The Least We Can Do

A couple of weeks ago, an email dropped into my Facebook inbox. It was from a friend of mine who I hadn’t seen in a while. She was asking me to join a group called Alana is Running for a Cure. Knowing Alana, and knowing that she is most often running somewhere, it didn’t surprise me. It also didn’t surprise me that she was running for a cause. To know Alana is to know a beam of sunshine always wanting to better herself and her world. But it did surprise me to learn that last year Alana’s mother had died, following a brave battle with cancer.

The C Word. Cancer Shmancer. The disease that kills more Australians than anything. We hear it time and time again. We see it every day on the television, in magazines, over coffee with a friend. We get it, it’s big news. The thing is, it’s more than big news, it’s more than something we can just read about then forget about. Cancer has woven itself into the backdrop of daily life.

We all have stories. We all know someone who has survived cancer, and someone who hasn’t. We have consoled the children of parents who have lost their fight, we have consoled the parents of children who haven’t survived. We have held so many hands. And that isn’t going to stop. Of those four friends you had lunch with the other day, or Friday night drinks with last week, at least one of them will be diagnosed with cancer in their life time. It’s as simple as that.

Cancer is the disease that touches everybody, everyday. As you read this article, thousands of men and women are waging their own private wars across the country. Millions around the globe. And, look, I know – all these numbers, all these facts and figures, they get overwhelming, and it’s so easy to walk away.

Here’s all you need to know. People are dying and there is something you can do about it.

I’m not asking you to pledge this week’s rent, I’m not even asking you to pledge this weekend’s beer money. I’m not telling you to do anything. Anything except know that there is something you can do. There always is.

It might be running a marathon. It might be simply sharing stories. It might be giving a couple of coffees worth to an organisation that knows what to do with your money. It might be simply holding someone’s hand. But there is always something you can do, and it is always worth it.

Alana Lechminka has taken on the challenge of running the SMH Half Marathon in May, pledging to raise $1250 for cancer research, through the organisation, CanToo. In the email she sent, towards the end, there was something that jumped out at me;

“I would run a million kilometres and do whatever it takes for one more day with my mum. If all it took was to fight my thoughts and put my joggers on to help find a cure then it’s worth it. Making a difference is worth it, and giving hope to people who are suffering now and people who may in the future is worth it!”

If that’s all it took. We all think ‘but it takes so much more’, because that makes our responsibility to take any form of action so much easier to ignore. But it doesn’t take so much more. What we do now, will be the ‘that’s what it took’ ten years down the track. It won’t happen today and it won’t happen tomorrow. It mightn’t happen for a long time yet. One person giving $20 doesn’t feel like much. But a hundred people giving $20? Two hundred people giving $20? A few thousand people giving $20? That’s a small act on a big scale, and that’s what it’s all about. That’s all it takes.

Trespass reaches thousands of readers every week, from all around the world. Even if just one of you eats breakfast at home tomorrow morning and uses that money to sponsor Alana, then the ball keeps rolling.

I decided to make this Trespassing With a cover story edition because it is the least I can do. Because this tiny act will join other acts and together, spread the positivity, share Alana’s extraordinary attitude with those who need that ray of sunshine, and hopefully sustain the troops that are fighting one of this age’s greatest killers.

What’s the least you can do?

