There is a memorial in my town that re-centers me and gives me strength. It’s in a park near the field where I coach youth football. It’s a large rock, and it’s a symbol of a six-year-old girl’s life that was taken by pediatric cancer on November 17, 2013. Her name was Caitrin.
Every September, pediatric cancer awareness is put into the limelight, and we reflect on how little we actually know about the disease, yet how big of an impact it has on millions and millions of lives.
- The causes of most childhood cancers are still unknown. Unlike adulthood cancers, they are not strongly linked to lifestyle choices and environment.*
- Approximately 250 children die of pediatric cancer every single day.*
- Each year, there are an estimated 250,000 new cases of pediatric cancer worldwide that affect children under 20.*
- The average age of death for a child with cancer is eight, meaning that child loses 69 years of expected life.**
- 74 percent of childhood cancer survivors have chronic illnesses, and about 40 percent of childhood cancer survivors have severe illnesses or die from such illnesses.**
If these facts aren’t upsetting enough, remembering that childhood cancer is severely underfunded* is truly heartbreaking.
In the year 2016, there are still too many empty seats in classrooms and dinner tables. We need to work together to raise funds and awareness, so that we put an end to these tragedies. Thus, I ask you to please check out an organization that impacted Caitrin’s and many families - Camp Sunshine - and consider donating in memories of these young lives.
Although she lived a short life, the footprint Caitrin left is astonishing. My community was blessed to have her. Caitrin, you positively impacted lives when you were here. And now that you are looking over us, you’re still impacting lives through your memory.
*Alex’s Lemonade Stand, Childhood Cancer Facts, http://www.alexslemonade.org/childhood-cancer-facts
**Kids V. Cancer, Facts about Pediatric Cancer, https://www.kidsvcancer.org/