This column is about you. That’s right.

But first, a word about what a schmuck I can be.

Quiz: On a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being the highest, what number is higher: the level to which I can be selfishly “inwardly focused,” as Oprah would say, and not concerned about the world, or the level to which cancer can be an awful, vicious, uncaring, relentless thug in a person’s life?

The goal of this column is to hope the cancer number is higher than the schmuck number.

Becky Philbrick has been battling cancer. You might know her. Wentworth School teacher. Mother of four kids ages college sophomore down to middle schooler. Family present at many sports competitions, many community events, church, blood drives, car washes, etc., etc.

They are in a battle. The scoreboard?

Medical bills, off the charts; Philbricks, ???

Their friends have put out the word: Rally the troops. Big event planned for Friday night, Jan. l6. Fundraiser.

Remember the opening scenes in the movie “It’s a Wonderful Life”? George Bailey is in trouble. Many friends appeal to a higher authority for assistance. One friend says, “Help him, God. He never looks out for himself?” That reminds me of Becky’s husband, Bob.

Now for the quiz. Examine the three stories below.

Story One

U.S. Sen. Olympia Snowe spoke to a Chamber of Commerce group 25 years ago. “You want to know what someone is really like,” she said, “look at their checkbook register.” What you spend money is on is who you are, was her point. I perspired lightly, and squirmed in my chair.

Story Two

Packy McFarland was Scarborough High athletic director and baseball/basketball coach in the l960s through the ’80s.

He chased after me in the aisles of the old Martin’s grocery store in the late l970s (where the Maine Med cancer facility now is) after I had purchased a poinsettia corsage from a Salvation Army guy in front of the store. Packy wanted the answer to one question: Why had I only bought one, giving that worthy group just $5, instead of buying more than one?

“Money is like manure,” he said. “You spread it around, it can do some good. Keep it all in one place in a pile, and after awhile it starts to stink.”

We both knew why I had only spent five bucks.

Story Three

I was at a meeting of the American Trial Lawyers Association in Texas in the l980s. There was a group in a big conference room discussing the death penalty. They wanted lawyers to give time and money. The electric chair was being aimed just at blacks.

A guy stood up and said he had given all the money and time he could. He needed the rest of his money to cover his family expenses.

A penalist came down from the head table. An African-American, probably in his 60s. White hair. He held up that famous photo of those young people in the l950s or ’60s who had the fire hoses aimed at them during a civil rights protest in the Deep South.

“The fire hose ripped off a large area of skin from his back and side,” he said, pointing to one kid in the photo he now knew. “It didn’t grow back like you think it would … They didn’t give those folks top-flight medical care.” Scar tissue grew to cover the area. Kind of milky white.

The victim told an NAACP-type convention once: “I thought I only had enough skin for me … to cover my body. I am glad I found out I had more.”

The photo caused a worldwide rush of human and financial help for Southern blacks.

So, what about you?

Where does that leave us?

Charitable giving is about the giver, not the cause.

The world is filled with great causes. Not all succeed.

People make significant donations of time or money because of how the giving makes THEM feel. How do they view themselves?

What do they want their legacy to be? Who are they?

So, what now?

The Philbrick fundraiser is Jan. l6 at the high school. I have not seen anything like this since the l970s, when the power structure would hold “harvest suppers” at the high school to benefit families burned out of their homes.

Olympia Snowe said look at your own checkbook register. CMP, PWD, Blue Cross-Blue Shield, and Looney Tunes, Target, Royal Caribbean Cruise, Yuppie Valley Country Club, Fifi’s Tanning Salon?

The Deep South fire-hose victim shows we may have more skin than we need. It will grow back.

Packy McFarland says spread it around.

Don’t let it stink.

Dig deep.

Happy New Year.