For Those Who Pea on Social Media

December 21, 2007 · Comments

peacture Mainstream media thinks about social media: whether to crush it, whether to join it, whether to just ignore it. Marketers wonder if they should use it as the new way to reach customers. Oh maybe social media is about peas.

Susan Reynolds Pea’d Herself

Susan Reynolds is an artist, and a creative soul, and I met her earlier in 2007 via Twitter. She is part of the more “social” side of Twitter, keeping up with AnnOhio and the gang. I know that Susan also gets into Second Life and that circle.

Only, one day, she learned that she had breast cancer. It all went fast, and the doctors gave her the big once-over. And after “a full afternoon of multiple stab wounds,” as she puts it, Susan learned that putting ice on her chest would help with the bleeding and the swelling and the pain.

So, suddenly, Twitter is all about peas.

Social Media Isn’t Just Chatter

Starting Friday, December 21st, the Frozen Pea Fund will be raising money for breast cancer research in Susan’s name. And it’s a message that’s being spread by Robert Scoble, Shel Israel, Jon Swanson, and Connie Reece, to name just a few.

People like Laura Fitton and Kosso have set up a group Twitter feed, and C.C. Chapman set up TwitterPeas. Overall, it’s a huge effort by lots of people to raise awareness of the campaign.

And this is to support a friend lots of us haven’t even met in person. Yet.

So Shrug It Off If You Want

We’re over here sending people to college, supporting other cancer fundraising, microlending, and plenty of other nifty causes that have real live humans behind them.

Social media is a lot more than blogging, podcasting, and social networks. It’s effective at reaching the people beyond the keyboards and microphones and connecting them to important things.

So, swing by the Frozen Pea Fund and consider giving to breast cancer research. Want a reminder as to why? Read Susan’s Boobs on Ice blog.

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  • Chris, I don't want to say a simple thanks or "you're a gem" or something that might seem like an offhanded platitude.

    But I can never seem to come up with something profound when I'm commenting on blogs; too much pressure.

    Can I just say that the whole PEA story and the way it's gone around the twitter and blogging community is in a nutshell the perfect illustration of how a huge array of people, individual people, from across all walks of life and social, political and cultural strata can form one relationship and from that one relationship can come tremendous good.

    There is no way to tell people how touched and heartened I am with the support I've gotten. Now after all the back and forth about "can we really make *friends* in social networks" I can say I know where my friends are. I can never thank you (each and every one of you!) enough.
  • What she said.
  • Where's the GIVE NOW button?? I joined the Flickr group, I changed my twitter avatar and posted, and I visited each of the sites but nowhere can I find a place to donate yet. This seems to be a case where the advocacy got ahead of the action.
    I'm sure it will be up tomorrow and I'll be able to come back and make a donation in honor of Susan and in memory of loved ones that I've lost to breast cancer, but the hype has already started.
    I can go out to the ACS or the Komen site, but I want to do it on BoobsOnIce or FrozenPeaFund.com now.
    I'm excited that our community has come together so quickly to support a meaningful cause in an exciting way, but I want to see the momentum used effectively too.
  • Susan forced me to drink "the juice" a few months ago. I remained undecided about the benefits of twitter until peas began sprouting last week. I'm truly amazed by the community that has formed to support Susan through this time. And, since then, I've seen others beginning to let down their public face and be real. To me, twitter has morphed from "IM on speed" to a caring, supportive community.

    We are all beside you, Susan, praying for you and wishing you a speedy recovery, our Queen Pea.
  • Update: Looks like frozenpeafund now has a Give Now link (12:51 AM CST) but the site must be getting hit pretty hard because it's not rendering all the way for me.

    In fact, now I'm getting errors on the page. Anyone want to help the site manage traffic and re-route donations?
  • I was wondering - is there a promo I could put in my podcasts?
  • I hope the peas bring "peas" to the world and a very quick recovery for Susan.
  • *hugs*

    My emotions are all over the place today from being excited about how this has all taken off..yet sobered by the reason that this has all happened.

    What an amazing ripple...
  • Dear Chris, My first wife of 38 years died of Cancer in 2000 !
    It may be world's nastiest disease ! We fought it alone No Pea Soup! I read your feed on my blog this am ! Please send me any feed related to peas Soup ! I wall have Andy Quayle set them up on my blog ! Social media should be a platform for Peas!
  • Ripples and circles, all expanding....

    Every one of us who blogs about Susan reaches a different group of people, our own circle of friends, spreading awareness and hope.

    This is a wonderful campaign, and I find myself feeling like Ann, so pleased to see the pool of concern growing into an ocean, yet sad that this had to happen at all.

    God bless you Chris, you are a wonderful and caring friend. My thoughts and prayers will be Susan, and with all of you, as we face this challenge....together.

    Peas and joy!
  • I am incredibly heartened by this whole PEA-nomenon.
    I stayed up last night, watching some of the busiest people I know work through the night to get the PEA site up, make free PEAvatars for people, and continue to rally support. It's amazing. Thank you for being a part of it all, and for being such a frank, inspiring, and positive leader in this sphere.
  • Fantastic campaign, but that post title... it's something. Have a great extended weekend!
  • This is David from over at the American Cancer Society. Thanks for posting about this and helping us fund life saving research into Breast Cancer. Susan's story is truly inspirational and we hope this fundraiser will help spread her story far and wide. And thanks for being a American Cancer Society volunteer Chris!

    For those of you giving money please know that The American Society has invested more in breast cancer research grants over time than any other voluntary public health organization – $322.7 million since 1972! And thanks for giving! Maybe we can all form a virtual team at a Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk in 2008?
  • Peas on earth - thank you, Chris!
  • Chris:

    Thanks for the ping. The Pea Campaign is so powerful because it is authentic. It's people relating to people.
  • People support is more important than any support. Digital or otherwise.
  • Hi Chris, what an inspiring post. While the web can waste our time in so many ways, this is a shining example of how it can bring out the best in people!
  • I am sincerely puzzled by the residential area that has constituted to confirm Susan through this time. And this is a tremendous movement.
    ________________________________________________
    james
    Wide Circles
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