Going Gold for Childhood Cancer

In May, I went grey for Brain Tumor Awareness Month, and this month I’m going gold for Childhood cancer awareness month.

If you have been following my blog, in March 2014 just 15 days after being diagnosed with brain cancer, my 2.5 year old nephew passed away. Unfortunately for our family, Kai had one of the most aggressive forms of cancer, AT/RT, which has a 10% survival rate.

What are the facts about childhood cancer:

• Childhood cancer is the leading cause of deaths by disease among children.
• This year, 15,000 children in the United States from the age of 0 to 19 will be diagnosed with cancer and 2,000 will pass away from cancer.
• 41 children in the United States every day will be diagnosed with cancer.
• One out of every 300 males and one out of every 330 females will develop cancer before their 20th birthday.
• 40,000 children receive treatment each year for cancer.
• 20% of children will die from the disease itself, complications with treatment, or a secondary cancer.
• 96% of the Federal funding for research is for adult cancers, leaving less than 4% for childhood cancer, even though children make up 20% of the cancer population.

What is tragic about the whole situation is childhood cancer only gets 4% of all cancer funds. 4%. These poor, small, innocent children. Despite the fact that children make up 20% of the cancer population, many of these children are given no chance because the majority of the cancer funds are all being used for adult cancers.

For many people, these facts are really easy to read by and not think much of them – to you they are just facts. That ALL changes when childhood cancer affects someone you know. I had never been around cancer or death until Kai got sick. I understand that these are just facts, but for those who know me and my familys story, I hope it changes your thoughts about childhood cancer. If you want to make a difference in these little ones lives, please considering making a donation to St. Jude’s. Please consider going gold for the month of September and spreading awareness about childhood cancer.