Some things have to change

Change is in the nature of all things. It is the foundation of growth. When we stop growing, we begin to die. In order to keep living we have to continually evolve in positive ways.

Change is coming–and you can be a part of it.

This website has been sinking into dormancy. Walking with Jane has, for some months, seemed to stand still. The responsibility for both those things resides with me. My own journey through a particularly rough time in my grieving process is the root cause of what has and has not been going on here. All those issues, though, have been compounded by my seeming inability to get either this website or my fundraising efforts to gain sufficient, sustained traction.

The winter of my discontent

Last year, we generated, total, significantly less money than we did the year before despite our slightly improved performance at both Relay for Life and the Boston Marathon Jimmy Fund Walk. Even there, though, we fell well short of our goals for both events.

This website has been sinking into dormancy.

Our efforts at raising awareness through other efforts also fell well short of expectations. This website, in particular, was far less successful than I had hoped. Our site visits declined throughout the year despite every effort I made to generate more traffic–and gradually I subconsciously put less and less effort into the site, which only served to increase the downward spiral.

Underlying issues have not changed

None of these failures helped my already fragile state of mind. Losing Jane to carcinoid cancer is the signature moment of my life to this point. I’ve shared that grief in my writing, in two different grief groups, and with two individual therapists and an experimental program designed to prevent extended periods of mourning. None of those efforts have resolved the issues her death created–though all have helped me learn to cope with those issues. Nor has the work I have undertaken against the disease that killed her brought the solace I had hoped for.

Our site visits declined throughout the year…

But those of you who know me know I do not give up easily. And I am not giving up any piece of this fight. Rather, I have spent several days rethinking and retooling this effort in my head.

Website changes ahead

Part of that change begins with this website. Over the next week or so I will work on rethinking and redesigning this site so that it works better than it does now. Part of that change will be visual; part will be mechanical; but the most important change will be a renewed commitment to providing the best and most up-to-date information about NETs/carcinoid written/created for patients and lay care-people.

…I do not give up easily.

That retooling will include greater use of video where it seems appropriate, starting with the creation of a series on frequently asked questions. It will also include easy access to our soon-to-launch monthly NETs/carcinoid news program. The opening page will also change–and will likely include video, as well.

Some things won’t change

While I will work to make that happen as quickly as possible, the final execution of that plan may take several weeks before everything is in place. In the meantime, I will post here several times a week on a variety of subjects ranging from the latest news about research results and fundraising to the progress being made on other fronts in our battle against carcinoid/NETs.

Part of that change begins with this website.

And speaking of fundraising projects, we will shortly announce dates, places and times for a number of fundraisers this spring and summer. Our general fundraising and team building for the Greater Fall River Relay for Life and the Boston Marathon Jimmy Fund Walk are already underway. Please join us for either event or make a donation.

‘And you may contribute a verse…’

There are lots of other ways you can contribute to our efforts. We are always looking for health fairs we can set up booths at, groups we can speak to, and places we can get our merchandise on display, not to mention ideas for new and different fundraisers.

Please join us…

If there is one thing I have learned in the last several months, it is that one person may be able to make a difference, but they need help to do so. If you have thoughts or want to contact us about ways to make this operation work better, I’d love to hear from you.

Change is coming–and you can be a part of it.

Pax et lux,

Harry