For those of who not from New England, you may not be familiar with the Jimmy Fund.  The Jimmy Fund is an annual fundraising drive for the Dana Farber Cancer Institute in Boston – an institution that treats — and cures — children with cancer.

I was fortunate enough to be at the Jimmy Fund game two years ago when a cancer survivor, Jordan Leandre, bravely and spontaneously ran the bases on two legs that, years before, were ravaged by cancer.  There was not a dry eye in the house.  If you want to see an emotional video, give this click – and have some Kleenex handy.  The lump-in-your-throat moment is at about 1:58 in the video.

At the game, I distinctly remember a barrage of emotional sights like a little girl held up a sign that said, simply, “Today, I am 8 years old.  Thank you.”

I have a variety of emotions about this issue.  First and foremost, I am beyond grateful that I have two healthy children and have not had to endure every parent’s worst nightmare.

On the other hand, In 2003, my mother was diagnosed with lung cancer.  We were were incredibly fortunate to have her treated at the Lombardi Cancer Center at Georgetown Hospital.  When you are caring for cancer patient, the nasty secret that you are not told is that your biggest, demonic opponent is waiting – waiting while your loved ones are in treatment, waiting for test results, waiting to see is the latest course of therapy was effective.  Waiting.

This ties into the above because the main waiting area at the Lombardi Cancer Institute is directly across an atrium from the childrens’ cancer treatment center.  While waiting — there’s that word again — I cannot tell you how many bald, sickly children I saw being carried in for treatment by a parent anguished by facing a nightmare of unspeakable proportions.

My mother did not survive, but in a strange way, people who are older and smoke their whole lives are, in cosmic sense, supposed to die. Children, who are programmed to laugh, to love unconditionally, are not.  Ever.

In the past, I have been involved in the St. Balrick’s Foundation as well as Doug Haslam’s recent PanMass bike ride challenge.  But everything is second fiddle to me to the Jimmy Fund.

I won’t drone on about giving a donation;  that’s up to you.  But what I can say is that the telephone donation line is 877-738-1234 and the Web site is here.  This year’s goal is a whopping five million dollars.  As of this morning, they are at $1.6 million.  That’s a lot of ground to make up.  But as I write this, people with buckets are in position all over New England.  WEEI and NESN, the Red Sox flasgship stations, is broadcasting non-stop.  Generous people from all over the country are making whatever donation, small or large, that they can.

And you can too.

Mark

I don’t know Doug Haslam personally, but consider him to be one of those friends whom I have not yet me.  He’s a Red Sox fan, I’m a Red Sox fan.  He writes for Media Bullseye, I write for Media Bullseye.

I have a soft spot in my heart for noble charities, and Doug is contributing to one of the most noble:  the Jimmy Fund.  Doug is going to be riding his bike for the Pan-Mass Challenge, a grueling bike trip/fundraising effort with proceeds going to be Jimmy Fund.

It’s one thing to stroke a check or to get one’s head shaved on St. Baldrick’s Day as I did a couple of years ago, but Doug is putting his body to the test where others have their tiny bodies at risk — children.  Childhood cancer is, for me, the cruelest of diseases.  It does not have to be, however.  The are fine organizations like the Jimmy Fund that raise millions to fund childhood cancer.

Two years ago at Jimmy Fund Telethon Day, I happened to be at Fenway Park with my then six year-old son, who, thank God (and I still do) is perfectly healthy.  We watched then seven year-old Jordan Leandre, a recovering childhood cancer victim, round the bases in what was one of the most emotional scenes I have ever witnessed.  I posted a YouTube video below;  fast forward to the end and you may not be able to keep a tear out of your eye as well.

So I am using his space to ask you to help someone who is doing so much for others. Please consider making a donation for Doug.

Mark

If you read this blog semi-regularly, you’ll note that I occasionally fill in for Chip Griffin as a co-host on Media Bullseye Radio Roundtable. It’s always fun and we always have a few laughs.  And I always learn something.

Yesterday, however, I did my best to stay on top my game, because our host was the esteemed Neville Hobson, he of the “For Immediate Release” fame. And of the thought-provoking Neville Hobson blog. And a bunch of other smart, interesting projects evidence by his 4,053 Twitter followers.

With a guest who has forgotten more about podcasting that I will ever know, I have to admit that I was a little nervous.  Have a listen and see if you think I pulled it off. And if the Roundtable folks had conducted random drug testing (read: Manny Ramirez) I would have been banned from the show because I managed to throw myself down a flight of stairs the day prior – and was in a slight percocet/flexoril/celebrex/neck brace haze.

Hope I did you guys proud, Jen and Chip. Or maybe I’m better when I’m higher than a kite? Jen Zingsheim sums things up much better than I can — her summary is below.

