Last year I participated in the iNews880 #Movember campaign in support of finding a cure for prostate cancer. Which was pretty impressive, if I do say so myself, because I’m neither a member of the iNews880 staff nor a guy capable of growing a moustache. That’s why I drew a larger and larger moustache on my avatar last Nov. Oh, and I managed to kick butt on my team and raise the most $$ of any individual member.

This year I’m taking a break from campaigning for #Movember. Mostly because I’m constantly shilling for @ABbrowncoats, Kids Need to Read, and the Legion’s Poppy campaign.  Add to that Derby, work, and the beginning of full on panic mode at school and I just need a break. Or a vacation. So I’m vacationing from #Movember.

I choose not to feel guilty about this decision. The #yeg #Movember team is many times larger this year than in previous years. I know the fundraising is in good hands. Many of my friends are participating. It’s hard to choose who to support. And for how much.

Well, it was hard to figure out how much until I came up with my “grand plan”. I needed to go to the bank and a few shops after work yesterday so I decided to count the poppies on my journey, and then donate $1 for every poppy I saw. I was anticipating having to make a a large-ish donation. Sadly, that didn’t turn out to be the case. After passing hundreds of people over a 2 hour period yesterday, I had a grand tally of 18 poppies. 18!. Four days into the Legion’s annual poppy campaign and I discovered, much to my dismay, that few people are wearing poppies in Edmonton. That cracking sound you hear? That’s the sound of my heart breaking.

I counted all the poppies I saw on my way to work today. Walking. Train. More walking. An additional 8 poppies encountered. Of the 38 people standing on the #LRT platform with me this morning, only 3 were wearing poppies. With the passing of the last WWI veteran and the WWII & Korean veterans aging rapidly, I worry that we have begun to forget already.

Today, I’m picking 3 friends and donating to their #Movember campaigns. Hopefully, each will take a moment to go out and support the Legion’s poppy fund. And spread the word.

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