Looking ahead

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Those of you who know Jane and me know how addicted we both were to planning for the future. Even our vacations were planned with military precision–not that we always followed those plans to the letter. We always allowed for the possibility that some new road would open up that would make for a better trip.

And we were planning like fiends long before we met. That piece of us did not die with her body. I am certain she is planning some things even as we speak. And anyone who knows me at all knows that I am plotting the year ahead for the fight against NET from this redoubt–as well as a variety of other things.

Herewith, then, the goals for the coming year.

  • Plan for the Walking with Jane Dybowski Fund for Neuroendocrine Cancer at Dana-Farber
  • Talk with those creating, and help out with, the Center for NEC Research and Education at Dana-Farber
  • Establish the Walking with Jane Online store on this site to benefit the Walking with Jane Relay for Life Team
  • Set up a page on this site where people can make donations to the organizations engaged in fighting this particular cancer, including Dana-Farber, the Caring for Carcinoid Foundation, and the Carcinoid Cancer Foundation.
  • Develop and implement a lobbying strategy to fund NET and Carcinoid research at the federal level
  • Secure significant funding from the American Cancer Society to increase research and education on NET and Carcinoid Syndrome
  • Create the Crawl for the Cure program to raise funds for, and awareness of, NET and CS  at malls across America on the weekend of November 10, 2012.
  • Raise $10,000 through the Walking with Jane Team for the Greater Fall River Relay for Life.
  • Help create at least three Walking with Jane teams at other Relays
  • Raise $10,000 through the Jimmy Fund Marathon Walk for the Caring for Carcinoid Foundation
  • Help see funding for NET and Carcinoid research double over 2010 levels in 2012
  • Build views of this website to 1000 per week
  • Expand both the materials in–and the use of–the Press Kit to continue to raise awareness of NET and CS in the public press
  • Achieve wider  distribution of the Is it IBS or NET? pamphlet
  • Create and distribute additional NET awareness pamphlets
  • Maintain and expand this website
  • Continue to build relationships with other organizations involved in NET and Carcinoid Syndrome
That is a big hunk of stuff. But as Mrs. Ehlers reminded us endlessly in fifth grade: “It is better to aim for the moon and clear the fence than to aim for the fence–and trip over it.”
Needless to say, these goals will not be accomplished without substantial help and support from all of you. Increasingly, medical folks are putting together teams of doctors, nurses, and technical people to take on diseases like NET. Our approach to our part of this fight has to be the same.
My thanks to all of you who have worked with me this year to build the foundations of this effort. The road ahead will not be easy, but together we will be successful.
–Harry Proudfoot