CureSearch WALK

 

If you've been here for any length of time, you have probably heard me mention CureSearch. I have written  about the Plight of Pediatric Cancer. When people think of childhood cancer often the first thing that comes to mind is little bald heads and the second is usually St. Jude Children's Hospital.  This institution is an amazing place and is fully committed to the children in its care.  However, those select few are only 400 of the 40,000 kids in treatment.  While they do provide comprehensive and complete care for those 10% of children with cancer that they treat, only 20% of their total funds are going toward pediatric cancer research.

Without research, little is going to ever change in the pediatric cancer world.  The US government gives less than 3% of its budget to ALL 47 pediatric cancers.  Relay for Life and the American Cancer Society give half a penny of every dollar raised.  And the list goes on.  The hurdles in fighting kids' cancer are enormous because...

• Kids' cancers are not profitable to drug companies.
• Kids do not vote.
• Kids cancers are different than the same cancer in adults all the way down to the molecular level.
• Kids' cancers behave and respond differently. (They are different cancers with the same name.)
• There are too few kids as a total research base.
• Kids get the hand-me downs of adult treatments.  Pediatric formulations are not always available.
• Kids bodies are not little adults.
• There are complex ethical issues with kids.   

American Association for Cancer Research Copyright 2006 (Molecular Cancer Therapies)

So what CAN we do?

That is where CureSearch comes into the picture.  CureSearch unites the Children's Oncology Group (COG), the National Childhood Cancer Foundation and the 200 hospitals treating 90% of children with cancer in the US.  95% of their funds go directly to pediatric cancer research! Through CureSearch and the COG it is ensured that every child at one of these 200 hospitals receives the same protocol of care for their specific disease. (Brenner Children's is a COG hospital.) They provide tremendous resources and support to parents, patients, families, doctors, and nurses.  They are on the cutting edge of research, while at the same time supporting all the kids in trenches who are fighting for their lives.  

A cure is not just going to happen it takes funding.

We never dreamed we would find ourselves walking this road, but we know it has been ordained for our family. In two short years our eyes have been opened to the tragic reality facing our children diagnosed with cancer. We have seen our own child suffer and endure painful procedures month after month. We are walking first hand the road of long term disability that afflicts over 60% of childhood cancer patients.  We have witnessed heart wrenching suffering in the lives of those kids fighting alongside us.  We have seen first hand, on more than one occasion, the devastation of telling a family they have no more options left.  We have seen what cancer does to children aside from just the physical effects.  We have seen the ways it impacts families on every level and shakes them to their very core.  We have seen children and their siblings (including our own) have to give up the innocence of childhood in exchange for the burdens of cancer, pain, loss, and death.   And we have seen more children earn their angel wings than my heart can even hold. Children's funerals should not be a regular part of life for anyone.

People ask us all the time what they can do to help us.  Just this past year, Julia has faced 3 surgeries, an extremely difficult hospitalization, and numerous complications.  And all of this is while she is OFF TREATMENT. So many people ask us if there is anything they could do to help. 

My answer is, yes.  Please help us find better, safer treatments and cures for our kids.  That is our deepest wish and desire.    

We pray that you find it in your heart to join  TEAM JULIA in the CureSearch Walk in Winston-Salem, NC on October 1st.  Or start your own team.  (All the money goes into the same pot.) 

Registration starts at 9am.  The walk begins at 10am.  It is a 2 mile, family-friendly event. Registration is $10 for adults and KIDS ARE FREE.  There will be many other fun activities on hand, too. Please come out and join us in support of Julia and her brave battle.  It will mean so much to her to have her family and friends beside her. If you live too far away, you can still donate to our team, OR join in support as a "virtual walker". We'd love to have you fundraise, too... it can be as simple as sharing the link on your facebook page.