Challenging YOU To Do Something: September is Children's Cancer Awareness Month

       Eight years ago, the unimaginable happened. As humans we think that the worst will never happen to us; reality sets when we find ourselves in a hospital bed. As a child, I watched my father's best friend's son battle a rare form of leukemia. I remember questioning the cause and quietly thinking that it would never happen to me. Fast forward seven years later; I was a sixteen and a half year old teenager revising my plans. Take what you read about cancer from non reputable sources on the web with a little grain of salt; cancer is not glamorous. All cancers are bad; although some have higher survival rates and manageable course of treatments, all kinds can be life-threatening.

      Not only does September mark Children's Cancer Awareness Month, it coincidently also happens to be Hodgkin's Lymphoma Awareness Month. Losing your hair is something that is evident in most individuals' journey when they're diagnosed with cancer; it's one of the things that raises the most heartache and concern for females and others conscious of their vanity. I might not have wanted to lose my hair, though there was no fighting it. It was going to happen, just something that I had to accept and embrace. Today, a spotless head is a scar that I voluntarily choose to wear every September or March (weather permitting). It reminds me of a dark time in my life; one that people do not choose if given the choice. Flip the coin, it reminds me of a transformational period in my life; one that made me mature faster and a more socially responsible individual. No one wants to have the conversation with a doctor that begins with the words, "You have cancer...", nor does anyone want to hear about cancer in a public setting. Though, it's a conversation that we as a society must have; educating others, raising awareness, and procuring funds geared towards  research, the development of life-saving prevention programs, as well as programs to make access to quality treatment and delivery of health services open to everyone, are all crucial to protecting our children. I think we can all agree, we'd rather have the prevention conversation over the survival conversation.

     Prior to moving to Washington, DC and facing long and hellish winters, I would shave my head every March to raise awareness and funds for children's cancer awareness; an active participant and leader of the St. Baldrick's Foundation movement to educate the community and procure funds for vital research. Starting last year, I added a new element to my yearly haircut that left me bald. Barbers might question the number that I request for them to shape into the back of my head, chuckling as I try to get to words out of my mouth. Heads may turn, causing people to have looks of confusion. I wear my number proudly, walking straight with my head held high, and a huge smirk across my face.


        "8" does not represent the number that sits on the back of the jersey of one of my favorite athletes, the number of nights during Hanukkah, or a lucky number of mine. For me it's something much more meaningful and deeper, "8" represents survival, celebration, and inspiration. The number "8" brings hope and joy to my ears and eyes, brings inspiration to children battling cancer, and lastly brings motivation to doctors and scientists alike; forcing them to work harder and smarter.

       There has been such camaraderie built around the ALS Water Bucket Challenge. A lot of you have surprised me, partaking in the water bucket challenge, donating thousands among millions of dollars to the ALS Foundation, and all together collaborating on an earth shattering moment for the ALS Society. While I may have questioned people's motives and the methods that ALS utilized to carry out their campaign, there's no question, it has had an incredibly positive impact in the way we fundraise, advocate, and educate.

      With that said, I am challenging each and every one of you to do something to help move along the mission of organizations like the St. Baldrick's Foundation, CureSearch for Children's Cancer, The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, St. Jude Children's Hospital/ALSAC, and the many other organizations and foundations that play instrumental roles in the prevention of cancer, as well as the protection. Your act of raising awareness can be as simple as volunteering at a children's hospital, or as big and bold as shaving your head in order to show solidarity for children undergoing treatment for all types of cancer; showing them that being bald is no big deal! Ready, set, go!