I always considered other people to be selfish if they ran in marathons or participated in fundraisers for cancer (or any other common life-threatening diseases) if they've been affected by it, had family members who are suffering or who have family members who have already died from it. The selfless people, I believed, in these organizations would be the people who had sincere hearts and volunteered themselves for events like these without anything in return (including networking, information, references, letter references).

1. Is this opinion self-justified? What is the common perception by the general public on this issue?

Now recently, I'm in a situation where a family member/relative of mine has last stage terminal cancer.

2. After my family member/relative's death, how will others perceive me if I reversed by above opinion (i.e. be a hypocrite for what I've believed in for the last seven years of my life) and started participating in the above marathons and fundraisers so that other families would avoid as much suffering and distress as my family had (i.e. do something in honour of my family member/relative's legacy)?

Again, thanks in advance. I greatly appreciate it.