Non-profit organizations like the SFA cannot function or survive without the help of volunteers. We thought we would share this wonderful article about volunteering written by our California Chapter Leader Sue Embree-Davis that was published in our recent newsletter. You can read the entire newsletter online here. Join the SFA to receive future copies of the SFA newsletter and to become a part of our efforts of finding the cure!
Volunteerism
by Sue Embree-Davis, SFA Chapter Leader, California
Volunteers help increase awareness and raise additional funds for research!
“I expect to pass through this life but once. If therefore there be any kindness I can show, or any good thing I can do to any fellow being, let me do it now, and not defer or neglect it, as I shall not pass this way again.” (accredited to both William Penn and Stephen Grellet)
This is a favorite motto of mine. I was surprised to find that its origin can be traced back to the 1600’s. I certainly agree that it was good advice back then, and continues to be great advice today.
Why volunteer? Here are only a few of the benefits of volunteering:
- It takes us outside our four walls, often relieving loneliness or boredom.
- We meet new people, perhaps making a new friend or two.
- Volunteering is extremely beneficial to the groups, organizations, or companies for which we offer our knowledge, enthusiasm, and hours of labor free of charge.
- We often receive appreciation from those we help, allowing us to feel needed and useful.
- If we volunteer for a cause which has touched our lives personally, we have the knowledge that we are helping someone else to weather a difficult time in their life, or to live a better and fuller life than might have been possible before.
As I sit here writing this article I am volunteering my time to a cause that is very near to my heart, finding a cure for sarcoma cancers through the efforts of the Sarcoma Foundation of America (SFA). I am the volunteer SFA Chapter Leader for the state of California, and I have had the privilege of serving in this position since 2011.
Yes, volunteering with the SFA is helping me to recover and give purpose to some of the pain my family has felt as the result of our battle with a sarcoma cancer. There are an endless number of ways for you to volunteer with SFA in support of the mission to find the cure for these devastating cancers!
The Pittsburgh Cure Sarcoma 5K Run/Walk could not have been the huge success that it was without the support of volunteers!
Here are just a few:
- If there is no one currently volunteering in your state as the volunteer chapter leader of the SFA (click on your state under SFA chapters to find out) consider taking on this important role
- Volunteer to assist the SFA Chapter Leader in your state
- Hold a fundraiser to support SFA (I just raised almost $2000 for SFA by inviting friends and family to recognize my birthday with donations to SFA in lieu of gifts)
- Distribute SFA materials to your local hospital, schools and universities, cancer centers, community and infusion centers
- Share your SFA connection with nurses and ask them to share SFA information with their patients
- Ask your friends and family to JOIN SFA – it is free – www.curesarcoma.org
- Ask your friends and family to follow SFA on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest
- Help SFA develop online auction opportunities
- And we welcome any volunteer ideas you have to support SFA’s work and mission with your time or contributions!
Volunteers helped make the Ronny Gras event a huge success as well!
We give of ourselves and our time to others when we volunteer, but over and over I hear people say they receive back so much more than they give! Today, consider volunteering for SFA to make your positive impact on the cure for sarcoma!
