September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. This matters.
In honor of September as Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, we felt it was important to pause and look at the hows, whys and ways to help. Thankfully our partners at Papa Murphy's are putting a step forward toward fighting cancer by teaming up with Little Red Door Agency. This month, 20% of your purchase at Papa Murphy's can be directed to cancer research, and who knows: Maybe one day September can be rebranded as Childhood Cancer Is Cured Month. Read on for this sponsored post, reader...
“It’s cancer,” the words no parent expects to hear from their child’s doctor, yet 15,000 American children annually receive the diagnosis. “Yesterday was the hardest day of our lives. One cannot be prepared to sit in a doctor’s office and be told their child has cancer. Our child? Our sweet, spunky 15-month-old has cancer? The pit in my stomach is real? Can you start over? I'm suffocating, we're suffocating…” Courtney Davisson shared in the Riley Messenger. The Davissons along with 350 other Hoosier families this year, are receiving treatment for pediatric cancer at Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis.
While the survival rates of pediatric cancers have skyrocketed from 20% to 80%, families are fighting for increased research.
Cancer is the leading cause of death by disease for children under the age of 15 and 43 children in the United States are diagnosed every single day.
Despite the devastating impacts, pediatric cancers are disproportionately underfunded, receiving a mere 4% of the five billion dollars in federal funds designated for cancer research annually.
The lack of research funding prevents scientists from discovering new treatment plans, in fact only three new cancer drugs have been approved for treatment in children in the past two decades. Research will not only aid in the discovery of life-saving medications, but can uncover ways to lessen the often-significant side-effects of cancer treatments. Though in remission, 95% of former pediatric cancer patients will face health complications by the age of 45 as a result of their treatments.
There are many opinions as to why pediatric cancer research is underfunded, but the primary justification comes down to numbers - far more adults are diagnosed with cancer.
Statistically there are more Americans over the age of 18 and they’ve had more exposure to cancer causing substances. Opponents argue, however, that perhaps the years saved for the patients should be considered when federal dollars are allocated to research. "When you're told by your daughter's doctor that she's going to die because they can't do any research. They have no resources, that strikes you. We lost Caroline to a disease that should have been treatable," said Libby Symmes in an interview with the Indianapolis Star. Symmes’ five-year-old daughter, Caroline, passed away in 2009 from an aggressive kidney tumor. The Symmes family created the Caroline Symmes Endowment for Pediatric Cancer Research in an effort to save future children. Since its creation in 2011, the foundation has raised more than two million dollars to support pediatric cancer research through Riley Hospital.
LAST YEAR, CITYMOM H SHARED HER FAMILY'S BATTLE WITH CHILDHOOD CANCER. Read her story.
Like the Symmes family, many are frustrated by the lack of attention garnered by pediatric cancers. This fall as we prepare to be inundated by pink ribbons for breast cancer awareness, many families wonder where the gold ribbons are to be found in September, during National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.
How can you help?
Learn more about pediatric cancers, raise awareness within your community, sport some gold gear in September, and advocate to your local, state, and federal legislators. Indianapolis families can also honor Childhood Cancer Awareness Month this month doing something very simple: Ordering pizza. Visit a Papa Murphy's Pizza near you for the whole month of September and donate to Little Red Door at the register or order online and use the code "GIVE20" and 20% of your purchase will go toward Little Red Door. Little Red Door Cancer Agency works to reduce the physical, emotional and financial burdens of cancer for medically underserved residents of central Indiana by providing free client services, cancer screenings and education.“So many lives are impacted by the devastating effects of cancer,” said Rachel Dorsett Area Supervisor of Papa Murphy’s Pizza. “The emotional, physical, and financial burden of that battle takes its toll on patients and caretakers alike. We are so amazed by the hard work and tremendous support that Little Red Door provides to not only help ease that burden, but also provide hope to countless people. We at Papa Murphy’s are honored to be a part of that.” If you’d like to donate directly to a local organization supporting pediatric cancer research, please visit:
