All posts tagged with: Donate

The American Red Cross is in dire need to restock the United States blood supply. The current shortfall of available blood has left only half of the readily available blood on hand than the same time in 2011. In June 2012, the American Red Cross issued an urgent message to all eligible donors to “step up, roll up a sleeve and give blood or platalets as soon as possible.”

Since 1985, the American Food and Drug Administration has banned, for life, sexually active gay men from donating blood.

“The FDA’s ban was put into place during the very early days of the AIDS epidemic when so little was known about the disease,” said Dr. Steve Ganzell, Christopher Street West Board of Directors.

During the June 8-10, 2012, LA Pride events, festival organizer Christopher Street West held a “blood drive” campaign. The campaign had 2,085 attendees sign a petition to support the efforts to lift the outdated ban. Each signature represented one pint of blood that could have been collected, and according to the American Red Cross, one pint of blood can save three lives; meaning 6,000 lives could have been saved.

Last year, a similar ban was revised in England, Scotland and Wales which now allows gay men to give blood if they haven’t had sex with another man for at least one year.

Also in the month of June, Senator John Kerry and Rep. Mike Quigley voiced support for a new pilot study reviewing the policy being conducted by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

In an op-ed, Kerry and Quigley wrote, “In the 27 years since [the FDA ban was enacted], we have seen vast advances in blood screening technology, policy changes in other nations, and staunch opposition from the nation’s blood banks who have called the current ban medically and scientifically unwarranted. Our current policies turn away healthy, willing donors, even when we face serious blood shortages.”

Richard Benjamin, Chief Medical Officer of the American Red Cross, recently told The Washington Post, “…HIV was a much bigger threat to the U.S. blood supply decades ago but that scientific advances have allowed much earlier and better detection of the virus that causes AIDS.” Benjamin is calling for the ban to be shortened to one year.

In Canada, several lobbyist groups are calling on the Canadian Federal Government and related agencies to reverse a similar ban on men who sleep with men for not being able to donate blood.

The sexiest 10km run is happening this Saturday, July 7 in Vancouver, BC. It’s the BC Cancer Foundation’s annual Underwear Affair, and hundreds of guys and gal’s are going to be stripping down to their underwear.

If you are participating in the event, or coming as a spectator, there is a brand new location for the 2012 Affair. It’s located in Lot 6C (yes, 6C, not sexy), at 88 Pacific Blvd, right beside Roger’s Arena.

Check-in starts at 3:30pm.  If you’re participating in the costume contest it gets underway at 4:45pm. The 10km race starts promptly at 6:00pm.

The EXPOsed Afterparty starts as soon as the first runner crosses the finish line, with dancing going well into the night.

So now you know that hundreds of sexy men and women will be running in an amazingly awesome event this weekend, it’s important to remember the whole reason for this event is to raise funds to uncover the cure for cancers below the waist. Please make a donation today. Thanks!

The Trevor Project at the 2011 LA Pride Parade

Founded in 1998, The Trevor Project is a leading American national organization focused on the prevention of suicide for LGTBQ youth.

Through a toll-free telephone number, The Trevor Lifeline has trained counselors that provide guidance and vital resources and other confidential services.

The Trevor Project was founded in West Hollywood, California by James Lecesne, Peggy Rajski and Randy Stone; the creators of the 1994 Academy award-winning film, Trevor. The drama short film was about a 13 year-old boy who was rejected by his friends because he was gay and he attempts to take his own life. The creators of the film learned there was no helpline and decided to start The Trevor Lifeline to promote LGBTQ youth and to help prevent suicide in the vulnerable group.

Today The Trevor Lifeline is an American national crisis and suicide prevention help line open 24/7/365.

In August 2010, Harry Potter film star, Daniel Radcliffe made a significant cash donation to The Trevor Project.

“I am very pleased to begin my support of the Trevor Project, which saves lives every day through its critical work,” said Radcliffe. “It’s extremely distressing to consider that in 2009 suicide is a top-three killer of young people, and it’s truly devastating to learn that LGBTQ youth are up to four times more likely to attempt suicide than their heterosexual peers.”

The Trevor Project has expanded into other areas including online chat, online social networking community, a youth advisory council and offers internships and workshops as part of their education and development programs.

To find out how you can get involved, make a financial contribution, or if you are an LGTBQ youth in crisis and need someone to talk to, please visit The Trevor Project website.

On the evening of Saturday, July 9, 2011, hundreds of dedicated men and women will gather for one of the hottest runs in Vancouver – the 6th Annual Underwear Affair. The 10k run and 5km walk will help raise funds to raise awareness for cancers below the waist.

The Underwear Affair is a fun race where daring participants dress down and hit the streets in their underwear or costumes, and for the less adventurous, traditional running gear. Participants are cheered on along the route by supporters and live bands. Following the race, participants and guests are invited to party into the night at the EXPOsed after party with live entertainment and music.

Cancers below the waist are often deemed taboo; therefore, do not receive the level of awareness or funding that they need. Because of that, regular screening is often avoided even though it is a key element to early detection and prevention.

Proceeds from the Underwear Affair benefit the BC Cancer Foundation in support of research into cancers that are covered by underwear including prostate, colorectal, ovarian, bladder, cervical and testicular.

Funds generated from the past Underwear Affair events have already been put to use, funding projects including a study to determine if tumour cells, present in the blood, can be used to improve response to therapy and survival rates of the 30% of colorectal cancer patients who are diagnosed with metastatic disease.

Make a donation for my Underwear Affair run

The BC Cancer Foundation is the fundraising partner of the BC Cancer Agency and is the largest charitable funder of cancer research in B.C. They raise funds exclusively for the BC Cancer Agency, enabling donors to contribute to leading-edge research that has a direct impact on improvements to care for British Columbia patients.

How can you get involved?

• Register to participate in the 6th Annual Underwear Affair
• Encourage others to register to participate
• Make a donation for my Underwear Affair run
• “Like” the Underwear Affair on Facebook.
• Participate in the Awareness to Down There-ness Day on Wednesday, April 13, 2011
• Spread the word about underfunded cancers by giving a virtual wedgie on Facebook

For more information, watch the Underwear Affair video.

More than 36% of new cancer cases diagnosed in 2010 occurred below the waist. In 2010, the following estimated cases of cancer were diagnosed in Canada:

• 24,600 prostate cancer
• 22,500 colorectal cancer
• 7,100 bladder cancer
• 4,500 uterine cancer
• 2,600 ovarian cancer
• 1,300 cervical cancer
• 930 testicular cancer