Leo

If youve been asked to write a letter to help with fundraising for a group or charity that youre involved with, you may be staring at a blank piece of paper wondering just what to write.

Heres an actual letter that was used to raise a substantial sum towards a refit of church equipment and was sent to local trusts and grant-making bodies.

Its important to keep your letter to just one page, with supporting information of no more than two pages. Include one photo if you wish and if its relevant.

Dont resort to begging, but write an informative letter which helps the donor to understand what your projects aims and goals are.

Although this is an actual letter, names and information has been changed, for obvious reasons.

Dear Mr Bentley

I am writing to Bentley Charity Trust on behalf of Finedown Baptist Church, as your guidelines indicate that you offer support for churches.

Finedown is a rapidly growing town situated in central Flintshire. It has a thriving business centre, with some of the top financial companies in the country being based locally.

We have a thriving youth group for local young people. We have a 68 members and offer services in both the morning and evening.

The church building is used by a number of different local groups because of its good acoustics, this includes the Watley Moor singers and the Big Down band. We also host activities such as yoga, fitness club and local coffee mornings for the local community.

We refitted our entrance seven years ago. However, the entrance doors are now in need of substantial repair if we are to be able to continue using them and welcoming in the community. The estimated cost of this work is 9995.

We have already raised the sum of 7900 through our fundraising efforts but need a further 2095 to be able to carry out the necessary work.

As a Trust that is interested in supporting and preserving buildings which are of value to the local community, we would be most grateful if you could consider assisting us with this project.

Please feel free to call me on 1234 678910 if you would like any further information.

Yours faithfully,

Jen Carter
Chair of the Fundraising Committee

Do ensure that you print this on headed paper, if you have it.

It's important that it's signed by the person whose name is on the bottom of the letter, this is not the time to be in a hurry and "pp" the letter on someone elses behalf.

If you would like an acknowledgement that your application for funding has been received, add a stamped, self-addressed postcard or envelope.

Only send off letter to trusts that offer funding in your area and your type of project.

Once you've sent off your applications, be patient! Most of these boards only meet every two or three months, so it may be some time until you hear whether or not you've been successful.

If you are offered a grant, always write and say thank you. Write again once the project is up and running to let them know of your progress.

About the Author

Jennifer has successfully submitted fundraising applications for several major projects.

For further fundraising ideas and further sample letters, visit her fundraising ideas website.

I may have run 6 marathons, the last one 7 months after surgery and chemotherapy for cervical cancer, but I am no Lance Armstrong. Lance, as many of you know, was diagnosed ten years ago with testicular cancer that had spread to his lungs and brain. He survived surgery and gruelling chemotherapy to come back and win the Tour de France, arguably the worlds toughest cycle race. He won it not once, but 7 times in a row. Now that guy is a legend.

As for me, I am a back of the pack runner: slow and steady. I was never going to be running up the front with a double D cup chest size. I think even Lance would struggle should he have been so endowed.

I run not to win the race, but to celebrate life, living, and being alive. This is ironic really because after running for 5 hours you really do feel half-dead!

Seriously though, it is a real privilege to be here. There are so many other people who could have stood up and told their stories.

If youre like me, you feel that cancer is everywhere. Every day it seems someone new is diagnosed with some brand of cancer. And its not a nice disease.

My good friends brother in law has recently had a tumour removed from his neck. The surgery affected function in his left arm and the radiotherapy killed his saliva production. He finds it difficult to swallow and cant taste anything ever again. No more red wine, no more chocolate, no more Krispy Kremes. I guess the up side is that if you cant taste it, you wont have cravings for red wine, chocolate and Krispy Kremes.

As for me, I was diagnosed with cervical cancer four days after my gorgeous husband Rob proposed. There I was 35, first proposal, never been married, excited to get married, to start a family. Then the doctor says, You have cervical cancer. You may need a hysterectomy.

I felt like I stepped in to the middle of a silent hurricane. There was a roar and a rage that spun my life in a direction I had never anticipated.

