It's That Time o' Year

As the title says, it's that time of year again. Many holidays just happen to fall right around now: Christmas, Hannukah, Kwanza, Saturnalia, Festivus, Solstice and so on. Some of these involve the giving of gifts. Some do not. Some parts of the world lie covered in snow and ice (unless you happen to be in certain parts of New England this year and haven't seen any dusting of snow stick around...not that I'm bitter or anything). Some celebrate with a glass of wine in the sun. It also just happens to be the end of the tax year.

I brought this up a couple years ago and thought it could use a bit of a repeat.

After the Zombie Apocalypse

This past weekend, I ran the Run for Your Lives zombie 5K obstacle course. The race served a couple purposes for me: 1) it was a good motivation to get back into running on a semi-regular basis and 2) it served as a good hook to raise money for vaccine research. Just to recap, I was raising money for the Vaccine & Immunotherapy Center at Massachusetts General Hospital. Specifically, they have two projects that caught my attention: creating an improved cholera vaccine and developing a laser-based vaccine adjuvant. My goal was to raise $3,000, and toward that end, I issued a challenge that if I hit $2,000 by race day, I'd double my personal donation. I'll come back to this later.

First, the race.

Break My Bank

Just a quick exhortation and reminder to all of my readers regarding my race to raise funds for improved vaccines. This Saturday, I will face the hordes of undead at Run for Your Lives. My goal in running this race is not only to finish (and stay "alive"), but also to raise money for two projects at the Massachusetts General Hospital Vaccine & Immunotherapy Center (VIC): an improved cholera vaccine and development of a novel laser adjuvant for vaccines (which may replace aluminum adjuvants).

I'm adding another carrot to tempt you to give. The folks at MGH have been great in getting me updates as to how much money I've raised. As of this writing, I'm at slightly over $1,000 raised for VIC. If my total hits $2,000 by Saturday, May 5, I will double my own personal donation. If you have not given, please consider doing so. You can find more information on my blog or on this site MGH helped me set up. If you want to skip the discussion about the project and just make a gift, you can go to the actual donation page.

MGH is a registered 501(c)(3), so donations are tax deductible. You might also want to contact your employer to inquire about matching gifts. Most companies will match donations to hospitals above a certain amount (usually $25). Finally, if you happen to live outside the U.S., keep in mind that if successful, this research would have a global impact.

So, make a gift, tell your friends and make me double my own gift.

Help Me, Interwebz! You're My Only Hope!

Something is coming. I've heard strange noises coming from the cemetery I pass every day. People in the neighborhood seem more tense; they glance around furtively, spending as little time as possible outside, and when they do, they run. There used to be birds, too. It has become so very, very quiet. And my area isn't the only one. It seems to be spreading, heading north. If my calculations are correct, it looks like whatever this is will converge on Amesbury, MA in just a few weeks.

A zombie apocalypse is coming. The dead will rise, forcing people to run for their lives. On May 5, 2012, the Amesbury Sports Park will be transformed into a 5K obstacle course...with zombies! Runners will need to make it past twelve natural and man-made obstacles, all while trying to avoid being eaten. And I am going to be among them. The runners, that is, not the zombies. At least, I'm going to try to not become a zombie.

But I need your help. "How?" you ask? Read on.

Putting Your Money Where Your Mouth Is

An argument that is heard with near light speed rapidity in discussions of anti-vaccine sentiments is "I'm not anti-vaccine. I'm pro-safe vaccine." This typically comes either immediately following or preceding a diatribe about how evil and dangerous vaccines are. The speaker/author generally declaims how every vaccine is dangerous and God forbid they should ever subject their child to such monstrous poisons (in their eyes). Present them with a series of vaccines and, more likely than not, they will describe some issue which, in their opinion, makes the vaccine "not safe," rendering it anathema. While they are not, in their words, "anti-vaccine," they are "anti-all-currently-used-vaccines."

Whatever. Tomato, tomahto. I'm not going to argue semantics. Instead, I'm issuing a challenge to anyone who says they are "not anti-vaccine, but pro-safe vaccine" (as if those who support vaccines are pro-dangerous vaccine). It is really a simple thing: don't just talk the talk; walk the walk.

'Tis the Season

Every December, there is something that is on a lot of people's minds. Of course, there's wintery weather, for those in cooler climes. Preparing for time with family ranks pretty high. For those of a religious persuasion, and even some who aren't, there are all the decorations to take care of, trees to set up and malls to visit. Lots of stuff going on.

But I'm not talking about any of those things. No, there is something else that figures prominently in many people's thoughts:

Charitable giving.