19. New Charity Wristbands

Off it went. I thought this piece was god-awful while I was writing it, but now it seems mildly amusing.

I’ve got a gazillion e-mail messages and telephone calls to return, but the fatigue is really catching up with me. It’s hard to prioritize work when you’re exhausted and your kid is sick and you’re constantly worried that you haven’t ingested enough olive oil that day, and that you can also get oleic acid from pecans but you don’t really like pecans, and you think that it’s also in cashews and almonds and avocados but you’re really not sure, and maybe olive oil shampoo and body scrub might help, too, but who knows how much olive oil is really in those products, and didn’t a doctor tell me a few years ago that I could put drops of it in my ears to soften the wax—or was that mineral oil?—and maybe that would be a better way of getting it into my system, but, you know, ICK, and is there even any point in ingesting it AT ALL, so is there fresh bread in the house for me to eat with olive oil? and so on.

Jon Friedman wrote me over the weekend to tell me that he made a donation to the Young Survival Coalition in my name. That sort of kindness keeps me going. Along with, you know, a pathological need for attention.

CAT scans and bone scans tomorrow; that should make for a really long, fun, chemical-filled day.

Comments

[Rose]

I LOVED THIS ONE!!! although I wear a bracelet and a magnet on my car, I know what you mean. My parnter, as I've told you has had breast cancer, so she's been excited about the bracelets and ribbons, so I wear them in her honor.
I just can't stand people telling me with their magnets to Support The Troops or Fight for the Cure. What the hell else am I going to do? Hate the poor men and women fighting for our country (even if it's a wrong war) and cheer on cancer to take over our lives? And yes, I agree the bracelets are tacky...
But your article is great! Those editors don't know what they are missing if they don't take that one!

[nick]

i like the wristband what charity does it support

[Mafalda]

Why does every1 keep on moaning about the bands!! they mean we care! i saw this note that someone said that if people don't watch football why do they buy the anti racism wrist band? well racism doesn't just affect football, if someone doesn't watch football it doesn't mean they don't care!! I myself have the beat bullying, ant racism, st.davids foundation and the livestrong band!! Maf xxx

[Lauren]

I stumbled upon your blog and article via a google search... I'm writing an article for my University magazine on the issue of the wrist bands, and your article made me laugh. I understand completely where you are coming from with the wrist band issue (my article is entitled 'the cult of one true wristband'...) I think they are rapidly being overcome with the hype rather than the true meaning behind them.

But still, I'm wearing my Tsunami Appeal one right now, and in my drawer I have the 'Make Poverty History' Oxfam band, and the pink Breast Cancer band too.
At the end of the day, so long as people aren't getting ripped off buying them -ebay has a lot to answer for with regards to people buying bands only to find they didn't actually donate *any* of their profits to charity- then I reckon it's all good stuff.

But kudos on highlighting the increasing over-exploitation of them, and in such a fresh and amusing way!!! I thoroughly enjoyed your article, and your previous submissions which I am now making my way through.
~Lauren, Nottingham, UK

[alex]

come on people isn't the main idea of the wristbands to bring different illnesses, racism or bullying to the forefront pof peoples minds and therefore causing more donations to aid in medical research into diseases such as cancer....... if people wear the bands surely it can only be for the good of that particular cause
Alex, Stone staffordshire.

[carly]

hiya do you know where i can get some charity wrist bands from if u do email me bk and let me know.

[victoria murray]

please can you let me know where i can purchase some wristbands from, i am fed up with the likes of e bay that seems to be the only place to purchase them from, filling the pockets of greedy people and not the desired charities they are meant for

[emma]

This is a well presented site and very informative. Please could you send me some free wristbands. Thanks!
Yours Faithfully
Emma Tingey

[Emma]

Please could you send me 1 or 2 free wristbands for me as i am being bullied t school cos i have not got on

[Emma]

Please could you send me 1 or 2 free wristbands for me as i am collecting them and they are the craze at school school cos i have not got on

[joe]

does anyone know how to get a free livestrong wristband
email me s639htx@aol.com

[mark]

why is evreyone asking for free wristbands??

show your support and buy one, asking for free ones is just as bad as selling them on ebay. coz the chairty isnt getting any money

[sophie]

i want to show me support by having a wrist band and i am also collecting some but are gettin a bit to expensive! so i would be greatful if i got a free one? thankyou sophie xxx

[Ben meck]

I WAS JUST WONDERING IF I COULD HAVE A FREE WRISTBAND AS I WAS GETTING BULLIED AND I WANT TO SHOW MY SUPPORT BUT I CANT BECAUSE I CANT AFFORD THE HIGH PRICES THAT EVERY ONE IS SELLING THEM AT BUT ALL I WANT TO DO IS SUPPORT OTHER PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING THROUGH THE SAME EXPERIENCE THAT I WENT THROUGH THANKS FOR LISTENING BEN.

[Kealie Boyde]

Please can I have a free wrist band to show the boy who bullied me that there are people there to help me. My Mum contacted the school and now it has stopped.

[hannah bell]

Hello,my name is Hannah Bell,I really want a wristband but they are far to expensive on the computer.Also a teacher at my school said you can get them for free if so can you send me one? my address Hannah Bell,4 Eastfield,Douglas,Isle Of Man IM1 4AU my mob 07624417783
thank you I love your web.

[tom]

PLEASE CAN I HAVE 2 WRISTBANDS,ONE FOR ME AND ONE FOR A FRIEND.

[tom]

please can i have 2 wristbands, one for me and one for a friend.

[nichola davey]

please could you sent me 3 wrist bands for me and for 2 of my friends so we can show that we stand for the beat bulling campain.
thankyou very much
nichola

[craig]

please can you send me 2 of theblu wristband thankyou

[kiara doherty]

hi please can you send me 2 wristbands for me and my wee sister . We want to show are surport to others !
and would really like them thank you!
Oh yes me wee sister said please and me of corse!!!

kiara doherty
29 strandview rd
ballycastle
n.ireland
co.antirm
BT546AJ

[Sue Fallon]

hey just got onto this site just like to say, keep going my dear, ct scans and mri are the wave of the future and they're really cool. About these wristbands i'm really intrigued as even the charities seem to be asking for a fair amount of money for a piece of plastic. Still good luck to them all and lets hope the world can change so that these charities aren't needed anymore!!

[Mathew]

Just logged on to your site and me and my brother would like to show our support could you please send us two wristbands we hope we can send the message out to others by wearing them.

Mathew Budd
14 Hawthorn road
Little sutton
Ellesmere Port
cheshire
CH66 1PT

[koula kaloudi]

What a great site, Id just like to say this isnt just about setting a trend with these bands its about supporting these great charities and helping and supporting people who suffer illness,poverty,racism,etc. So that the next generation can go onto follow this great example of people coming together to help others. If you cant get the wristbands on this try the charity shops most have them. And they arent expensive in there "Ebay" is the place where people seem to be getting ripped off. Anyway bye for now..... koula x

[lindsay]

i hate that most people think the bands are just some fasion thing i got 1 and it was stolen i was guted i had a beat bullying one and i belive in that as a cause not because its cool or in fasionn!!!!!!!!!!!!!!