I had surgery an operation called a radical trachelectomy removal of the cervix. It is a very new procedure, reserved for young women who want to preserve their fertility and whose cancer has not spread. In theory I can still fall pregnant, though not without some careful management.

After surgery I lay on my hospital bed with tubes sticking out everywhere. The surgeon came in, sat down on the bed, and patted my knee. You know its bad when a surgeon, usually clinical and dry to a fault, sits down and pats your knee. He told me they found cancer in one of the lymph nodes they removed. I was going to need four rounds of chemotherapy.

Chemotherapy, for those who have not experienced it, is no picnic. There are all sorts of chemicals they use to poison the cancer cells. My particular form of chemotherapy consisted of a 9am to 5pm experience. I had an hour of fluid dripped through my arm, and then a couple of hours of cysplatin the drug then another hour of fluid to help flush it through. Cysplatin, like many other chemotherapy drugs, is so toxic that the nurses put on protective eyewear, enormous rubber gloves, and a mask just to hook it up. And then this drips directly in to the vein.

People often ask me, What was it like? What did the chemo experience feel like? I tell them, imagine your worst hangover ever, and nothing you do makes it feel any better. Not drinking, not sleeping, not eating. And this lasts for ten days.

No doubt about it cancer sucks.

In my mind, the worst bits of cancer are:
1.Being told you have it
2.Waiting for test results
3.The treatment itself
4.After treatment.

Once treatment was over, it was the strangest thing. As I walked through those electric sliding glass doors after my last round of chemo, I felt like I was wandering out in to a giant wilderness. What now? What next?

You dont ever really get an all clear after cancer. It is not like appendicitis where you have it out and it is all done. Instead you live and wait between checkups to see if the cancer has returned or not. Each check up is one step further away from the chance of recurrence. But there are no guarantees.

How do you live like this? How do people cope?

Really, you just go on. You live each moment as it happens.

However there are gifts in cancer too, strange as it may seem Lance Armstrong says he would never regret having cancer for the gifts it gave him, how it helped him to grow as a person. I, too, discovered some unexpected gifts in my cancer journey.

These are the gifts I discovered through my cancer journey:

1.I have never felt so loved. I had so much support from my friends, colleagues, and family. People gave me books, CDs, movies, flowers, brought me soup, chocolate, and plenty of other goodies. I experienced a real tsunami of love. People around the world were praying for me, some I had never met. I felt connected and cherished.

However the gift was not that cancer caused love to flow; rather it was the realisation that this love had been around me all the time but I had been so busy, so focused on my narrow little life, that I did not feel open to it. Like a sledgehammer, cancer cracked open my awareness to giving and receiving an abundance of love. I feel it flow effortlessly in my life now.

2.Compassion. I gained a lot more compassion for people you just never know what they have been through. My own doctor, the one who diagnosed my cancer, told me that she too had gone through the cancer merry-go-round. She was diagnosed 7 years ago with breast cancer. 3 weeks later her husband was diagnosed with liver cancer. He promptly died, leaving her with four kids to look after while undergoing chemotherapy.

I felt such a deep compassion for this woman who had hitherto just been a busy G.P. to me. I now treat every encounter with another person with a lot more grace and care. I approach them from a foundation of compassion. This is a much more gentle and peaceful way to engage with others.

Most important of all, I gained compassion for myself. I stopped judging myself so harshly, stopped trying to be perfect. I came to enjoy all the lumps, and bumps, and bits and boobs that before had caused me so much grief. I loved my body, my imperfections, because it was alive I was alive.

3.In facing death, I learned about life. After round two of chemotherapy I lay on my bed, feeling dreadful, gazing out the window at the trees. I just wanted to hide under the doona, terrified of dying. I just wanted to hug my mummy and daddy.

Instead I started to notice the sunlight on the leaves, the blue of the sky, the rosellas on the grass. It was magic. And I realised that everywhere there was a compulsive and unrelenting push for life.

Miracles were everywhere: the birds looking for a meal, the kangaroos nibbling on grass, spiders in their webs, the miracle of a baby in the womb growing without any help at all these miracles were happening without any conscious thought from any of us. I realised I was part of that. This unrelenting push for life was part of me too. We are all part of that.

