Tag: fundraising

It’s not about me. Don’t make it about “you”. I can see it clear as day how tantalizing it would be to put yourself at the centre of it all. The attention, engagement, messages, tweets, DM’s, phone calls, and the dopamine hits from watching the counter climb. It’s all very tiring and yet deeply intoxicating. But it’s not about me. Not about me. Stay out of it. Don’t heed the siren’s call. Avoid the rocks yo!

I’ve been quoted in more news articles in the last 48 hours, than the previous 43 years and several months combined. Not about you bro. Stay on track, keep the campaign running but stay in the background. Do the leg work. Build on the ground swell, for Erik. For the scared nine year old whose whole world has just been tipped on its end. Make it count, for Erik.

I have learned a few things, some terrific, others less so, while running this campaign. The best thing I’ve learned is how passionate our community is in providing long term mental health care for a child in need of a helping hand. People are generous, kind and supportive. Love that. Then there are the hangers-on, seeking to build their own personal brand, or networking connections, even a pay-cheque for their efforts to glom on to something that looks as though it could do numbers. That I wasn’t prepared for, but should have been. A tad naive in that respect, that my dear friend, is entirely on me.

There are other things I’ve learned, and am still learning, so I’ll leave it at that for now. Perhaps after the campaign is done, and I get the accumulated funds off to Erik so that he may continue on his long journey to healing I’ll have more to say about my experience. But, it’s not about me. This blog is, mainly just me talking out loud, but you get what I mean.

When we put this campaign together, my wife and I discussed it at length thinking what was the best possible thing we could do, when what you really want to do is not possible. We can’t raise the dead. Sad as that may be. But with a smidge of objectivity, borne out of a distance from the tragedy, and my wife’s working knowledge of therapy costs from working with at risk youth, we felt a longer term approach was the path to take. It ain’t much, but it’s honest work. I’d hope that someone would do the same for my family.

I spoke with various people to ascertain if I was stepping on toes, or competing against wishes or what have you. Once I was given their blessings I just got the ball rolling. Really the bulk of this gift of longer term mental health & wellness comes from you all. I don’t have $12,500.00 to give, so this is a massive community win. I am so glad for the support. My heart swells thinking about what an opportunity this is for Erik in his time of need. Thank you all so much.

https://gofund.me/2be8e91c