Saturday, September 22, 2007

On My Soapbox

Ok, this week, you just have to deal with me being on my soapbox. It's September, which is awareness month for cancer kids and Catie's birthday is coming, so you can deal with my venting =) or give me a week or so and come back.

Annie sent me this YouTube link . I'm not sure what she named it (or if it even has a name), but that's what I'm calling it (hope that's ok Annie). You'll see Catie and some other familiar faces. I'm fairly certain that present in each picture is a child we have lost to cancer. It's just a glimpse into their lives... and their absence. I'm often frustrated in September because you rarely hear that it is Childhood Cancer Awareness month. Some moms and I have written letters to media outlets asking them to cover this story... CNN did a VERY brief feature, but noone else has bitten. If it's awareness month, we need to make people aware. I know that there are hundreds and thousands of great causes out there, all important and valid... but this is the one that's close to my heart, so I will make noise about it.

In the last 20 years we have lost nearly 60,000 children to this wretched disease. Some of you live in small towns... What would your town look like if we took 60,000 people away. 2 classrooms of children are diagnosed every day(on average 46 kids a day)... How many weeks does it take for the number of kids in your children's school to be affected? I'm betting not as long as you think.

Research makes a difference. It increases survival rates... Here are some things that the Children's Oncology Group has achieved in the last 10 years because of research:
• Decreased childhood cancer mortality by 25%.
• Improved survival of acute lymphoblastic leukemia from 70% to 80%.
• Improved survival of acute non-lymphoblastic leukemia from 35% to 50%.
• Improved survival of the most common form of non-Hodgkins lymphoma from 70%
to 90%.
• Improved survival of widespread childhood neuroblastoma from 10% to 45%.
This shows that research makes a difference... But we need more research and research takes money. Money takes awareness... people won't give if they don't know the need.

What can you do?
1. Click the box above and write your representatives. Ask them to support the Conquer Childhood Cancer Act. Tell them cutting childhood cancer funding for a 3rd year in a row is unacceptable.

2. If you live in GA, register for a childhood cancer license plate by clicking here. Proceeds will support pediatric cancer families and fund research.

3. Contact media outlets and remind them of the importance of raising awareness about the number 1 disease killer of children.

Stepping down from my soapbox for now. I'll try to hide it from myself!! =)

6 comments:

Annie said...

I did not have a name for the video but I just changed it and named it Little Heroes. I think that is the perfect name.

Thank you for watching. Catie is such an inspiration to me!

Dorothy Gould said...

Thank you for sharing how we can help, Jenny. You have every right to be on your soapbox!

Amy S. said...

Jenny...you are aloud to be on a soap box and vent. You lost your precious Catie. I will be right here checking in with you through it as I always have but only I will sign more often. You keep up the good work and give baby Izzy a kiss for me. She is so sweet! Izzy and Jonathan are about the same age so I always look forward to seeing her pictures.

Hugs and Love...

Martha from NC said...

Keep the soap box out. We need to get the word out. September is almost over and too many people aren't aware that this month is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. There are far too many precious children who are losing the battle and we MUST fight this battle and WIN. Thank you Jenny for "venting". C'mon Moms, we can do this. Let's make it happen. Let's do it for Catie and all the other angels who didn't win the battle against the Beast!!
(Thanks for letting ME vent).

Bridget said...

What a beautiful video! I am friend's with the Stratton family. What a beauty!

I am so sorry for your loss. Cancer just sucks! My thoughts and prayers are with you, your family, and all others living with childhood cancer.

Jean said...

Hi Jenny-----I am a CK mom and I have followed Catie's site and now continue here. I wanted to let you know (if you didn't already) that CNN featured your story and Catie on a piece that you can find on their site http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/ireports/2007/09/23/ireport.childhood.cancer.aware.cnn?iref=videosearch
You did a great job!

I am a part of the group of moms that were involved in the Cancer Awareness YouTube video, which was also in the CNN clip. Though I am happy that they at least have it somewhere on their site, they were supposed to air it last Friday night but it got bumped for more "interesting" things (student tazered, polygamist).
Both videos will give your readers some ideas of how to help,
Best wishes,
Jean