Mark

This week, Jen Zingsheim was joined by co-host extraordinaire Mark Story, and the very special guest was Neville Hobson, from the UK–of FIR podcast fame. The Roundtable discussed the recent results of a survey of FIR listeners, the World According to Mom blog-tag effort, and whether PR is suffering a slowdown borne of the recession, or if there are other reasons for budget declines.

Click here to listen to the 39-minute discussion.

• First, the Roundtable spent quite a bit of time discussing the results of the FIR survey, calling out some noteable findings. Jen was surprised at the gender split (77 percent of FIR listeners are men), and Mark offered his thoughts as someone who took the survey. Neville provided a lot of insight as to why they collect this information–and why they make it publicly available.
• Next, as Mother’s Day is this Sunday (still time to get flowers and a card, and don’t forget to call mom!) the group discussed Catherine Connors of Her Bad Mom, and the effort to “go around the world in 80 clicks.” This effort linking mom bloggers across the globe demonstrates the international power of community, and the ability to link to one another through a shared experience–motherhood–in addition to shared interests.
• Finally, the group touched on an article that ran in the New York Times about PR facing a downturn during the recession. Is the recession really the reason for a decline in business, or is this a correction, and does it take into account the introduction of new tools, such as social media?

Click here to listen to the 39-minute discussion.

I consider myself fortunate because I get to learn a lot from some very smart people.  I do social media in my day job, teach it at my night job, blog (duh) and get to so some freelance writing and podcast work on the side.

The best part?  Just about every day, I learn something new.

I have to confess, however, that my daily reading does not include some of the real blogosphere luminaries (I promised, no more about Scoble).  Aside from Shel Holtz and Neville Hobson (whom I consider A-Listers), my daily reading consists of some of whom I consider to be the “hidden gems” of the blogosphere.  And that’s why I came up with the wacky idea (boldly stealing #followfriday) with #blogmonday.

My dream is that, through blogging about other bloggers, we all can increase the reach and scope of our own blogger networks, help promote some really smart people who just don’t have the high Technorati rankings (yet) as well as share our own online rolodexes of “must reads.”

So please, feel free to join me in promoting some of the smart people out there.  And trust me;  I plan  to make this a weekly occurrence in the hopes that it takes off.  If you’re not in this one, you will more than likely make it into another.  So here are my entries for the inaugural #blogmonday.

Tried, True and Terrific

• Occam Razr’s – Ike Piggot’s blog not only makes me think about more things that just social media, I learn something new every time I read it.
• It’s Not a Lecture:  David Wescott makes you think;  and he developed (and executed) a brilliant idea on the “Global Moms” initiative.  Plus. he’s smart as hell.
• Rounding out this week’s list is a combined entry of Shel Holtz’s and Neville Hobson’s individual blogs as well as their out-of-this-world entertaining and smart podcast, “For Immediate Release.”

Blogs That Need to Make it Onto Your Blogroll

• Katie Payne’s Measurement Blog.  Katie literally wrote the book on public relations measurement and has helped me solve many an argument at work or consulting on the value of public relations.  She figured out the answers before many of us came up with the questions.

Blogs That You Might Not Read – But Should

• Shilpika Das’s “Wired Conversations.” Full disclosure:  Shilpika is a former student of mine, but writes amazingingly insightful posts.  She is smart, a great writer and someone who makes me think.  The student has become the teacher in this case.
• Matthew Chamberlin’s “Clearcast Digital Media.“  Matthew has been both a social media marketer and a video producer, so writes stuff that makes you think about the the differing aspects of social media converge.

Random Blog of the Week:

• Over the Monster – As a die-hard Red Sox fan (and I died hard many times before the first Red Sox World Series Championship, like in 1975, 1976 (Bucky Effing Dent) and of course, the Bucker-led 1986 team).  But if your are a Sox fan, add this to your blogroll.

Bonus Feature – Online Magazine and Podcast Series

• Media Bullseye.  This is Chip Griffin’s online, offline and “Radio Roundtable” venture, often executed by Jen Zingsheim (who, oh,by the way, announced that she hot MARRIED on Twitter last week).   Again this meets my criteria that every time I read or listen, I am educated and entertained.  Full disclosure:  I write for Media Bullseye and occasionally step-in as a co-host, but I wouldn’t do it, unless, in the New Hampshire vernacular, these guys weren’t “wicked smaht.”

That today’s inugural entry.  While it’s not as easy as #followfriday, won’t you please consider a quick post giving props to those whom you think are deserving of it?

Mark #blogmonday Story

I have found an outlet for my other passion in life:  my beloved Boston Red Sox. 

My pal and all-around good guy/Media Magnate, Chip Griffin, has revived his all-things-Boston-sports blog, Boston Hardball.  Yours truly will be opining, whining and teeth-grinding like only New England sports fans can.

Chip is a great writer and I will be chiming in from time to time.

Someone once told me to find what I love doing in life and try to make it my profession and then I will be rich.  Let’s see where this takes me.  NESN:  are you listening?  Does Heidi Watney need a partner?

I’ll volunteer.

Mark