My job is having a breast cancer walk coming soon and our office director asked me if I would like to walk in it. I said I’d think about it.
But honestly, my gripe with it is that it’s for Susan G Komen and I cannot stand that organization. The overhead they spend is enough to show that they are not the charitable organization they claim to be.
My aunt had breast cancer (and beat it) and my dad passed from prostate cancer, so I understand and fucking hate cancer, but I don’t want to support organizations that take advantage of it for their own profitable gain either.
What’s the kindest way I can respond to such a request without coming off like a bitter dick?
You could support an alternative org and mention it when you decline to walk.
But this walk isn’t just about money. It’s a community event for the walkers as well. It’s a team thing for work. It’s a way to seal that anti-cancer stance into your nervous system with action. It might be an opportunity to meet someone from the Susan Komen foundation, so you can discuss your concerns with them.
But if you simply want to decline, just practice in the mirror doing it in a way that doesn’t sound bitter. Like, literally record yourself on camera, then review the video and ask “does this person sound bitter?”
It takes practice to modulate tone, especially if like me you’re kinda caustic.
What I don’t think you should do is just ignore this. Your concerns about this org are important. Maybe your company should be doing this for a better org.
Chances that you can change it this year are low, but maybe for future years. And I would bet that being at this particular walk, supportive not only of Komen but also of your team, would go in your favor as you seek to shift this company relationship from Komen to some other org.