I felt this realisation fill all the cells of my being. I felt peace descend upon me. I was part of this; I am part of this; we are all part of this life. No matter what happens to our bodies or to things around us, it will be ok because we are all part of this enormous surging river of life that is so beautiful and so amazing and so full of miracles.

And that was what cancer gave me an awareness of the true nature of life itself.

I know there are some of you here tonight who are living with a cancer diagnosis and undergoing treatment. I know you are terrified. I was too. But whether you have cancer or not, none of us knows what is going to happen tomorrow, next week, or in five years from now. You can choose to live in fear, or you can choose to live in possibility and joy.

All any of us ever have is now, this moment right here right now. And those moments are magic.

If you take a message away with you tonight, its not that there is life after cancer, but that there is life. Make sure you live it.

Copyright 2006 Zo Routh, Inner Compass, www.innercompass.com.au

Cancer survivor Zoe Routh is the Head Coach at Inner Compass, a personal development organisation that helps busy professionals work less and achieve more. Inner Compass offers practical strategies and solutions to improve personal effectiveness and live an inspired life.

Zoe has worked with groups and individuals since 1987. She has worked as a trainer, coach and facilitator in helping people achieve their personal best.

Inner Compass offers articles, resources, and coaching programs to help busy professionals radically improve their personal effectiveness to live an inspired life.

http://www.innercompass.com.au

My wife Ana and I found cheap homes for sale all over the country during a seven-week drive, and we even bought one along the way. It was in a pretty little town in the mountains of western Montana, and it cost us $17,500. We spent almost $2000 to fix it up the way we liked it, and lived there for several months before selling it for $28,000. You can see a photo of our little pink house on the homepage of our site www.HousesUnderFiftyThousand.com. This was not a fluke. There are still great towns where you can find cheap homes for sale.

In Anaconda, Montana you can fly fish, go to a movie for three dollars in a beautiful old art-deco theatre (the 5th most beautiful theater in the country, according to the Smithsonian), drop some nickles in a slot machine (a dozen casinos), eat at a fine restaurant, stop by the bar for a dollar beer, and buy a house for sale under $30,000 - all within a four block area! There are good schools and churches, a library with fast internet service, and wildlife (including bears) a few hundred yards from downtown.

The reason there are so many cheap homes for sale in Butte and Anaconda, is that there aren't many good jobs left. I personally found jobs in Anaconda easily-but not good ones. People left the area in the 80's especially, after the mines and smelters closed. This exodus has left one-in-seven "housing units" in Anaconda vacant, according to the U.S. census. This has driven down the prices of homes dramatically. Since both towns still have all the basic ammenities, are cleaner now, and are slowly recovering, they are great places to retire to or to move to if you have an internet or other non-location-based business.

The economic situation is the primary reason that you can buy a cheap house in many parts of the country. These are towns that have seen troubled times, but are often recovering, and with good reasons. Anaconda, an example we know well, now has a ski resort,a Jack Nicholas golf course, and beautiful mountain scenery. The houses cost four times as much if you go an hour in any direction, and those higher prices are bound to reach Anaconda eventually.

On the other hand, there are towns like the one in South Dakota where we stopped for lunch. The bulletin board had ads for cheap homes for sale, placed there by desperate home-sellers trying not to be the last to leave town. There was a photo of a beautiful old five-bedroom farmhouse for $11,000. We looked up the deserted street as we ate, and noticed that most of the buildings were boarded-up. This was a town that was clearly dying, and didn't have anything to help revive it. Inexpensive homes are easy to find here, but I wouldn't take one for free.

Maybe paradise is too much to expect, but there are many wonderful towns, from Florida to Oregon, where there are cheap homes for sale. So what does a town need in addition to inexpensive houses in order to make our list? Well, the criteria are certainly subjective, but include at least the following:

1. Population between 4,000 and 80,000.
2. A good library.
3. A good grocery store.
4. A movie theatre.
5. Cheap houses: at least six for sale under $50,000.
6. The town "feels" good.

