Rhabdomyosarcoma, Midline Diffuse Glioblastoma, Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma and Type B Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia.

These are the 4 types of cancer that have impacted the children in my life. 

Before knowing about their diagnosis’ there were many facts about children’s cancer that I was completely unaware of. For example, did you know that there are only a limited number of drugs made to specifically battle childhood cancers? Many of these little warriors are fighting their battle with drugs that are intended for use in adults. ADULTS! As if being put through the ringer by the disease wasn’t enough, these helpless children are then ravaged by the implications of their medications and the lifelong side effects that they are left to contend with.

Many are left unable to bear children, suffering from seizures, chronic headaches and back pain, loss of bowel control, and heart issues. All of this makes sense, when you factor in that since 1980, there have only been 3 new pediatric specific cancer drugs introduced. We are using these highly toxic drugs that have had few, if any, changes made to them—on their young, fragile bodies.

Then keep in mind that every day, there are almost 800 new cases of childhood cancer around the world. This adds up to an estimated 300,000 new cases of cancer that affect children under the age of 20 each year worldwide. And yet, childhood cancer is vastly and consistently underfunded with less than 4% of the federal government's total funding for cancer research dedicated to childhood cancers each year.

That is why this September, I will be participating in The Million Mile with Alex's Lemonade Stand. Everyday, I will add to my mileage and continue to raise money to help fund research into safer, more effective treatments and cures. 

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