A Poem that Raises Money for ACS

One of the most widely-spread viral emails we've ever seen has found new life on Facebook. It reprints a poem, called Slow Dance, supposedly written by a terminally ill young girl in New York. It claims the American Cancer Society will make a donation (three cents) to her treatment and recovery plan for each name the email is forwarded to. This viral message has been around in some form or another since at least 1997.

In fact, none of it is true. We certainly appreciate the good intentions of those who post the message. But forwarding this message on your Facebook wall isn't going to do much beyond fooling more people into thinking they're helping. We can only hope people who want to help will be inspired by this message, and channel that energy into legitimate ways to assist the millions of people affected by cancer, many of whom rely on legtimate cance rorganizations (and there are many, in addition to the American Cancer Society) to reduce suffering caused by cancer

Here is a recent version of the email:

It is so easy to lose sight of what is important.

This came this morning as a little reminder.

This poem was written by a terminally ill young girl in a New York Hospital. It was sent by a medical doctor. Make sure to read what is in the closing statement AFTER THE POEM.

Slow Dance

Have you ever watched kids
on a merry-go-round
Or listened to the rain
slapping on the ground?

Ever followed a butterfly’s erratic flight
Or gazed at the sun into the fading night?
You better slow down
Don’t dance so fast
Time is short
The music won't last

Do you run through each day
on the fly
When you ask “How are you?”
do you hear the reply?

When the day is done,
do you lie in your bed
With the next hundred chores
running through your head?

You’d better slow down
Don’t dance so fast
Time is short
The music won’t last

Ever told your child,
We’ll do it tomorrow
And in your haste,
not see his sorrow?

Ever lost touch,
Let a good friendship die
‘Cause you never had time
to call and say “Hi”?

You’d better slow down
Don’t dance so fast
Time is short
The music won’t last

When you run so fast to get somewhere
You miss half the fun of getting there.
When you worry and hurry through your day,
It is like an unopened gift....
Thrown away...

Life is not a race.
Do take it slower
Hear the music
Before the song is over.

PLEASE FORWARD THIS TO HELP THIS LITTLE GIRL. ALL FORWARDED E-MAILS ARE TRACKED TO OBTAIN THE TOTAL COUNT.

Dear All:

PLEASE pass this mail on to everybody you know.

It is the request of a special little girl who will soon leave this world as she has cancer. Please send this to everyone you know or don’t know. This little girl has 6 months left to live, and as her dying wish, she wanted to send a letter telling everyone to live their life to the fullest, since she never will. She’ll never make it to prom, graduate from high school, or get married and have a family of her own. By you sending this to as many people as possible, you can give her and her family a little hope, because with every name that this is sent to, The American Cancer Society will donate 3 cents per name to her treatment and recovery plan. One guy sent this to 500 people! So I know that we can send it to at least 5 or 6. Just think it could be you one day. It’s not even your money, just your time!

PLEASE PASS ON AS A LAST REQUEST