When we researched and built our website, we broke the towns up into two pages. One is for the towns with houses for sale for less than $50,000. The other is for the towns with really cheap homes for sale - under $30,000! Yes, they are still out there. Using a phone and the internet, searching for your affordable dream home is easier than ever. Good Luck!

Steve Gillman and his wife Ana Blum have traveled the country exploring beautiful towns where there are still affordable homes. The result of their research, and their experience buying their own cheap dream home, is the website: http://www.HousesUnderFiftyThousand.com

The benefits of drinking water could easily number in the hundreds. But the most popular reason for drinking water may not be widely known. If this one fact was common knowledge, women and men would crowd around the water cooler day and night and everybody would have water bottles attached to their bodies. What is this great benefit of drinking water?

Drinking Water Revs up the Metabolism

German researches reported that after test subjects drank two cups of water, their metabolism soared by 30% and stayed elevated for 30-40 minutes. Drinking 10-12 glasses of water a day can help you lose weight. Now how is that for a benefit.?

What that means in weight loss terms is that drinking water increases the calories you burn while exercising. After your exercise session is completed and you drink more water your body continues to burn calories. Who knew? The better news is for couch potatoes. The metabolism is still affected in a positive way by drinking water, even if you don't work out.

Drinking Water is the Ultimate Anti-Aging Ingredient

Water is the ultimate anti-aging product. Water plumps up the skin and smoothes out some facial wrinkles. Water is the only true moisturizer. The common sense reason to drink water is that our bodies are made up of mostly this substance.

Water is Fuel to the Body

We lose a certain amount of water each day through urination, respiration and perspiration. We must replace this fluid to remain healthy. The body is estimated to be made up of from 60-70 percent water. So to keep our bodies running smoothly, we have to replace the water on a daily basis.

Water regulates the temperature of the body. If you are prone to chills or hot flashes, try drinking more water. You can't get your body in balance without giving it all the liquid nutrients that it requires. Since our blood is over 50% water, we need the blood flowing smoothly to take nutrients to our organs. Every organ in the body needs water to operate properly.

Water is Brain Food

If you are having a fuzzy day, and the brain does not seem to be working properly, drink a glass of water. The brain depends on the water flowing through your body to work efficiently. The whole truth is drinking sufficient amounts of water to keep your body running smoothly is the best gift that you can give yourself.

Think of drinking water to replace lost fluids as being as important as putting gas in your automobile. Each day that you drive your car, you use gas. At some point all of the gas is depleted. In order for the car to run, you have to stop at the gas station.

The same principal holds true with replenishing the water that your body loses on a daily basis. Unfortunately, you can not wait until the body has used up its total supply. You must replace the fluids in your body on a daily basis. If you stop drinking water or you do not drink enough, your body may be found on the side of the road. The sign might read "Out of Water".

For more information on the health benefits of drinking water and why you should try to drink more of it on a daily basis visit http://www.healthymenumailer.com/articles/health-benefits-drinking-enough-water.html

Although we tend to think of contact lenses as being relatively harmless, they are a medical aid and need to be treated seriously. Teenagers can wear contact lenses safely but need to take precautions.

In terms of suitability, most health experts agree that it is possible for individuals to wear contact lenses from the age of 13. If you want to know whether your teenagers are able to wear contact lenses then you'll need to consult an optician or eye specialist to find out.

One issue to consider is that of responsibility. Contact lenses do require a responsible approach, ensuring that they are not worn for longer than they should be and also to ensure that they are treated correctly.

Before allowing your teenage son or daughter to wear contacts, you'll need to consider whether you feel that they are responsible enough to do so. It's obviously an important decision, as inappropriate use of lenses can cause problems.

There is no standard advice on when teenagers reach a certain age at which they can be expected to take on the appropriate level of responsibility - it's likely to be a judgement call on your part.

One obvious advantage of contact lenses, as viewed by many teenagers, is in terms of appearance. A change in appearance can be achieved, when compared to spectacles, which is often a motivation in making the move to contacts.

