So, Terry Pratchett gave the equivalent of $1 million
yesterday to Alzheimer's research in the UK, and there's apparently there's a bit of a movement
online, as these things tend to happen, to match his million dollars with another million dollars from his fans. My grandmother died from Alzheimer's, and my dad's cousin came down with it at 50, and so, for very selfish reasons, I'd like to have a cure by the time I'm peering at old age (or hell, not even old age. 50, folks.)
So, I'm sending a little money to the
Alzheimer's Association here in the U.S., and there will be more lately, and I thought I'd post this and kick it along, if anyone is interested.
(Finally, I recommend tissue when reading PTerry's speech above.)
I'm over breast cancer.
There are other diseases out there which are more deadly. There are other diseases which touch more people. Why is breast cancer now the only cancer that matters? Why is it that I can't walk into a store and not be assaulted by pink ribbons and special pink products? I didn't mind it when they were products that are breast-related (pink ribbon bras? sure!), but now it's everything. My batteries are pink, and I saw a pink gas tanker yesterday.
This isn't to minimise breast cancer or to say it's not important. It is. But I don't think that it should be the only disease that's seen as important and deserving of funding. It bothers me that breast cancer has, in some weird way, become fashionable.