How You Can Help

"I will clean your toilet," said one of the engineers I work with. "Even if you just need someone to clean the cat's litter box, let me know," said a friend from high school. Wowza!

I am flabbergasted at the number of people who have reached out to offer help. I will need it. My family will need it. And I am completely okay with being selfish and taking it. I just don't know all that I need at this moment.

Just this weekend alone I am realizing how much the kids require. In the back of my mind as we are doing things around the house, I am thinking to myself - how am I going to do this or that? With help, of course. I intend to create a list of people who have offered help, how they can help, and their numbers. I will also make a list of things we need help with.

For now, this is how you can help:

Join the Especially for You Race Against Breast Cancer, downtown Cedar Rapids, IA, Sunday October 2, 8:00 a.m. 
It is a race for breast cancer awareness and funding for those who cannot afford mammograms. Jaime Whitehead, a co-worker, has started a team in my name (Gwen Lange Manning), along with my personal theme for this whole disaster of Team Fembot. Registrations are due by Aug. 28. If you check the box for the $1 t-shirt logo, a Team Fembot logo will be printed on the back of your shirt. Monetary donations are awesome whether or not you can participate in the actual walk/run. 

John and Lea are going to be forming a racing team for BikeStock, Cedar Rapids, IA, Hawkeye Downs, Saturday, October 8, 10:00 a.m.
You can join, donate, or come for the day and participate in any of the family activities they will have. I will send a notice when the team is up and running.

Quote for today:
"I needed to hear my friends say. 'I'm bringing over dinner,' without asking me if I wanted them to make dinner or what I wanted to eat. Hell, I didn't know what I wanted to eat. I had bigger problems than food!" ~ S.N., lung cancer survivor

"My friend said, 'If you need anything - someone to clean toilets or punch around to blow off stress - I'm available from 9 to 9:15 this Tuesday.' It made me feel like laughing, because it was an offer, but I didn't have to make a real commitment. ~ S.M., uterine cancer survivor

both from the book Help Me Live: 20 Things People With Cancer Wants You To Know