Your Mission. Should You Choose to Accept. Mission Possible,
Mission in Blue.
I'm a huge fan of Mission Impossible. The movie
franchise with Tom Cruise is my favorite. I like when, after he receives
his secret Intel about a mission, a person or a recording says "Your
Mission. Should You Choose To Accept It.” That's deep right? In
other words, should you choose to put others before yourself and save the
greater good...
Blue
Hat Bow Tie Sunday™ became my "Mission Possible"! I say possible, because Matthew 17:20 (NIV) says:
“If you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘move
from here to there; and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you’.” My
faith in God is what guides me.
I am a Survivor and I represent that it's POSSIBLE to survive colorectal cancer (colon cancer) with early detection. Don’t get me wrong, I struggled with my place in the world after cancer; I felt like damaged goods on the island of misfit people who doctors seem to forget after they have pronounced you NED (no evidence of disease). I now have to manage chronic pain and other things as a parting gift -- who do I see now?
Blue
Hat Bow Tie Sunday™ is a faith-based event created to raise awareness,
educate, and increase screening rates for African Americans who have the
highest incidence of late-stage diagnosis and death due to colorectal cancer.
For the last five years, my family, my church, friends
across the U.S. and on Facebook, have all worn blue hats and bow ties,
participating in the first ever annual faith-based awareness event of its kind.
Blue Hat Bow Tie Sunday™ takes place on the third or fourth Sunday in March,
depending on the number of Sundays in the calendar year.
Why
faith based? Historically, the church has played a huge role in helping the
poor and the sick and shut-in. The same holds true today; the medically
underserved community, which includes the underinsured and uninsured, attend
health fairs and screenings held at the church because it’s free. I have to
admit that the first couple of years were challenging for various reasons;
however, I kept the faith because this was bigger than me. I answered a call to
help others. This year, our church member participation grew to over 5,000 people
and we added more churches. As a result, more people were able to be
served…AWESOME right?!
This past September, with the support of Michael’s Mission,
Chris4Life and JSB Ties, I introduced another vision I had for two years -- a
new line of Colon Cancer Awareness Bowties! (Available later this month).
Taking
My Mission to the President.
One would think with me
taking care of five children and a full time job that I have enough to do
right? Wrong…A few month ago, I decided to write President Obama and give the inner
most details of my life with cancer. I wanted to express my concern about the rise of under the 50yrs old population being diagnosed with cancer. I told of the various
lobbying efforts I
have been participating in for the past 10yrs. In the closing I
wrote: “I am one of many working poor in America who had a full time job with
benefits. Cancer left me with devastation the size of Hurricane Katrina and
if it can do that to me, imagine what is happening to those that have less than
me”?
I came home last week and received a large tan envelope
that read The White House addressed to me in my FULL government name (big
brother is always watching). I was shocked to receive a
response from President Obama regarding the letter I sent him and a
personally signed Proclamation declaring March 2015 as Colorectal Cancer
Awareness Month…WOW.
I hope I have empowered you to use your voice to make a difference. Your story, a vision, a passion and the support of family and friends can save lives. So...
Your Mission Possible. Should You Choose To Accept it.....Is to wear a Blue Hat or Bow Tie on March 20, 2016.
