Category Archives: Awareness Month 2014

Awareness Month 2014, News, Updates

Update: Atlanta Braves Craig Kimbrel’s Cleats Sell For A Whopping Amount!

10/01/2014 Raishad Peoples

A pair of gold Nike cleats that were worn by Atlanta Braves closer Craig Kimbrel were sold on eBay to support the nonprofit Curing Kids Cancer organization. Many professional athletes stepped up this year in support of children with cancer and this was Craig’s effort to mark September as National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.

Craig is the chairman of the charity’s program Players Curing Kids Cancer and the color gold happens to be the symbolic color of childhood cancer. All proceeds from the auction went to cutting-edge kids cancer research.

The Braves closer wore the gold-colored cleats on September 3, 2014 against the Philadelphia Phillies where he picked up his 42 save of the 2014 season and his 181th of his career.

“They raise money for research for pediatric cancer,” Kimbrel said. “September is the month and the color is gold to raise awareness. I decided to put those cleats together and wear them in a game and try to raise awareness.”

“We are going to try to auction the cleats off and try to raise a little bit of money for the charity.”

Well, they did raise some money…the auction ended Wednesday night with the total selling price at $2,275.00

A great cause from a class act guy…thank you Craig for supporting and doing all you can for children with cancer.

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Awareness Month 2014, Videos

Markell May Have Cancer. But He’s Unstoppable.

09/26/2014 Raishad Peoples

Markell is known as “Mr. Hollywood” – he is a 15 year old boy diagnosed with Osteosarcoma, with an unstoppable creative spirit and passion for life among all of his adversity. From the creators of My Last Days, Unstoppable is a four-part series in partnership with St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee that profiles the strength and unstoppable spirit of their young patients.

Awareness Month 2014, News, Updates, Videos

Devon Still jerseys are in, sent with heartfelt note

09/25/2014 Raishad Peoples

The team didn’t give up on Still or his family, inviting him back to the team’s practice squad. It gave him money, health insurance and the time he needs to help his little girl.

But the community also rallied around the Bengals player.

Devon Still’s football jersey went on sale to raise proceeds for pediatric cancer research. The money goes to Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, ranked among the top medical centers for childhood cancer research in the country, according to the U.S. News & World Report.

At a price tag of $100, Still’s No. 75 is the fastest-selling jersey in team history. As of Sept. 12, roughly 40,000 jerseys were sold to raise money for pediatric cancer research. That’s nearly $400,000 for pediatric cancer research in just four days.

Sales continue to soar.

As fans and supporters of Still and his family started receiving their jerseys, they noticed a personal note from the player inside, thanking them for their support.

The note read:

“I want to thank you for supporting my family and my daughter Leah through your generosity. It means a lot to me, and it means a lot to families fighting cancer in Cincinnati and across the country. Thank you for giving — we appreciate it more than you know.”

Meet the ‘momcologists’: The fiercest warriors against childhood cancer

09/25/2014 Raishad Peoples

They are the “momcologists,” a nickname for the moms — and dads! — who know the horrific toll cancer takes on families and have dedicated their lives to helping others.

“We are every day moms all of a sudden thrown into this crazy cancer world and have to learn everything,” said Sherwood, 42, of Marlboro, New Jersey. “I probably know more than the average pediatrician about cancer.”

These parents have raised millions to find cures, helped families cope with the blow of a new diagnosis and offered financial support for lost wages, hotels during grueling treatments and sadly, for funerals.

For some, the work lasts long beyond the diagnosis, continuing the fight after a child is cancer free and even after a child has died.

Awareness Month 2014, Videos

“Your Child Has Cancer…”

09/23/2014 Raishad Peoples

No parent is prepared to hear those words. But it happens to dozens of families every day: There will be nearly 16,000 new cases of pediatric cancer this year. Read this inspiring story — and learn how you can help fight for more research to find a cure.

Dan and Andrea Gorsegner were stunned to learn that their 2 1/2-year-old daughter Natalie had acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Andrea offers a small glimpse into their journey as a family, from cancer diagnosis to the maintenance stage of her treatment.

Check out the video of their story and feature in Parent Magazine.

Awareness Month 2014, Statistics

Childhood Cancer: A Dozen Awareness Facts

09/23/2014 Raishad Peoples

Awareness Month 2014, News

Alabama QB puts Iron Bowl rivalry aside to honor Auburn student with cancer

09/23/2014 Raishad Peoples

Sometimes there is more to sports than who wins or loses, and sometimes even the most heated rivalry in college football can be put aside for the greater good.

Saturday was one of those times.

When Alabama quarterback Blake Sims took the field against Florida, he wore a new accessory on his right wrist, a purple bracelet that simply read “Kayla.” It was a tribute to Kayla Perry, a 19-year-old college student who was diagnosed with neuroblastoma, a type of pediatric cancer that typically presents itself in very young children and infants, 18 months ago.

Perry is currently a freshman at Auburn University.

“Hey guys, you know I’m an Auburn Tiger, but even college rivalries can come together when it matters,” Perry posted Saturday on Facebook with a picture of Sims. “Many thanks to University of Alabama QB Blake Sims for seeing my story, and asking to wear my bracelet this week, and today, especially!”

With the bracelet on, Sims played the best game of his college career. The senior threw for 445 yards and four touchdowns in the Crimson Tide’s 42-21 win over Florida.

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The two haven’t met yet, but Perry has a mutual acquaintance who is trying to set up a meeting. In the meantime, she’s just happy that by wearing the bracelet, Sims was able to raise awareness to childhood cancer research and the lack of funding that is going into it.

“We really want people to see this and see this as a problem and take a stand and step up and do something,” Perry said. “When people like Blake step up and they show their support for a cause, it makes other people want to get involved, too. So we’re really glad that he did that and thankful.”

Sims isn’t the only player to show support. Auburn wide receiver Sammie Coates wore the same bracelet last Thursday when the Tigers played Kansas State, and his head coach Gus Malzahn has asked to meet with Perry on Tuesday.

Perry, who launched a website to raise funds for pediatric cancer research on Sept. 1, has already raised over $50,000, her mother said.

Standing together on the National Mall, families unite for a cure for childhood cancer

09/22/2014 Raishad Peoples

Photo Gallery

Awareness Month 2014, Videos

Aaron Rodgers helps girl spread word about her pediatric cancer campaign

09/21/2014 Raishad Peoples

Had enough of the negative NFL stories for now? Well, here’s a great story about Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers and Annie Bartosz that will leave a smile on your face and help restore your faith in, well, just about everything.

Annie Bartosz is a sixth-grader from Wisconsin who lost her twin brother Jack to cancer two years ago. She currently leads a campaign entitled “Gold In September,” which encourages people to wear gold to raise awareness for pediatric cancer. She’s attracted a lot of attention to the cause herself and even has a great website — goldinseptember.com — to get the word out.