Dear IJB members,

First, I’d like to thank you for your support of It’s Just Benign. Through www.ItsJustBenign.org and through IJB’s page on Facebook you have given support to others and also received it. You have participated in the Q & A’s to a neurosurgeon and nutritionist, started and participated in forums and blogs, and you realized that you’re experience with your benign brain tumor is not so rare. Many of you felt like you could breathe again and felt normal.

I started It’s Just Benign in 2008, not knowing what to expect. I had never met another survivor, but I knew that other survivors would connect with the mission. And I’ve found that many of you feel that your diagnosis is not understood and you’re tired of hearing “it’s just benign”. Just take a look at the comments and the disappointment and anger that many of you express on posts on Facebook. It’s clear that we need to be taken seriously and we need our community support, not support only by other survivors.

I gave myself a five-year plan for It’s Just Benign. I knew that there was going to be a number of survivors who connected enough with It’s Just Benign’s mission and would want to be a part of changing the way society views benign brain tumors. In my mind this was just a matter of time that five members, of the 400 members who live near the corporate office, would want to routinely help at events, help fundraise, etc. Unfortunately, this has not happened.

There have been about 10 members of the 1100 who have truly helped It’s Just Benign and have kept IJB alive. They know how grateful I am. We also appreciate you paying the $10 dues, but IJB needs a lot more help right now.

I’ve dedicated these last five years to running the website, doing the administrative work, and educating the community with events. I would love to continue this mission, but not alone as I have been. I know that communities all over the globe needs to be educated about the serious consequences of benign brain tumors, but the membership needs to step up and help more for this to happen. Perhaps another organization will do this type of education, but I haven’t come across it.

Effective immediately, I will be decreasing my hours that I use for running IJB. I won’t be approving new membership and forums ASAP, won’t be responding to your inquiries as quickly anymore, will be decreasing the outreach and all the administrative work. I will still do this work, but it will only be five hours a week instead of fifteen. I need my life back and I need to focus on my dreams and goals. And frankly, survivor’s need to do more if IJB is to continue providing you with support and services, along with changing the way society treats a benign brain tumor survivor.

There will be a board meeting in June with two new board members. I am hopeful that we can breath new life into IJB by making it a team effort. 

If interested, some things you can do to help.

1) Hold a small fundraiser. Email friends and family about a nonprofit that is helping you and ask if they can make a tax-deductible donation to IJB.

2) Ask your religious group to hold a collection.

3) Ask businesses if they want to advertise on www.ItsJustBenign.org. Chain stores, stores that ship merchandise, anyone in the medical or healthcare profession can all advertise. The information is on our website.

4) Ask businesses if they want to participate in the sponsor program. It’s tax deductible and we’d advertise them on www.ItsJustBenign.org, on Twitter, and on Facebook!

They can sponsor us for:

• business insurance $1500/year
• attorney retainer $2000/yr
• website and administrative fees $200/month
• brochures and other literature $1000/yr
• webmaster/marketing rep $700/mo

5) Banner ad space on www.ItsJustBenign.org. For as little as $35/month, you or your company can have a banner ad placed on the website.

Please help keep It’s Just Benign alive. This mission is needed and is helping so many people.

I am going on vacation starting May 10 and will return on May 19^th. Email me at itsjustbenign@gmail.com if you have any questions. I’ll reply when I return.

Thank you for your continued support.

Sincerely,

Beth Rosenthal

It’s Just Benign

Survivor & Founder

www.ItsJustBenign.org

Please support the continuation of this website by making a tax-deductible donation.