Pediatric Cancer Awareness

Good morning all – I spoke at the last meeting about gold shoelaces to support Pediatric Cancer Awareness Month (the month of September). Pediatric cancer is a horrific disease (as is all cancer) that is so very underfunded. Only 4 percent of all cancer research funding goes to pediatric cancer. One out of every five children diagnosed with some form of pediatric cancer dies every day; currently there are more than 300,000 children under the age of 19 diagnosed every year and it is considered one of the leading causes of childhood death. A coworker of mine lost her 8-year old son last year after a horrible year of treatment, pain (both mental and physical) and frustration over lack of knowledge about these cancers.

There is a group that supplies gold shoelaces for distribution and wearing. The only thing they ask is for pictures to be posted on facebook and/or twitter of the shoelaces being worn. I have seen much imagination in the way they are being used (I have one every day around my neck holding my badge as well as on my sneakers). Of course, contributions are always welcome but not required (my exercise studio donates the money raised to whatever charity Christine, my coworker, chooses – last year was her son’s doctor at Memorial Sloan Kettering who is doing his own nonfunded-research to cure the type of cancer James died from).

I have plenty of these shoelaces with me on the Vaquita at all times. If anyone is interested, please let me know and I will gladly supply them. I thought we could, as a club, have our feet on the dock, on a lifeline, on a bow rail or where ever our imagination takes us (remember, the picture needs to be posted on social media). Christine posts daily stories about children and their families suffering and makes me realize just how very blessed I am. It would be great if we, as a club, help support this much needed cause.

Thank you – Jayne