Some teenagers worry that making use of contact lenses will be a painful experience. If contacts are used and treated correctly then wearing them should be a pain-free experience. Again, this really comes down to them taking responsibility for looking after each contact lens.

There are certainly advantages to teenagers wearing contact lenses - the important thing is to make them aware of the level of responsibility involved and of the importance of following medical advice at all stages of the process.

You can find out more about color contact lens options by reading Keith Barrett's other articles on the subject. This article may be used by any website publisher, though this resource box must always be included in full.

More and more people are surviving cancer than ever before. cancer is no longer the death sentence it once was. Cancer treatments in the past were sometimes drastic and devastating. Surgery that used to involve a large incision can now be accomplished through a small incision using a surgical probe that allows surgeons to see and remove cancerous tissue without the trauma of major surgery.

Radiation therapy has advanced as well. More sophisticated equipment and technology does less damage to the surrounding tissues. New discoveries and developments have brought about new and more effective medicines with less side effects. This and other advancements have been brought about by ongoing cancer research.

Cancer Research UK is one research organization based in the United Kingdom. It is one of the few independent organizations devoted to cancer research in the world. One of the goals of this organization and others like it is to gain a better understanding of the various types of cancer. By doing so they can then develop better medicines and treatments to fight cancer.

Only through a better understanding of cancer can advancements in these areas be made.Research is the step by step process that is done by collecting and examining data on cancer. It almost always involves a quest for new information that can help to develop a new drug or treatment or hopefully some day an actual cure for cancer.

Research can involve the study of its basic biology to the effects of treatments. Another area of research involves the testing of drugs that have already been developed. Before a drug is made available to the public it must undergo years of testing to make sure it is safe and effective. Right now there are drugs undergoing testing that in years to come will be available for use but researchers must first determine their overall effect on the cancer patients who use them.

Most people don't realize just how many different types of cancer there are, each with its different problems in treating it. So there has to be many different areas of research to develop treatments for them. Cancer Research UK supports over three-thousand researchers and the work they are doing.

The one true key to successful cancer research is money. One ongoing job for nonprofit cancer research organizations is raising the funds to support the work they are doing. Anyone can help cancer research by making a donation to any of the nonprofit cancer research centers. In this way you can do your part to help find better treatments and hopefully some day a cure for the disease.Another way to help is to take part in a clinical trial of a new drug or treatment.

Another area of cancer research is focused on the relieving of the symptoms of the cancer. Until a cure is found people with cancer have to endure the symptoms of the disease. The first one that come so mind is pain but there are many others such as dietary and nutritional special problems cancer patients face.

Learning how to better keep cancer patients pain free, happy and healthy is another area of ongoing cancer research. There too many areas of cancer research to cover here but we have covered a few. Only through cancer research can progress be made in understanding its causes, how to prevent it and eventually a cure.

Article by Sven Ullmann, who runs Deserved Health - information on health for you and your family. Read more about uk cancer research. Get our health newsletter.

One of the most popular Ducati models is the Ducati Superbike 1098. The first variation of this model is the Ducati Superbike 1098. It was voted the Best Motorcycle Design of 2006. Some of the highlights of this model include the Testastretta Evoluzione engine, a light and effective chassis and suspension system and a superior braking system that uses Brembos Monobloc caliper racing technology.

The next variation of the 1098 is the Superbike 1098 S Tricolore. This variation was only produced for the 2007 season. It comes in the Italian national colors, red, white and greens. Superior suspension was the focus of this bike. It comes with completely adjustable 43mm Ohlins FG511 forks. Another focus of this model was a high performance to weight ratio.

The third variation of the 1098 is the Superbike 1098 S. This variation of the 1098 Superbike focuses on power and superior performance. In addition to added power and reduced overall weight, the 1098 S also includes a variety of gadgets that makes this a superior motorcycle model. The Ducati Data Analyzer System is a technical gadget that comes standard with every Superbike 1098 S. The standard DDA package keeps track of your track performance and provides you with instant access to your performance history via a CD or a USB connection.