Trespassing With … Alana Lechminka

1. Name: Alana Lechminka
2. Occupation: Student – Bachelor Business (Accounting & Finance), Personal Trainer/ Fitness instructor
3. Reason I am being trespassed: I am being trespassed because I am living with passion. I am using whatever is in my power to help find a cure for cancer. At the moment I am training for a half marathon to raise funds for critical cancer research. In the last year, I initiated and mentored the Macquarie University CanToo Program which has already funded 1 researcher and will fund another researcher within the next few months. CanToo is a non-profit organisation that provides professional coaching to novices and seasoned athletes to achieve an endurance event be it running or swimming. Each participant in return pledges to reach a set fundraising target.
4. Fave book: This is extremely difficult. However, if I had to choose one it would be ‘It’s Not About the Bike’ by Lance Armstrong.
5. Fave movie: Once Were Warriors. I am part Maori, born and raised in Australia.
6. Fave shopping spot: Rebel sport, Athletes Foot. I am trying really hard to think of a cool chic place that I shop in, oh, I got it… I just got back from Vietnam, and LOVED the shopping in Hoi An! The only problem was that, I didn’t do enough!
7. My best memory: I definitely can’t answer this, but it’s a great question. I really have a beautiful life with many wonderful memories.
8. When I was little I wanted to: sing and dance in musicals and be a dance teacher.
9. Fave TV Show: Nothing jumps to mind, but Ladette To Lady has been stealing my attention.
10. Can’t live without: my dreams and aspirations, a good pair of running shoes, my beautiful partner – Chris, and my friends and family
11. If I could live anywhere in the world, I would choose: Sydney – I have travelled to many places, and there is still no place like home.
12. Last film I watched was: 8 Mile
13. First album I ever bought: Bette Midlers Greatest Hits – I still love this album!!!!
14. Song I can’t get out of my head: I’m Yours – Jason Mraz
15. When I grow up I want to be: Well, I think it’s safe to say I can throw the dancing teacher out the window, but if I am on a path similar to the one I am on now, I would be very satisfied.
16. My goals for the next two years: I want to finish my degree, run a marathon, raise money and awareness for cancer research, travel South America, visit family in New Zealand and begin my first book.
17. Five years: I work in two year increments with a blue print of what’s beyond. Ask me in 3 years.
18. Ten years: call me in 8 years time and I’ll give you an update!
19. The thing that bugs me about life is: On first thought I want to write how wonderful life is, that it is all rainbows and butterflies, but then I realise I am just having a good day. Then there are days that just plain crappy and nothing is going to make it better and I become all righteous and irritable and have to bury myself in a mountain of pillows to avoid catastrophic consequences. Although seldom, it does happen. So I figure that life will bug us, and sometimes we need these life bugs to challenge us and maybe bring about personal or social change. Whenever a life bug bites you it is just trying to tell you something. Embrace life bugs!!
20. But the thing that makes it all worthwhile is: Q20 and 21 are combined. See above )
21. Top three travel essentials are: Patience, a good sense of humour and more patience.
22. The first thing I do each morning is: ask myself why I always wake up BEFORE my alarm clock!!!!
23. I unwind by: Cooking, especially baking. I love to cook, and I love people enjoying my food.
24. The last thing I do at night: Give thanks, pray for wisdom, strength and courage, and tell my partner I love him.
25. I wish I could: cure cancer
26. On Sundays I like to: potter around the house in my pjs
27. I got my big break when: I’m still waiting for my big break, but it is remarkable how the world starts to present itself when you start believing in yourself and actioning that belief. On second thought, I got my big break when I started believing in myself.
28. Right now I am craving shitake mushrooms but normally my fave food is chocolate
29. Laughing makes me buzz but crying depletes me.
30. The advice I’d give Trespass readers is: To keep reading trespass. It is so refreshing and inspiring. Believe in yourself and do what makes your heart sing.
31. One Reason they should love me is: Love me or not, I will still love you xoxox
32. Last thing I bought: a quiche baking tray. I told you I love to bake!!
33. Ideal Invention: Something that cures cancer.
34. One word to describe me is: Manawanui (It is my Maori middle name. My nanna said it means ‘a little girl with a big heart’)
35. The mark I want to leave on this world: Manawanui
36. I am on to it by: thinking I am …

To sponsor Alana, go to www.cantoo.org.au, click on Sponsor Participant and enter Alana Lechminka, or just Lechminka.

Click here to join Alana’s Facebook group, and see her photos and read her missives.