Next Monday, October 1 will mark the end of Chilhood Cancer Awareness Month. Throughout the month of September, institutes and organizations around America are attempting to raise awareness about an illness that is the "leading cause of death by disease for children under the age of 15," according to a White House press statement.
President Barack Obama proclaimed September 2012 as Childhood Cancer Awareness Month in the August 31 press release.
"This month, we remember the young lives taken too soon, stand with the families facing childhood cancer today, and rededicate ourselves to combating this terrible illness," said the White House.
Obama also mentioned his Affordable Health Care for America Act helped make sure that insurance companies could not deny healthcare to children with pre-existing medical conditions that included cancer.
But it has become increasingly clear that our government cannot handle the burden alone. According to CDC Wonder data compiled up to the year of 2009, there were 13,632 children diagnosed with cancer in 2009. In the ten years leading up to 2009, a total of 131, 618 young lives were all burdened with the very real and mortal problem of cancer, according to the same data.
This is where organizations such as A Free Bird come in. Based in New York City, the non-profit offers two programs: FIGHT FREE for children currently fighting cancer, and FREE for children in remission. Both programs cater to the artistic needs of these children, in hopes that through artistic expression and the opportunity to work with mentors, these children can be reminded, despite the roadblocks placed on their paths through life, that they can still lead fulfilling lives.
A Free Bird recently connected young Nicole Morreale, a 17-year-old culinary enthusiast who was diagnosed with a brain tumor at the age of seven, but went on to defeat the illness. She was paired with Bravo Top Chef winner Floyd Cardoz to create a peach sundae flavor that was sold at New York's North End Grill for a week with proceeds going to A Free Bird, Pediatric Cancer Foundation, and Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital of New York Presbyterian
"The experience I had was in fact amazing...This opportunity was one in a million. It's every child's dream to meet and collaborate with people who they believe that they might become when they're older. In this case this was a dream of mine, to get a sneak peek look at what goes on in a professional kitchen," said Morreale.
The American Childhood Cancer Organization did its part by helping share the stories of those affected by childhood cancer and encouraging the public to hold awareness events. The organization even offered to help out with fundraising and materials in order to allow local communities to raise awareness.
As September comes to an end, it's important to not forget that childhood cancer is nowhere close to being under control. Each child under 21 has a one in 320 chance of being diagnosed with cancer and it affects thousands of lives with the most potential for our nation's growth - our youth. So as Childhood Cancer Awareness month passes, keep in mind that the most powerful tool we have at our current disposal in the fight against cancer is support, especially the kind that a child can see with his or her own eyes. Check your local community listings to see if there are any last-minute events being held this month, or even the next.