Team Burgundy

I’m running the Tulane Cancer Center Wave Makers 5K as a co-captain for Team Burgundy (Head and Neck Cancers). As you know, I am dedicated to improving health, safety, and quality of life for patients with serious illness. Patients with head and neck cancers often face some of the most serious quality of life concerns.

As 1 of 24 co-captains across the different teams for this fun run, I wanted to raise funds in a way that is fun, meaningful, and would catch some attention. As you know, I am always masking and do research and advocacy work supporting patients and families on masking and other precautions.

Celebrating Masking

Here’s the deal: For every $50 donated, I will add a mask to my race day outfit. I have already donated $100 myself for the Moldex pleated N95 I will wear properly during the fun run and a replacement for after I have sweated through it. The rest of the masks could be fashioned into a sash, a cape, a shirt, whatever. I will push them in a cart if needed.

• $500 = 10 additional masks for the full race
• $50 = 1 additional mask for the full race
• $10 = 1 additional mask for 1K of the race
• $1 = 1 additional mask for 100m of the race
• $0.01 = 1 additional mask for 1m of the race

Donations can build on each other, so 5 people donating $10 gets another mask for the full race, etc. My vision would be a very high level of donors, as a show of solidarity. As Bob Cialdini says, “Even a penny would help.”

FAQs

World Record

• There does not presently appear to be a Guinness World Record for most N95s on an individual in a 5K.
• I reached out to Guinness a couple months ago but have not yet received a response.
• Hopefully, this year can serve as a test case to push for an official record in the future.

Tributes

• For every donation of $50 or more, I’d be happy to write a tribute on a sticker that goes on the mask packaging.
• “Keep fighting, Kelly” or “In honor of James, Mask Warrior," etc.

Good Health, Safety, and Environmental Modeling

• I will mask properly. Extra masks will not be worn on top of my mask.
• All masks will be N95s to promote high standards.
• All masks will be individually wrapped or boxed so they do not become soiled and unusable. I will eventually wear them or donate them, if someone wants them.

Caveats

• This is a fun run.
• All donations are final. The event could get rescheduled/canceled due to weather. I’m also in my 40s and could get injured. If for some reason I cannot compete, I will do an informal fun run or something in the spirit of this event, in consultation with a group of advisors who have serious illnesses.

Inclusivity

• There are many ways to support health and health justice. This is just one. Please also consider donating to your local mask bloc or engaging in advocacy in other ways too. There are many great causes.
• Many people with chronic and serious illnesses are housebound or cannot run or could run but would then crash for days or weeks after. This is no endorsement of the primacy of exercise-based activities.
• I personally discourage any judgment on what activities people can, cannot, or “should” do. It is important to have humility while promoting a less ableist world.

How Your Donation Helps

• The Tulane Cancer Center is committed to improving cancer research and care. We are located in the Deep South, a part of the country where cancer infrastructure is a fraction of what it should be. We’re trying to change that.
• Funds support the Tulane Cancer Center. This is just the 2nd fun run. The proceeds from the first fun run went toward a competitive research project award. The project, led by Drs. Martin and Collins-Burow, aims to build knowledge that will reduce the chances of bone metastases in the context of breast cancer.
• As you know, I avoid financial conflicts of interest like the plague. I will not personally accept any payments related to the fun run. If there is a research project award competition, I will not apply. If someone asks me to be on their proposal, my effort would be “in kind” only (pro bono).

Would You Like to Participate?

• If you are local, please register, and do so under Team Burgundy.
• If you are not local and would like to do an informal virtual 5K, please let me know. I will see if we can make it happen on short notice this year. If not, I would love to note that there is enough demand to formalize that next year.
• If you have other ideas for ways to get involved, please let me know.

Thanks!

Mike