To find the best Ducati motorcycle for you, you need to analyze what is most important to you. If you are interested in a basic model designed for high performance then you will want to test drive the Superbike 1098. If you are interested in superior performance offered by a lighter weight bike then you will want to test drive the Superbike 1098 S. Finally if you want the advantages offered by the 1098 S, as well as the style of Italian racing fashions, then you will want to test drive the Superbike 1098 S Tricolore.

In addition to a superior line of motorcycles, Ducati also offers a great line of custom bike accessories. These accessories include items like Ducati Monster upgrade, racing bike parts, 1098 accessories, engine performance upgrade kits, wheel upgrades and bike covers. Wrecked motorcycles, salvaged parts and accessories from major manufacturers such as Harley-Davidson, Ducati, Henderson, Yamaha, Buell and Kawasaki. Find the parts you need to repair your bike or restore a vintage motorcycle as a hobby or profession

For many people, seeking health insurance is a daunting prospect with a number of companies to choose from each offering a range of policies which can be both complex and difficult to decipher. For this reason it is often wise to employ the services of a broker to match your needs to the right health insurance company and policy.

Having chosen a broker it is a simple matter of giving him your medical details, including details of such things as any pre-existing conditions from which you are suffering and medications you are currently taking, and a list of the things that would wish to see covered in your policy. The broker then looks at a variety of companies and different policies and comes back to you with his recommendations. Once you have had a chance to study these, and to ask any questions that you might have, the broker will then work with you to get your health insurance contract signed and your policy issued.

It is important to understand that a health insurance broker works independently and is not employed by any particular health insurance company. His job is to study the health insurance market and to acquaint himself with the full range of cover available, as well as with how each insurance company operates including such things as its reputation, the frequency with which it increases premiums and the manner in which it handles claims.

Although the broker is independent it is also important to understand that he makes his money by way of a commission each time a contract is completed and that his commission will vary from one insurance company to the next. You may well feel therefore that it is in his interest to recommend a policy to you which earns him the highest commission. If this is something that concerns you then you should discuss this with the broker. If he is a sound and reputable broker he will have no difficulty in discussing this openly with you.

Despite the fact that the broker will be earning commission from the sale of your policy, which effectively comes from your premiums, it does not necessarily follow that a policy purchased through a broker will be more expensive and you will usually find that the same policy purchased directly from the company will cost you exactly the same amount as money as you will end up paying in buying through a broker.

In addition, a broker will often be able to find you a deal which you are unlikely to uncover on your own simply as a result of his knowledge of the marketplace.

Surprisingly, perhaps because the rules on health insurance are constantly changing, health insurance brokers are fairly thin on the ground. In addition, most states require health insurance brokers to be licensed and the licensing requirements vary from state to state.

If you feel confident about seeking out your own health insurance policy and are happy that you can understand the technicalities of a health insurance contract and the details of the small print then all well and good. But, if this is not the case, then a health insurance broker could turn out to be your best friend.

Whether you are looking for a standard low cost health insurance plan or a more specialized form of medical insurance such as an interim health insurance plan then the best place to start your search for a suitable broker is right here on the internet.

A natural home remedy for hemorrhoids can be just as, if not more effective, at bringing you relief than the many chemical based products out there. Many of these remedies are long lasting and in some cases, powerful enough to cure you of hemorrhoids completely.

In order to find effective home remedies for hemorrhoids, it is important to understand what hemorrhoids are and what the causes are. Once understood, finding relief can be quite easy.

Hemorrhoids are swollen veins around the anal and rectum area. When these veins rupture, they cause complications such as pain, inflammation, rectal bleeding, itching and irritation. Hemorrhoids can be either internal or external depending on their severity and are usually caused by chronic constipation.

Other causes of hemorrhoids are obesity, excessive periods of sitting, lifting heavy objects, poor nutrition, and pregnancy. Although an embarrassing subject to discuss at times, hemorrhoids are much more common than many people think.

