Lately I have been noticing a few birthday fundraisers here and there. I see them on Facebook, individuals who decide to collect money for a specific cause around the date of their birthday.
To be honest, my initial reaction was one of misunderstanding. When I first started seeing these birthday fundraisers, I said to myself “I don’t get it,” and scrolled on to more interesting Facebook posts. Why would someone ask for money to be given to a specific cause in place of personal birthday gifts? As an adult with a birthday, I don’t expect gifts at all. And when I see a Facebook friend with a birthday, I certainly don’t think of buying them a gift. So why would I donate money when I wouldn’t have spent money on a gift in the first place? I just post a sincere “Happy Birthday” message and smile at the thought of my friend’s birthday.
Birthdays With Cause
Then, in the midst of my closed minded indifference, my son comes to me with the idea of hosting his own birthday fundraiser. Not only does he want to raise money for someone other than himself, he picks a cause near and dear to the heart of our family. He wants to raise money for my friend with a brain tumor, her husband and her kids.
This family has a lot on their plate. Not only do they have to come to terms with the fact that mom has an aggressive brain tumor, they also have to keep up with life’s every day challenges, both financial and physical.
On top of mom no longer being able to contribute income, she has daily costly cancer treatments. Dad now has to keep up with kids’ schedules, mom’s serious health concerns and treatments, and his own job. (I do have to give a shout out to their amazing extended family who have helped them out tremendously with every day physical and schedule challenges.)
Obviously they have to pay for accumulating medical bills, but donated funds will also help ease the burden of those unexpected costs that often pop up in life. You know, car repairs, water heater break downs, the joys that find all of us. 🙂 These poor people have enough on their minds with out having to deal with the extra costs of life.
So no longer do these birthday fundraisers hold so much mystery for me. As I mentioned earlier, as adults we don’t often get birthday celebrations anymore. Why not host our own celebration of life by helping someone else? This makes some sense to me.
And obviously I recognize my son’s selflessness in wanting to raise money for someone other than himself. I couldn’t find a cause more near and dear to my heart if I had chosen it myself.
Happy 18th Birthday to my son, my firstborn, on August 25!
Go Fund Me Page- Lifting Up Natelborgs
Click below to help this dear family during this time of struggling. And thank you so much to those who have donated already!
https://www.gofundme.com/93kr3-beat-the-cancer
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