September is National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, which honors the more than 40,000 children who are currently being treated in the United States and the over 270,000 childhood cancer survivors.  The awareness ribbon representing all childhood cancers is gold.

Every day children in Northeast Ohio are being diagnosed and treated for cancer. My daughter, Emily, was one of them in 2006 at the age of 9. Sadly 1 child out of 5 who is diagnosed with cancer will die from their disease. After a courageous fight, Emily lost her life at the age of 12. Only accidents are responsible for causing more deaths in children than cancer.

Cancer in children tends to be more aggressive than that seen in adults, and thus treatment is aggressive as well. The impact of this vigorous treatment leads to 3 out of 5 survivors suffer from long-term side effects. It has been over 20 years since any new childhood cancer drug has been approved and yet less than 3 percent of the National Cancer Institute’s federal budget will be spent on all 12 major types of childhood cancers combined this year. Medical research tells us that with proper funding levels, childhood cancer can be conquered.  

Just imagine if we could change the life of one child.  What can an individual do? Tell your friends and family about childhood cancer and the need for greater funding, donate blood or platelets, volunteer at a local hospital or Ronald McDonald House and wear a gold ribbon this month to support all the children in your life. 

Together we can help more children celebrate future birthdays.

Sincerely,

Debbie Lewis