Home remedies for hemorrhoid relief are becoming a more popular way to cure pain and irritation, instead of using over-the-counter meds or resorting to surgery. Many pills and creams have chemicals that cause uncomfortable side effects. Basically, using chemically based treatments can do more harm than good.

Although surgery can be beneficial for external hemorrhoids, it can result in long recovery times, discomfort and for some, embarrassment. With this said, home remedies for hemorrhoids can cure the problem before it gets too severe.

A simple home remedy for hemorrhoids is Vitamin E. A wonderful antioxidant, Vitamin E helps detoxify your body, which increases proper function of your digestive system. When your digestive system is working properly, youre less likely to deal with chronic constipation and straining.

If you sit down all day at work and are in need of relief from pain once you get home, try sitting on a donut shaped pillow. This home remedy for hemorrhoids is especially great at bringing relief to expectant mothers suffering from pain and irritation. Taking the pressure off allows the affected area to heal.

Other convenient home remedies for hemorrhoids include soaking in multiple warm baths throughout the day and increasing your fiber intake. The warm water brings relief to the irritated area by increasing the blood flow to the affected area. Increasing your fiber will help soften your stool, allowing you to have pain-free and normal bowel movements.

There are also many more natural and powerful home remedies for hemorrhoid relief. Aloe Vera gel placed directly on the anus soothes the burning sensation and relieves the pain. Other soothing agents are bayberry, myrrh and goldenseal root. These can usually be found in salve form at your local drug store.

A home remedy for hemorrhoids that shrinks the swollen veins quickly and effectively is Witch Hazel. Try applying this to the affected area 2 to 3 times daily for optimum results.

Of course while many of these ingredients can work independently, the best home remedy for hemorrhoids is a treatment that offers a combination of multiple all-natural ingredients. Commonly found in pill form, all-natural supplements with a combination of ingredients such as the ones listed above, can actually cure you of hemorrhoids once and for all. This is because unlike chemical based medications and creams, all-natural ingredients work with your body by entering the bloodstream.

All-natural ingredients make it possible to rid your body of hemorrhoids completely, without the risk of side effects. Sticking with natural treatments can help you be pain-free once and for all.

Alex Lerner has been researching digestive disorders for many years, focusing on treatment and management options. Alex contributes regularly to the Hemorrhoid Treatment Guide, a site dedicated to diagnosing and treating hemorrhoid flareups with conventional and alternative therapies. Learn more about home remedies for hemorrhoids and other information on the site.

Peter Piston was driving to work when he realized that he was almost out of gas.

It was payday and, since he lived from paycheck to paycheck, he was also out of cash. His credit cards were also burned, partly thanks to price of gasoline, which was now at about $4 a gallon.

He had no choice but to pull into the gas station where he usually filled up and ask for a favor.

Just as he drove up alongside the pump, his gas-hungry SUV sputtered to a stop. He was totally empty.

He got out of his car and, for the first time, he actually went inside the establishment, instead of just pumping and running.

Hi, there, he said to the man behind the counter, who happened to be the usual hardworking immigrant from India or Pakistan. How are you today?

Fine, thank you, the man in blue replied, and held out his hand. How much?

Actually, Id like to fill er up.

Cash or charge?

Either one, Piston said, but I need to ask you a favor.

What is that?

Can I have the gasoline now and pay you tomorrow? Then to justify the request for charity and establish his trustworthiness, he added, I buy gas here all the time.

Oh, the attendant replied, What do you mean?

Well, today is payday. When I put my check in the bank, it will clear overnight. So Ill have plenty of money tomorrow.

No money now?

Not right now.

He held out his hand again. Credit card?

Cant right now, Peter admitted.

Im sorry, the attendant told him, taking a payment from another gasoline purchaser, and telling the lucky driver, Thank you. Then, without looking up, he went on, No money today, no gasoline today.

But I need it to get to work, Piston told him, so I can get my paycheck.

Sorry, I cannot let you pump gas free. I would lose my job.

What if I dont fill it up? My job isnt that far from here.

Sorry, I cant help you, the hard worker said, taking another sixty from a second really lucky driver.

