Dear Family and Friends,
When Elena was diagnosed with leukemia on April 6, 2009, we were as frightened as any parents could be. We were not only terrified by the realization that our child had a disease that could prove terminal, but that there was no clear cut cure or plan of attack to follow. Since Elena’s diagnosis, there has been little improvement. One of the factors for this is the severe lack of awareness of childhood cancer.
Did you know September is Childhood Cancer Awareness month? If you didn’t, you’re not alone. Many people do not know what the month signifies. Yet every day, two full classrooms of kids are diagnosed with cancer. And still, only 2% of federal funding for cancer research is directed at solving cancers that impact our children.
While doctors and researchers have made strides in the battle against so many other types of cancer, the lack of funding and awareness for our children has led to an insignificant improvement in survival rates for pediatric cancer over the past decade. As a result, cancer continues to be the number one disease killer of children in our country, more than asthma, diabetes, cystic fibrosis and pediatric AIDS combined! So how does childhood cancer become a priority cause in this country? The journey begins with each of us. We need your help to raise more funds and more awareness.
Throughout the month of September, we are participating in an initiative called “CURE’s Kids Conquer Cancer One Day at a Time.” On September 19th, Elena will be honored. CURE Childhood Cancer will feature her story on this web site www.firstgiving.com/2010curekidelenatate . Our goal is to raise $1,000 on Elena’s day in her honor to help fund research that will lead to better treatments and cures for pediatric cancers.
We hope you will consider donating in Elena's honor. We would also like for you to share Elena’s story with your friends and family. Together, we can make curing childhood cancer as urgently important as it should be.
In Him,
Christy and Mark
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