It’s a new year and time to celebrate as Lane is beginning year #2 of being NED! Congratulations Super Lane. You are our cancer-fighting HERO!
September is also time to celebrate Childhood Cancer Awareness Month and honor all the children that have been affected by childhood cancer. We’ve been busy with awareness efforts this month, all of which have been a great success.
Last week, I attended three story times at the Lawrence Public Library. The books that were read focused on childhood cancer and illness. I also spoke to the families in attendance about this important issue and used photos of Lane during treatment as well as brought his face mask and a hospital gown. After the books, the children made cards and book marks for oncology patients at Children’s Mercy Hospital. The entire family accompanied me to Thursday night’s event and Lane also attended the Friday morning event. Lawrence Channel 6 television also showed up and aired a news segment on the event: http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2008/sep/11/september_national_childhood_cancer_awareness_mont/.
Saturday was the big Superman party to celebrate Lane’s NED status. It was also the National Childhood Cancer Awareness Benefit Train Ride at Midland Railway in Baldwin City. After days of raining, the sky parted and the events took place without rain (until the very end). Both events were wonderful. Thanks to everyone who came and celebrated with us; it wouldn't have been a success without each and every one of you who attended. We enjoyed seeing many family members and friends at the pot luck dinner.
We were thrilled there were 243 passengers on the train ride out of 250 available seats -- yeah! This event was a huge success and surpassed all of our expectations. Prior to boarding there was face painting and a craft table for children to make bookmarks to childhood cancer patients. There was also an informational table about childhood cancer and a group of teenage girls from the Beth Ezra Academy sold cookies and lemonade. At the train’s midway stop, an open area called Norwood that is in the middle of nowhere, passengers departed. Judi O’Grady, whose daughter died from childhood cancer, gave a short speech about childhood cancer and then I read the names of area children that had been affected by the disease. More than 200 gold balloons, the official color recognizing childhood cancer, were released by passengers. It was beautiful, touching and memorable. On the ride back to the depot, each passenger was given a gold ribbon made by childhood cancer mom Chanda Hankins and a fact sheet about childhood cancer. As it was an evening event, the ride back was absolutely breath-taking with a beautiful GOLDen sunset and rainbow. Many passengers were deeply touched believing the beauty and rainbow were gifts from childhood cancer angels. Thank you, thank you to all who participated and helped us put this event together. It was truly a wonderful way to honor and memorialize our childhood cancer heroes. The money raised will be donated to Children’s Mercy Hospital pediatric hematology/oncology division. The Lawrence Journal World covered the event in its Sunday paper and with an internet slideshow: http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2008/sep/14/train_rides_balloon_release_honor_children_battlin/. Prior to the event, the Baldwin City Signal published a story: http://www.baldwincity.com/news/2008/sep/11/cancer_benefit_train_saturday/. And after the event the story that appeared in the Journal World was reprinted in the Signal: http://signal.baldwincity.com/news/2008/sep/18/train_rides_balloon_release_honor_children_battlin/
We are already planning to do the event again next year and hope to have 2-3 trains departing the depot at different times. We are also going to try to get more activities at the depot, maybe even a bone marrow drive that could potentially find a match for a sick child/adult and save a life. This year we only had about 3 weeks planning and organization; we are hopeful that this event could be even bigger, even better and even more memorable.
Today, Lakin was this week’s show and tell participant for her kindergarten class. She took her SuperSibs! trophy she received for being a wonderful sister to her sick and now healthy brother, a photo of Lane and her at the hospital that was taken during treatment, and one of Lane’s hospital gowns. At age 5, she, too, is raising awareness and making a difference.
Tomorrow (Tuesday, Sept. 16), I will be doing story time at the Ottawa Public Library at 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. The entire family is going to attend the evening session. Children will again make cards for childhood cancer patients following the books. Come by if you live near Ottawa. We’d love to see you.
If you want to support childhood cancer during awareness month, there are some easy activities that you could do. On Monday, Sept. 29 all Chili’s restaurants nationwide will donate their receipts to St. Jude’s Cancer Center. Last year, we ate at Chili’s in Lawrence with other area childhood cancer families. This is an easy way that you can contribute to the cause. We plan to go again this year.
If you are not on the National Bone Marrow Registry please consider registering for FREE through NASCAR, which is sponsoring an online bone marrow drive (normal cost is $52). Go to www.marrow.org click on NASCAR drive, click on join online, answer a few questions and possibly save someone's life. No blood work is involved. You will be sent a cheek swabbing kit to send back. The offer is only good through Sept. 22. This is an easy way to do something, maybe even save a life.
CureSearch National Childhood Cancer Foundation is having its Virtual Walk for 25,000 during September. The Virtual Walk is a worldwide effort to raise funds for childhood cancer research. You can create a team, join a team, sponsor a child or make a donation of as little as $10 at www.curesearch.org/12500. This, too, is something that is easy. In fact, this is a way to virtually walk for one of 25,000 children diagnosed with cancer each year without even leaving your home.
As Childhood Cancer Awareness Month comes to a close, our family plans to take a break from advocacy efforts for a few months until early 2009. It’s been a busy year with many successes raising funds and awareness. Though we’ve been busy, we did enjoy our short Labor Day break at Branson. Highlights were the water park, riding the “ducks”, miniature golf and the fish hatchery. We are looking forward to more “normal” in the months and years to come. Thanks so much for your continued support during Lane’s journey and healing. His next set of tests (not scans!) will be in November.
