Grace: A Child's Intimate Journey Through Cancer and Recovery
“It gives me great pleasure to announce the formation of The Children’s Oncology Group Foundation. The COG Foundation will be able to directly receive philanthropic funds from both individual supporters and organizations. One key advantage of the Foundation is that it enables COG’s leadership, comprised of a multidisciplinary team of doctors, nurses, laboratory scientists and other allied professionals, to direct funds raised for childhood cancer research to the areas of highest need and opportunity. In an era of rapid scientific discovery, this direct link will allow COG to rapidly respond and support research and new discoveries that have the greatest potential to benefit children with cancer.”
~Peter C. Adamson, M.D.
Chair, Children’s Oncology Group
Source:
http://www.keepandshare.com/doc/3140841/a-letter-from-the-chair-of-the-cog-1-pdf-september-14-2011-11-11-am-463k?da=y
This is great news. I will never forget my doctor, Dr. Dan, explaining to me how the collaboration between medical professionals in The Children’s Oncology Group and their sharing of information from studies has led to saved lives. I feel the need to repeat Dr. Adamson’s words, “in an era of rapid scientific discovery”!!!
Speaking of “rapid scientific discovery,” did you notice this article from the New York Times about using gene therapy to “train a person’s own immune system to kill cancer cells”? It may be possible that this is the beginning of a whole new way of fighting cancer:
“In essence, the team is using gene therapy to accomplish something that researchers have hoped to do for decades: train a person’s own immune system to kill cancer cells.”
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/13/health/13gene.html?_r=1&pagewanted=all?src=tp
With all of this encouraging news, I realize that the enormous strides we need to take will require funding for research. It will be next to impossible to achieve adequate funding without raising lots and lots of awareness about childhood cancer. This is why I am thrilled about what has happened with Ellen and The Blanket Fairy! The Blanket Fairy has not given up “Making Some Noise” on The Ellen Show Facebook Page. She has one more message for all of us to share with Ellen:
Please save this photo and then go to Ellen’s page and post the following:
Please COPY AND PASTE THIS:
Ellen PLEASE view this video “Letters To Ellen”. These letters were written to you by kids all over the United States on behalf of the hundreds of thousands of children all around the world.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yX67K-Y-a7k
Please go to this page and post and share this on your walls and blogs. We need to make more noise to get our mission accomplished! STOP CHILDHOOD cANCER!
The Ellen Show Page: http://www.facebook.com/ellentv?sk=wall&filter=1
At first I thought, gosh, Ellen already did such a kind thing, maybe we should just be grateful and not ask for more. Suddenly, the image of Oliver Swift dashed through my brain. He asked timidly, even though he had already been served, “Please sir, may I have some more?”
I hope that Ellen knows we are asking for more because we are grateful. We are asking for more not to fill our own overstuffed bellies, but for the ravaged little ones who cannot ask for help themselves.
For them, we politely ask, “Please Ellen, may the children have some more?”
Remember the Kids Childhood Cancer Awareness
Ethan’s Army News
Join us for the 3rd Annual Ethan Jostad Softball Tournament this Saturday Sept 17th at the Cal Ripken Fields in White City on Hwy 140. Kristy Cook will be playing on Team Ethan helping the Ethan Jostad Foundation battle Childhood Cancer. Come get her autograph and watch the teams play ball. Food vendors, venue for the kids, fun games, Field Dedication & Balloon realease at Noon. Huge raffle with over 60 items. More details listed at www.ethansarmy.org on the event tab.
ethansarmy.com
www.ethansarmy.org
Melinda Marchiano 