4 minute read
Just Imagine® Childhood Cancer Walk
By Cassie Johnson
In the United States, childhood cancer is the number one disease-related cause of death among children. According to the Kentucky State Cancer Registry Director Dr. Eric Durbin, our Commonwealth has the highest cancer rates out of any other state. Just imagine® if it was your child. Book for Hope, a local nonprofit organization, is hoping to end childhood cancer one step at a time.
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Book for Hope (BFH) will hold its 7th Annual Just Imagine® Childhood Cancer Walk on September 10 at the McCracken County High School. This year’s theme is a Hawaiian-themed luau which will begin bright and early at 8am. There will be games, Zumba, a photo booth, DJ, food, and ice cream for everyone. Participants of all ages will gather to walk four miles. This distance symbolically represents the four percent of national cancer funding that trickles down to childhood cancer research.
Book for Hope is a local grassroots organization on a mission to raise childhood cancer awareness. They help to support families that have a child enduring cancer treatment and donate to childhood cancer research. They serve western Kentucky, southern Illinois, and a few counties in Tennessee. The Board of Directors and Officers all serve on a volunteer basis. Approximately 32 percent of BFH donations are designated for childhood cancer research, the rest is financial assistance to families.
There are only four FDA-approved cancer treatments for children between newborn and 19 years old. The only other options are adult cancer treatments and clinical trials. Unfortunately for patients and their families this means traveling for life-saving cancer treatment becomes a way of life.
Vital Financial Assistance
“One way to raise childhood cancer awareness is by involving our community to help raise funds,” explained Gaylon Hayden, President of Book for Hope. “When we receive an application from the pediatric oncology social worker, BFH goes to work. We provide financial assistance in many ways including fuel and restaurant cards, as well as pre-paid Visa cards.”
In most cases, after one parent has exhausted their 12 weeks of the Family Medical Family Leave Act (FMLA), they will lose their job,” Hayden told me. “Their child is sick or dying, and the bills keep piling up. Regardless of the location where the child receives treatment, household and medical bills still have to be paid. Book for Hope pays one bill every month for each family. It may be a utility bill, car payment, rent, car insurance, repairs, or any other need.”
Become A Sponsor!
Corporate sponsorships are needed to help make the walk possible. Sponsorship levels are $500, $1,000, $1,500, and $2,000. Primary sponsors will be featured on the front of the event t-shirts as well as receive public social media advertising. All sponsor names and logos will be on the back of the t-shirts. If your family or business is interested in becoming a T-Shirt Sponsor, call Gaylon Hayden at 270.519.6536.
Register to Walk
Register individually or as a team of 25 by visiting bookforhope.org and clicking on Events. You can also pay your registration fee online. The $30 fee includes a t-shirt, gift cards, drinks, free photos, and more. Please add $2 for size XXL and $3 for XXL t-shirts. Register by midnight on August 28 to ensure you receive a shirt. Registered teams will have their team name printed on the back of their shirts. Registration will be available on the morning of the walk, but you will not be guaranteed a t-shirt.
Virtual or In-person
Participants can walk virtually from anywhere in the United States and your t-shirt will be shipped to you for a small additional fee. Virtual participants can take the walk at their own pace until they hit the four-mile mark. Regardless of where you walk, everyone is encouraged to take selfies and post them on the Book for Hope social media pages. If you are unable to walk four miles, don’t worry! Plenty of chairs will be available to sit down and rest. Wheelchairs and strollers are welcome on the track so you can roll or walk.
Nobody, especially a parent, wants to talk about cancer. Unfortunately, it affects nearly every household in America. While we would like to think it will never happen to us, cancer can strike anyone at any age in life. Please consider joining the fight to help families in our community survive and defeat childhood cancer. For questions about Book for Hope or the walk, contact Gaylon Hayden at 270.519.6536.
