Knights of Avalon: Why we don't do relay for life....

Knights of Avalon: Why we don't do relay for life...., a photo by The Merit Coba on Flickr.

(note: i changed the below text because I didn't want to sound anti american, which is not what I am).

Relay for life is a big event in Second Life that aims at collecting money for the research for a cure for cancer. This seemed a good cause to us, until we read the small print.
Relay for life is organised for the benefit of the American Cancer Society. Although many communities have joined in, the money raised is spent for over 70% on American research:
This is from their FAQ:
Q: Relay For Life is an activity of the American Cancer Society. Is it just for Americans?

A: Relay For Life is international. In real life, Relay For Life is licensed to national cancer societies in 19 countries outside the United States, and the American Cancer Society's International Relay For Life Program provides training and technical assistance to licensees. In Second Life, participation by residents from other countries is growing, with avatars from over 80 real life countries taking part in 2011.

Q: Why should people from other countries donate Lindens to an American cause?

A: The American Cancer Society is becoming one of the global leaders in the fight against cancer and in cancer information, participating in many global forums and alliances every year. Approx. 12-15% of Lindens donated to Relay For Life of Second Life are used to support the international Relay For Life program.

So while people all over the world joined in to raise money, only 12-15% is given back to the world community. And while avatars of 80 countries raised money, only 19 other countries benefit from whatever results the American Cancer Society release to others.
This means that 61 countries that raise money will not directly benefit from the research they helped to finance.
It is very likely that the some countries will not benefit at all because there are laws that prohibit the sharing of certain information with other countries.. So it might be that even if the American Cancer Society wants to share it, that they can't...



The picture above illustrates for me the double feel. It is from a place called the Knights of Avalon that support Relay For Life with favor and it has a big American flag in the front.. The myth is english.. the group is obvious american..

Let the money be spent on international research that is shared internationally... not just for the benefit of one country that might not share with others..