Its not like Im asking for a whole tank of gas, Peter pressed. How about just a gallon?

You have to pay, the attendant told him.

Oh, come on, Peter cajoled. How about spotting me a quart?

Whats a quart?

Piston pointed to the dairy case. Like a quart of milk.

The pump only pumps gallons, the cashier told him.

But its simple math, Peter informed him. Lets say a gallon costs $4. There are four quarts in a gallon. So all I need is a dollars worth.

I cant do that. Im not the owner.

Oh, Peter sighed. But you must be able to let me have some. How about a pint? he pointed to the dairy case again. Like the half and half.

Sorry, mister, the man replied. I told you, no money, no gas. Try down the street.

I cant. I ran out of gas when I pulled in here.

Youre out of gas?

Yes, I am.

Then you have to push your car out of the way. Youre blocking the pumps.

Just then Peter realized how to get his way. Im not going to push that SUV. Its way too big.

You have to. You cant stay there.

Ill tell you what. Let me have just one tiny ounce of gasoline, and Ill drive it out of the way.

How much is an ounce?

Peter was at a loss. There was nothing in the dairy case that was just one ounce. One second, he said, and hurried to the soft-drink case. He returned with a can of Diet Pepsi. See this can? There are twelve ounces in it. Then pointing to what seemed to him to be about one-twelfth of the can, he said, About this much.

The Indian or Pakistani man eyed the can. Peter was confident he could do the math. After all, werent people from India and Pakistan generally adept at math and science.

Ill tell you what, the man said, reaching into his pocket. I will put one dollar of my own in the cash register. Tomorrow you promise to pay me two dollars.

You got it, Peter replied. Thanks.

Thinking that 100% interest for a one-day loan was pretty high, Peter was too grateful to argue. So out he went to pump, not just an ounce, but an entire quart of gasoline, now priced with interest, he calculated, at $2, or $8 a gallon.

Tom Attea, humorist and creator of NewsLaugh.com, has had six shows produced Off-Broadway. Critics have called his writing "delightfully funny," "witty," with "good, genuine laughs" and "great humor and ebullience."

If you are new to contact lenses, there are two things that you will need to learn - putting your contacts in and taking them out. Even if you may have got in some practice with your optician during your fitting exam, you will find things to be totally different once you step in front of your mirror at home and try to do it by yourself.

The first thing you will become aware of is that it can be difficult to put your contacts in. If you are putting them in for the first time, it can be a little tricky getting them in your eye. With a few days or a few weeks to practice, youll be more than comfortable with your lenses.

Always keep in mind that no one is perfect, it takes all of us time to get good at it. Here are a few tips that will help you with inserting and removing your contacts.

Putting in contacts

Before you put your hands on your contacts, you should make sure that you clean your hands thoroughly, and that you dry them off. Once your hands are clean, put the contact lens on your index finger.

Next, place a drop of solution in the center of the lens. Now, use your other hand and pull down your lower eye lid with your thumb then look up with the eye you will be inserting the contact lens into.

Take your index finger with the contact on it and place it into your eye. Do not close your eye immediately, rather leave it open a few seconds to let the contact settle. After a few seconds, close your eye and your contact should be perfectly in place.

If it feels uncomfortable, take it out and try again. It may take you a few tries; although the more you put them in the better you will get at it.

Taking out contacts

Same as before, you want to make sure that your hands are clean and dry. When you are ready to take them out, look up with your eye then use your fingers to grab the contact by the sides and pull it out.

You can normally get it out on the first try, with a little practice. Once the contact is out, blink a few times to clear your eyes. If it does not want to come out, put some drops in your eye to moisten it up, and then try again.

Contact lenses are easier to use than most people may think. Once you have worn contacts for a few days or a few weeks, you will find that it becomes second nature to put them in and take them out. Once you have got the hang of it, you will be able to put them in and remove them in a matter of seconds.

Alex Fir shares a wealth of information on his website Contact Lenses Center. To learn about contact lenses care as well as extended wear contact lenses visit his site now.