Grace: A Child's Intimate Journey Through Cancer and Recovery
I received some excellent news today from the United Way of San Luis Obispo County. My program, “Literacy and Advocacy Youth Challenge” has been selected to receive a 2011 Youth Board Grant! I am really, really, really excited about this because it means I will have many opportunities to share with students.
What I proposed for my program is to place five copies of Grace: A Child’s Intimate Journey Through Cancer and Recovery in twenty schools throughout San Luis Obispo County, and also speak with the students. For the very first time, students will learn from a survivor what childhood cancer really is. Kids love the world of fantasy— Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter for example. I believe it’s good for children to also get a dose of some harsh reality of life as well so that they are able to become compassionate individuals. I know that many will be shocked by the harsh reality that a child can get cancer and shocked by the harsh reality of what treatment is like.
Notice the word “Challenge” in my title? Yep, I plan to hold a bar as high as I can in front of them and challenge them to use everything they have been given to reach it. I want them to know that fourteen year-olds (and younger) can write books.
“Gosh, if she can do it, I can too!”
Perhaps even more than motivating them to write, I want to challenge them to become an advocate of something. You know very well that I will use this opportunity to tell every student I speak to about childhood cancer and why I am passionate about raising awareness and finding a cure. I will leave it up to each individual to look within themselves for what cause moves their heart to action.
And guess what?
Part of my program is accountability.
The students will be reporting back to me about the actions they have taken as a result of my challenge.
Literacy, Advocacy, Awareness, Accountability… sounds great to me, and I am excited to get started!
With my sincere thanks to United Way of San Luis Obispo County!
Still Rejoicing in Braden's Miracle!
Prayers for Breanna and Crista. Praising God for miracles!
Melinda Marchiano 
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