what I am asking of our community.  Go to this site -> http://www.ginamulligan.com/girls-love-mail/  do a little reading.  They even have some sample letters for you to peruse.  They get the letters and distribute them to patients through the Drs offices, support groups etc.


We all know the joy of getting real mail in the post box every day.  Imagine how your letter could lift the spirits of someone going through what could possibly be the worst times of their lives.  You never know, your letter could be the thing that gives them a little lift and respond.  Having something to read, absorb and respond to can be a changing thing for some folks.  An outside view if you will.


Thanks for taking the time to read this.  Now go and write some letters.

6 comments:

  1. Every time I get ready to kill OWM I get a letter from a stranger. They give me reasons not to. Every time I tell myself I shouldn't take on another pen pal, because it wouldn't be fair to them since it often takes me weeks to reply--I end up saying yes, okay, just this one, one more won't hurt. This is one of those times.

    I've gotten through having part of a breast removed. I lost my thyroid gland in March. The words "thyroid cancer" were the impetus I needed. My daughter has dealt with the words "cancer cells," too. I've had one aunt to pass from colon cancer. How can I not write a letter?

    Thanks Derrick. Your heart is good.

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  2. This is a lovely idea in theory, but problematic. Most of the people who develop breast cancer are women. Many men also develop breast cancer. I am unaware of the statistics on children developing breast cancer, but that's what immediately pops into my head when I read the phrase "Girls Love Mail".

    I wonder if a push to help men suffering from prostate cancer would be called "Boys Love Mail". My point is that WOMEN and MEN develop breast cancer, and referring to women as girls is dismissive and comes across as rather derogatory.

    Was this odd nomenclature discussed on the radio program you learned about this project?

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    Replies
    1. While I can understand your question in your comment, I don't see to many "runs for prostate cancer" or write a letter for Lances' junk campaigns going on.

      I have also had one of my dogs develop breast cancer requiring a partial mastectomy.

      Most breast cancer awareness over the past decade plus has been The Susan G Kommen Foundation (you know the pink ribbons). This foundation also has programs for mammograms.

      Now I don't know what the statistics on men getting mammograms are, but I would think pretty low.

      However being that this is a local charity and was broadcast on a local radio station, the interview was about this particular charity/subject and was not an in depth expose.

      Would the term "ladies love mail" been any better, or "chics love correspondence"? If the name of the program/charity disturbs you, then this is not your cups of tea.

      But please, let me know of any letter writing campaigns for cancer patients you have found and I will happily put my pens to paper for them.

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  3. Girls just wanna have fun! Girls just wanna write some mail to help a cause. I understand where you're coming from Chris, but this one is what it is. I call my female friends "girls" a lot. They don't mind. It's a term of endearment in my life. Besides, what is a woman but an older girl? ;) Peace.

    I'd write a letter to anyone with any type of cancer. It doesn't discriminate.

    Very good Dodson, D. Civil communication counts. :)

    Have a Piece of Peace.

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  4. Dear Derrick,

    Thank you so much for including Girls Love Mail in your blog! We're looking for more letter writers willing to join us. Our goal is to help breast cancer patients. Yes, men do get breast cancer but the numbers are very low. I've heard under 2%. So we started the campaign to encourage women since they are in the definite majority and I'm a survivor. There have been a few questions about the name Girls Love Mail. The name is based on my initials, Gina L. Mulligan. There's no hidden agenda, just a creative husband. :)

    Unlike those battling breast cancer, our letter writers are all ages, men and women, from all over the country. We've received over 1,000 letters and counting! I'll look for your letter and ask those reading to join us in the Mile of Mail campaign to get out 5,280 letters this year!

    Best,
    Gina L. Mulligan, Founder
    Girls Love Mail

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  5. I first discovered "Girls Love mail" about 2 months ago while I was reading my Cardmaker magazine. I was very drawn to this particular story. It was about to change my life!! I had been involved in Stampin' Up for the past 2 yrs and making & designing cards was my " cup of tea."I was immediately interested. I gathered some materials & began making home-made cards. All my card designs are original. No two cards are alike. I thank Gina Mulligan for giving me the opportunity to make a difference in someone's life. To this date I have made 75 cards in 2 months. The experience has given me new light on hope for a cure. I have started a campaign in my city for this charity. I feel it's very important to spread the word about this charity so that new patients going through difficulties with thier diagnosis can know, there are people all over the U.S. and elsewhere who are fighting this fight w/ them. Even if offering a small token of thier hearts with heartfelt hand-written cards. It has given me many opportunities to go out and do something like this for my neighborhood Cancer Centers. Thank You from the bottom of my heart!! Denise Fernandez
    El Paso, Tx

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