Last year I was diagnosed with Stage 4 stomach cancer, and through that experience that I met many other people in the same position. But one thing that struck me is that we all need to be positive. The final spark for this was hearing from a friend who survived AIDS and is now on his fourth bout of cancer. And he is not giving up.

That made me think - that for all of us suffering long term illnesses (including cancer, depression, AIDS, etc), or those whose families members or friends, we need a time to think of each other.

So the plan is that at the specified date and time, we raise a glass (whiskey / beer / wine / orange juice / coffee / water - whatever)
It would be a time that we can all share, and say L'Chaim - To Life!
A time to say that despite it all, we're still here.
A time to say that we still doing the dance of life
A time to remember those we lost.
A time to give the finger to death.

So come join the celebration and toast L'Chaim - To Life!

The pathway to the date for this is a bit strange.

I was looking at a date far enough away so that it would give time to prepare and not too far away that it would die beforehand. And May 1st came to mind.

Of course this is also Beltane, which is a Celtic festival which signals the beginning of the bright half of the year. That seemed appropriate for a celebration to life.

But I though, would there be a significant date, specifically related to cancer? And I remembered that someone gave me a candle dedicated to Saint Peregrine, the patron saint of cancer. While I'm not religious, I did appreciate the well wishes of the friend who gave me the candle. I decided to look up some more info on the saint. Saint Peregrine Laziosi is the Patron Saint of cancer, cancer patients, breast cancer, open sores, sick people, skin diseases and AIDS sufferers. Thats a hell of a job description. And guess when his feast day is?

Yes - May 1st.

Not sure is someone was trying to give a hint, but there you go.

So for this event - I propose we raise a toast to life, and not just for us, but all those with chronic illnesses, or their family or friends. This will be at 20:00 (8pm) in your time zone.

Thanks for your support.

Be well

Two months after the first Toast To Life, my father, Frank, unfortunately lost his own battle with cancer. Knowing the man he was, I know he'd want this to be kept up. Even on his worst days he still tried to be positive and never stopped worrying about how his illness was affecting those he loved. For him and everyone with chronic illness, their family and friends, I propose we continue to raise a toast to life every May 1st.