Getting Involved in the Community

It's pretty clear what communities I belong to -- my O'Melveny community and the legal organizations I support (including the Western Center on Law and Poverty and MALDEF), my larger community of Los Angeles and one of the most unifying institutions in our city -- the Los Angeles Public Library, and the Duke and Stanford alumni communities (although I pretend like I'm a Duke student when I'm back in Durham). 

But what I'm realizing these days is that I'm also a part of another community -- the cancer warrior community. And I want to be involved in it.

So a couple of days ago, I starting poking around on the Internet, looking for any 5Ks in the L.A. area benefitting colon cancer awareness. I figured that I'd recruit all my friends, lace up my sneaks, and raise as much money as possible for the colon cancer organization hosting the event. I was sorely disappointed. Nothing -- no 5K in the entire city of Los Angeles during the month of March (which is, incidentally, Colon Cancer Awareness month). Instead of throwing up my hands in frustration, I decided that I'd be the one to make something happen in L.A. for my favorite brand of cancer (and by favorite, I mean my favorite kind of cancer to murder). Today, I started making things happen.

This morning, I had an awesome 45 minute conversation with Ben Basloe, Director of Development at the Colorectal Cancer Coalition (otherwise known as the C3 Coalition). Ben is a super awesome guy, a big college basketball fan (though a die-hard Syracuse fan, he still respects my Blue Devils), and full of great ideas. Instead of running with my initial 5K idea, Ben suggested that I might be interested in organizing a 3-on-3 basketball tournament. 

Best idea ever? Yes!

So it's settled. I'll be working with the C3 Coalition and bringing the lovely City of Los Angeles a 3-on-3 basketball charity tournament (and maybe a silent auction too?), with proceeds benefitting the C3 Coalition. The anticipated date for this extravaganza will be mid-August, so I can make sure this event is organized right. So incredibly excited for this. And yes, of course I'm going to play in the tournament. I've got my eye on a couple of teammates already.

 After my call, I picked up the phone again and called my Congresswoman (Roybal) and Senators (Feinstein and Boxer) and did my part in supporting the C3 Coalition's "Congressional Butt-In," which is a campaign to urge Reps and Senators to co-sponsor the Colorectal Cancer Prevention, Early Detection, and Treatment Act. The bill will create a national screening and treatment program modeled after the successful breast and cervical cancer screening programs. It's an important bill -- it'll help educate the public about the necessity of screening for colon cancer, and will make screening available for those that might not otherwise be able to afford it. I would absolutely love for you, my dear readers, to pick up the phone tomorrow and become a part of the "Congressional Butt-In." Here's the low down on everything you need to know: http://fightcolorectalcancer.org/c3_news/2011/03/with_just_one_phone_call_help_save_thousands_of_lives.  

There's really no better, more satisfying feeling than doing something to make your community stronger. I'm proud to be a cancer warrior, and I'm thrilled about sharing my energy and efforts with the cancer warrior community.