Did you know that September is the national Childhood Cancer Awareness Month? Did you know that in the United States in 2007, approximately 10,400 children under age 15 were diagnosed with cancer and about 1,545 children will die from the disease? This makes cancer the leading cause of death by disease among U.S. children that are 15 and under.
Think back to when you were 15. What were you like? What were your friends like? Because for me, I remember that sweet boy that teased me in our lifeguarding class, and the one who helped me with my chemistry homework. The one that taught me how to play kickball in 2nd grade, and who was never mean to anyone. The one that would walk with me to our English class sophomore year, until one day he forgot – until I saw that he had fallen asleep in his class right before. I woke him up, annoyed. To this day, I hate myself for that – because that was the start. The start of the brain tumor that would take his life right after he turned 17. The tumor that no surgery, or prayers, or support from his amazing friends and family could get rid of. That as his favorite saying “I love you more” floated through the hallway couldn’t save. That I cried and had to see my friend buried in his cap and gown – with his last wish being that he graduated high school.
I write this because I’m starting to forget. Not his kindness, or the way he alwas had so much energy and love for everyone he was around. I’m starting to forget little things, like when he ran for class president and our teacher would only wear his button. See, she knew he was special too. Or that time he let me borrow his soccer shirt for some hokey swim team thing I had to do. His birthday was yesterday – he would have been 25. We were always the youngest in our class. But to me, he will always be frozen at 17. The memories are fading. And as October approaches, I feel that sense of dread I’ve felt every year since 2002.
There are many organizations that work toward this cause – and sometimes, even just volunteering at the hospital for a day can really brighten that child’s day – and even their parents. So, if you can, just once…..
1. Find a local or national organization and volunteer for a few hours one Saturday (Great example of one in Dallas is the Princess Alexa Foundation)
2. Find a local hospital and see if they have a play act program (people, like candy stripers, go around and sing/act/cheer up the kids)
3. Donate your hair to Locks of Love
4. Make cards for a local hospital and see if they would be interested in giving them out to the kids
5. Run in a race for cancer reasearch, like both my friends Carla Blumenthal and Laura Scholz did/are doing (or just donate to them)
6. Spread the word about this month and encourage others
What can you do to help today?
