Help me out Cfers...and non Cfers....
OK, so every year I go to this fancy smancy black tie silent/ live auction 6-course dinner deal that benefits CF. It's all adults, but I've gotten to go every year since I was about 14 since I have CF (duh). I love dressing up plus one year a couple bid on a puppy and gave it to me <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">.
Every year they have a speaker, usually a person that knew someone with CF that died, or just some random local celeb to talk about how horrible CF is. This is usually the worst part of the night for me, b/c I'm sitting here listening to how awful CF is and how the lifespan is around 30 for most people yadda yadda yadda. I just stare at my plate hoping that everyone isn't staring at me or my family and praying that I don't cry in front of anyone. But I know that it's necessary for them to paint CF in this light b/c it makes people give lots of money. The sadder the speech, the more money people give.
SO, this year, I was asked to give the speech. AAAHHH! I am usually great with public speaking, but I am so scared. I really don't want to get up there and be like "poor pitiful me, my life is so awful..." b/c that is just not me and it's also not true. But I feel like if I get up there and say "well CF has made me who I am, it makes me appreciate the wonderful life I have...." which is how I really feel, people won't give as much money.
So can y'all please help me with speech ideas? I was thinking I could tell the stories of some people on this board, with their permission, or something like that. Or if you could just help me phrase things in a way that makes people want to give money, but doesn't make them feel sorry for me....is that even possible??? If I have to choose, then I'm willing to make people feel sorry in order to make more money for the CFF, but I'd rather find some sort of compromise.
The only redeeming factor of this years dinner is that my fiance will be there supporting me. Plus I think I get to carry around the puppy that they are auctioning off (<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif" border="0"><img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif" border="0"><img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif" border="0">). OK,I should definitely be in bed sleeping right n ow, but it just occurred to me that this speech is a week from saturday....yikes!!! I appreciate any and all advice. Thanks!
OK, so every year I go to this fancy smancy black tie silent/ live auction 6-course dinner deal that benefits CF. It's all adults, but I've gotten to go every year since I was about 14 since I have CF (duh). I love dressing up plus one year a couple bid on a puppy and gave it to me <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">.
Every year they have a speaker, usually a person that knew someone with CF that died, or just some random local celeb to talk about how horrible CF is. This is usually the worst part of the night for me, b/c I'm sitting here listening to how awful CF is and how the lifespan is around 30 for most people yadda yadda yadda. I just stare at my plate hoping that everyone isn't staring at me or my family and praying that I don't cry in front of anyone. But I know that it's necessary for them to paint CF in this light b/c it makes people give lots of money. The sadder the speech, the more money people give.
SO, this year, I was asked to give the speech. AAAHHH! I am usually great with public speaking, but I am so scared. I really don't want to get up there and be like "poor pitiful me, my life is so awful..." b/c that is just not me and it's also not true. But I feel like if I get up there and say "well CF has made me who I am, it makes me appreciate the wonderful life I have...." which is how I really feel, people won't give as much money.
So can y'all please help me with speech ideas? I was thinking I could tell the stories of some people on this board, with their permission, or something like that. Or if you could just help me phrase things in a way that makes people want to give money, but doesn't make them feel sorry for me....is that even possible??? If I have to choose, then I'm willing to make people feel sorry in order to make more money for the CFF, but I'd rather find some sort of compromise.
The only redeeming factor of this years dinner is that my fiance will be there supporting me. Plus I think I get to carry around the puppy that they are auctioning off (<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif" border="0"><img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif" border="0"><img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif" border="0">). OK,I should definitely be in bed sleeping right n ow, but it just occurred to me that this speech is a week from saturday....yikes!!! I appreciate any and all advice. Thanks!