One of the most dumbfounding realities of raising awareness for childhood cancer is the fact that it is difficult—very difficult—to do. This is not because there is any shortage of passionate advocates who are willing to do the daily, hourly, minute by minute work, but because often—far too often—pleas fall upon deaf ears. I can’t help but wonder if the deaf ears are connected directly to disconnected hearts.
Nowhere in the world of childhood cancer advocacy is this more evident right now than the “No” response that multiple childhood cancer organizations have received to their applications to light the Empire State Building gold for a day in September, National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.
Childhood cancer foundations and families are livid. They began posting reviews on the Empire State Building reviews page, and just as fast as they began posting them, the reviews were censored and removed. Denying all of the applications—I personally know of ten that were properly filed—is unacceptable. Unacceptable. If you would like to add your own review, please do!
https://www.facebook.com/empirestatebuilding?sk=reviews
One of the qualities I love most about people who advocate for children with cancer is their persistence to keep on in the face of great obstacles. A “no” answer means we keep trying. People who have jumped in to assist us on Twitter…
joel waldman @joelwaldmanFOX5 · Aug 12
You angry the #EmpireStateBuilding won’t help kids with cancer? #EmpireGoGold http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2723169/Empire-State-Building-owners-light-landmark-blue-lure-Democratic-convention-New-York-wont-honor-childrens-cancer-research.html …
T-RawwVerified account @Tyga Aug 12
Crazy theyll light it green for TMNT launch but wont go gold 4 childrens cancer research. Tell @EmpireStateBldg do the right thing #GOGOLD
My imagination cannot help but go to the room where the Empire State Building lighting decision-makers were all gathered.
“Well, let’s see what applications we have here. It looks like we have quite a few requesting the same thing. Do we want to light up gold for pediatric cancer for one night in September?”
Then what? What goes through anyone’s mind after that? What reason could there possibly be to say, “No?” What reason?
So far, there have not been any reasons stating why, which makes their dumbfounding decision even harder to swallow. Let’s see, the Empire State Building lit up blue two nights this week to honor the Democratic National Committee. I understand that New York City is coaxing them to hold their convention there, which means millions of dollars will be spent in their city.
If there was a way the Empire State Building could profit financially from raising awareness for pediatric cancer, I wonder if this would be a reason for it to light gold? This truth breaks my heart and makes me mad all at the same time. I seriously doubt that the decision-makers don’t believe pediatric cancer is a worthy cause. So if it is a worthy cause…
If it is a worthy cause, then please, Empire State Building Decision-Makers, light that building GOLD! Awareness really will mean more money for research and more lives saved.
Light it for Cole, Tony Stoddard’s son. Light it for each child who has courageously faced the Childhood Cancer Monster.
They deserve honor. They deserve our respect. They deserve gold everywhere in the month of September.
They don’t have big wallets, but please, Empire State Building, give them a Free Pass to gold.
#EmpireGoGold
By Guest Blogger, Lee Marchiano
Melinda Marchiano 
Comments on: "Empire State Building, Why Won’t You Light Gold for Childhood Cancer?" (4)
Well said. It’s hard to imagine why they wouldn’t do it….
Seriously John, my “puzzler” is sore from trying to figure it out. So, I have stopped trying to figure it out and instead continue to encourage #EmpireGoGold ! Kids fighting cancer never give up, which means we shouldn’t either. Thank you for your continual support to help kids fighting cancer!
“NO” is just the first two letters in the phrase “NOt yet! If they won’t light gold we will light it ourselves! Tony (Cole’s Dad)
This is why you are a fine leader in the childhood cancer community, Tony. We are getting out all of our gold flashlights to help light that building gold with you! Thank you!!!