Help Us Put a ‘Bad Beat’
Thursday, July 03, 2008 08:50There are many charity events in poker. Many places, and many very worthy causes for poker players to put their hard earned cash. By writing this post, I certainly do not mean to say one charity is better than the other, or to select one over the other. That is a matter of personal choice, and certainly, there are plenty of worthwhile organizations out there. But, this one is special to me, and to many folks in the poker world.
Phil Gordon and Rafe Furst are once again asking poker players to donate 1% (only one percent) of their Main Event winnings to their organization, ‘Put a Bad Beat on Cancer’. I agreed yesterday to help distribute patches to players that were willing to wear them, and to make the pledge. Little did I know Cancer would touch my life less than two hours after I had the conversation with Rafe, and took the patches from him.
As some reading this may know, I was in the music business for 15 years, mostly in artist management. Yesterday, a member of one of the bands I used to manage passed away from Cancer. Natasha Shneider was a spirited, funny woman from Russia who played in the band Eleven with her husband Alain Johannes, and drummer Jack Irons, who also played with the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Pearl Jam.
I don’t want to get too heavy, but life is a fragile thing, and I am one of those dreamers that believes that its only a matter of time until human creativity and technology meet to find a cure for this disease that baffles us all. 1% is not a big piece of your Main Event cash, and I urge everyone to get involved. For more info, check out preventcancer.org.
Comments
Here is a comment we received from a guy named Mike about Barry Greenstein:
I'd like everyone to know,the good that can come out of poker and a hero of the poker community, i have been living a hell nightmare for 24 weeks,i am 31 years old, i was given 3-12 months to live a few months ago,i have widespread cancer that got into my brain.
through this time it has been my undoing,a worst nightmare,you always think if i ever get sick or hurt,id have people by my side to help me,well in my case it wasnt true, my father disowned me,my girlfriend left me, the only person who has stood by my side is my mother,and barry greenstein.
poker has always been a dream of mine to play professionally,and to play with some of my heros of the game.and barry has made this all come true for me,while i watched my outside world come caving down on me,and everyone leaving me,barry has stayed by my side. he's told me never to quit,through my darkest of times,it has helped, he told me we all die in the end.and its all true.and it truly helps
he's given me money to play with him on pokerstars,and has played numerous times with me,each time i smile and am happy.through 24 weeks of living bed ridden,ive only smiled those few times that i have played with him.. he dont need to spend his day playing 1-2 penny poker.but he does for me.and i want to thank him from the bottom of my heart.thank you
although i may never play in vegas,or meet my hero's,ive dreamt it all,inside my head, and its all i have .and it's always fun to live it inside my head.but barry makes dreams come true,i never thought id smile again after i got this death sentence,but i have. He is a true hero of the game,and a man who should be recognized for more than just poker.
John,
You know how I feel about charitable events and I commend Phil and rafe for their efforts in helping those with Cancer. I also commend you for taking some time to write to all of us about helping those who are scared,feeling helpless and depressed when they find out they have the "C" word.
I lost my mother to leaukimia when I was 13 yrs old and now people with most forms of Leaukimia can live a normal life. Hopefully soon we will have the cure for cancer and be rid of such a terrible disease.
Thanks John for your support, you and Poker news are the BEST.