Just Imagine® Childhood Cancer Walk By Cassie Johnson
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n 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.
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
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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.”
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