Dear Oprah,
I wish Happy New Year to you and your staff. The very first thing I must do in 2011 is to write to you (again—appreciate your patience, letter reader producers.) There are those who wonder why I “waste” my time writing each day to you. Although I know my voice is barely a “Squeak,” I will keep “Squeaking” to help bring awareness and a cure for childhood cancer.
Childhood cancer is devastating beyond what my words here can describe. I understand why it has been overlooked in awareness, funding and research. It is just too hard for people to look. It is too gut-wrenching for people to truly comprehend the suffering of the children and their families. What I have learned is that a cure for childhood cancer is within our reach. CureSearch and Children’s Oncology Group state that with adequate funding, a cure for childhood cancer is within our reach.
Funding.
Lack of money for research is the MONSTER aiding childhood cancer to continue its destruction.
What I am asking, Oprah, is that you please gather experts on childhood cancer together with those philanthropists who have pledged to give away large portions of their fortunes so that we can begin building an enormous Childhood Cancer War Machine.
How is it that our country has the funds to build war machines that kill, but we won’t build one to save the lives of our dearly loved children? Please help me make 2011 the year that we make childhood cancer run for its life.
Me and my “Squeak” will be checking in with you again tomorrow,
With great hope,
Melinda
16 Year-Old Author of Grace: A Child’s Intimate Journey Through Cancer and Recovery
Melinda Marchiano 
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