I actually had this idea a few months ago, and it sparked quite the debate in the apartment with Rebecca. It seemed like it was Breast Cancer Awareness Month forever, and I think it might have been during an episode of CSI that inspired the thought.
The Breast Cancer Society of Canada has rejected the offer of thousands of dollars from a fundraising group of exotic dancers in Vancouver.
Exotic Dancers for Cancer holds an annual charity event in memory of a former dancer who lost her life to the disease.
Last year, the event raised $6,000.
However, former dancer Trina Ricketts said the society sent her an e-mail declining the money this year, because its major donors did not support a connection to exotic dancers. [cbc]
There is such a slippery slope and round-and-round argument going on here, but the bottom line is that there are some people who care about something so much but isn’t welcomed for their help. I also find it fascinating that an industry that thrives on the very thing that the Breast Cancer Society is seeking to help with is sticking their noses up at this donation. Still, strippers’ money ain’t welcome here.
Perhaps a more anonymous donation would get the money where it needs to go, but that would put less of a face and name to the people who put forth the effort to raise money for a good cause. Of course, that would make exotic dancers seem like real people with actual feelings. What a pity.
The CBFC (Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation) who also does the Run for the Cure etc. said they’re getting mistaken for the Breast Cancer Society.
Marcia Harrison with the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation says they received a number of calls from people who had confused them with the Breast Cancer Society. She says the Foundation would be happy to accept money from the group. The Canadian Cancer Society says it would also welcome the dancers cash. [NEWS1130]