Right now, somewhere in the world, people are dying as the result of some disaster or tragedy or another. In Pakistan, as you read this, over 2000 people have been confirmed dead in the terrible floods that engulfed parts of north-west Pakistan a month ago. The floodwaters now cover an area greater than any existing freshwater lake in the world – but it isn’t fresh water. Around 20, 000, 000 people’s lives are affected by the resulting devastation, with thirst, starvation, dysentery, cholera presenting ongoing threats to life, and there is a critical need for housing and relief aid.
Grim, isn’t it. You don’t come read me to hear tales of death and sadness and disease, do you? There’s so, so much of it, both near and far. So many worthy causes, so many needy people – it’s enough to make you feel helpless, hopeless, impotent in the face of all that need, right?
Well, sorry, but I don’t believe shutting off is the answer. There is always something you can do. There is always someone you can help. There is always a way that you can acknowledge that your life is just a little better than others, and you’d like to help. Not for guilt – because you can, because it’s human to care.
Some of you may know that a little while ago I became a part of Project 18, a NFP dedicated to providing support, education and a sustainable future for street kids, orphans and the needy in Bali. My friend Cate, Project 18’s founder, travelled there in July and began setting up the orphanage, discovering first-hand how systemic the problems were, that left these children without an education or little in the way of a future.
We were talking last week about funding projects for Project 18 when Cate gave me a piece of news which, despite her impending return to Bali on October 1st, put everything else out of focus. But first, some background.
Last month, Cate and two of her children, Ash (15) and Ailish(6) – who are the You Team from Planet You – travelled to Canberra and met Dainere Anthoney, a young girl suffering from medullablastoma (an aggressive form of brain tumour), filming her for a video story they are doing on childhood cancers. 
Dainere has recently had a book published (‘You Have to Go Through A Storm To Get to A Rainbow’), based on the blog she has kept since her diagnosis. For her, publication of the book (her wish granted by the Starlight Foundation) was a way to share her experiences with other kids in difficult and frightening circumstances. As well, through sales of the book she has been able to contribute in a meaningful way to the Sydney Children’s Hospital Foundation – Brain Tumour Fund.
Her ultimate dream is to see a copy of her book reach every school in the country, to be able to feel that her words might reach and help even more people. She is one awe-inspiring little lady.
I’m not going to tell Dainere’s story in detail. Cate has done a beautiful job of it here; it’s their story, not mine. Me, I’m the one with the crazy big ideas, who is contacting all of Dainere’s favourite celebrities (she loves Masterchef and Benji Marshall – Matt Preston helped launch her book, but he is, unfortunately, out of the country), and is about to front up and knock on the doors at Sunrise and ACA, to get these people to throw their weight behind the campaign to get Dainere’s book reprinted and sold to every school in the country.
We only need to raise $15,000 to get the 5000 copy reprint we need to get it into every school. By purchasing a copy, the schools then raise $65,000 for the Sydney Children’s Hospital and the Brain Tumour Fund. Win/win.
Fifteen thousand dollars. In the grand scheme of things, that’s not that much. If 1500 people would donate just $10 each, we’d have the money.
That piece of news Cate gave me? Things are getting dire for Dainere; already confined to a wheelchair as the tumour has robbed her of the use of her legs, in recent days she has lost use of her right arm. Only her left arm remains functional. Yet she’s still blogging, still hoping. She is off to Sydney for further tests next week, but there is really nothing that current medical science can do for her.
Time is running out. We’ve put Cate’s pledge to get Dainere’s book reprinted and into schools at the top of our To-Do list, as we desperately want to achieve this in her remaining lifetime. It’s the least we can do for this incredibly bright, courageous and inspirational young lady, who teaches us all about finding the balance between self and others.
Already, hearing of Project 18’s mission and Dainere’s story, people have expressed how moved they are…and then done nothing. Are we so numbed by the great need in the world, that we can’t recognise the value in action as well as compassion?
This is where you come in. See that button on the side of the page? Start by donating some money.** Then, if you’re a blogger, you could take copy of that button (click on Add to Site under the ticker) and add it to your own blog. Perhaps you might write a post about Dainere and the Fund, and ask others to do the same things? Perhaps you are best friends or cousins or neighbours to Benji Marshall or George Colambaris or Mel Doyle, and can help me contact them, to talk to them about how they can help to spread the word and make Dainere’s last wish come true? (If you are, contact me on Twitter – @ruddygood. Ta. 
)
See, there’s always something you can do. Because bad things happen when the good do nothing. Or something like that.
Yes, I know they’ll happen anyway – but that doesn’t mean you should do nothing about it.
**This fund raising is done under authority from the Sydney Children’s Hospital Fund Authorisation number #1510. The beneficiary is the Brain Tumour Rehabilitation Program and all donations over $2 are tax deductable – receipts will be issued by the Sydney Children’s Hospital Fund.