A Childhood Cancer Survivor Blogging about the World of Childhood Cancer

Posts tagged ‘Cole Stoddard’

The Beginning of the End of Childhood Cancer

A Day of Yellow and Gold Times Square“Cole, you are doing something big, my son.”

~ Tony Stoddard

Today is a day of gratitude.

All I can think of is Tony Stoddard and his son, Cole.

All I can think of are the children who have suffered through childhood cancer and all the people who love them.

September—Childhood Cancer Awareness Month– is here. Those long days of hard work by childhood cancer advocates all year long are beginning to bear fruit. Last night, New York City gave every one of us who has been sucked into the world of childhood cancer a treasure. You see, we know how hard these children fight, and we have witnessed how they suffer. Our dearest friends are parents who have endured the worst of the worst. How can any of us even imagine our child looking to us, like Cole did, saying they will never grow up to do anything?

Seeing 1 World Trade Center, the Helmsley Building, and Times Square light gold for childhood cancer awareness does something inside me I cannot even describe. It makes me cry. The tears are tears of sadness, joy, and hope all tangled together in one big ball.

http://www.myfoxny.com/clip/10541893/times-square-goes-gold

This my friends is the beginning of the end of childhood cancer.

Cole, you are doing something VERY big. Your daddy’s love for you shines bright, glittery gold. Dear little boy, you are helping us all to do the right thing.

We will not relent. In fact, we will join forces.

Yes… the beginning of the end…

Thank you, Cole. 

 #GoGold #WorldGoGold #EmpireGoGold #Gold4KidsCancer 

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Guest Blogger: Lee Marchiano

Empire State Building, Why Won’t You Light Gold for Childhood Cancer?

View from the top of the Empire State BuildingOne 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

“A Day of Yellow and Gold to Fight Childhood Cancer” Tony and Cole

 

“A Day of Yellow and Gold to Fight Childhood Cancer”

What a world this would be if…

…if we would choose to take care of our children first.

Tony Stoddard is a leader in the world of childhood cancer advocacy, believing our kids deserve the best we can provide. Melinda and I have great respect for this man, his mission, and his brilliant campaign to color our country gold for Childhood Cancer Awareness Month in September. Along with Tony, we honor the memory of his son, Cole.

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“This past September I was mired in grief at the loss of my precious five year old son Cole. He passed away from neuroblastoma cancer on January 20th 2012. I created my page “A Day of Yellow and Gold to Fight Childhood Cancer” to honor the memory of my son Cole and all children who have faced the monster that is Childhood Cancer.
I am determined that we will never go through another September without the gold of Childhood Cancer Awareness shining everywhere. Without awareness childhood cancer will remain underfunded and ignored, leaving many thousands of children to continue to suffer through antiquated treatments and to have less than the best chance to survive this monster. I am unwavering in my attempts to see gold each September on town buildings, on the White House, on the fields of the NFL and MLB, on ribbons worn by celebrities, politicians, and media personalities. I want to see as much gold in September as we see pink in October! Our children need and deserve this!”
                                                                                                                 ~Tony Stoddard, Cole’s Dad

  (From People Against Childhood Cancer (PAC2) website)

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I am not sure where or when the motto, “Women and children first” went out of style. I have a sneaky suspicion it left the moment our nation decided money is paramount. I have suspicions it left because treating children with cancer is not a profitable business, unlike treating adult cancers. I suspect it left because we have lost ourselves in adult selfishness.

Today, I ask you to take a stand with Tony for Cole. Take a stand with Tony for all the children who have fought, have suffered, and have taught us that they are worth every bit of “guts” we need to spill to see they receive a much different future. Tony is right. Without awareness, kids with cancer will continue to be treated with “antiquated treatments,” and funding for research will remain frighteningly low. If you haven’t already, please like Tony’s page to color our country yellow and gold. While you are there, tell him how much you appreciate what he is doing for our children. Tell him his heart and the “guts” he is spilling for our dear children are making a difference. Steer your heart under Tony’s wings and help his mission to end childhood cancer soar!

https://www.facebook.com/yellowandgoldforcole

https://twitter.com/smilesforcole @smilesforcole

Smile, Be Happy (Cole’s Song)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZSn2WcSo9fc

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Advocacy Opportunity!

Please give a few moments of your time to be an advocate for kids with cancer.

From Kids V Cancer Facebook page today:

#endchildhoodcancer “Please post this pic and put the hashtag #endchildhoodcancer on your status. For every photo shared Hyundai will pledge another $1 to AACR Pediatric Cancer Programs, up to $5,000… as many times possible until Wednesday!”

https://www.facebook.com/kidsvcancer?hc_location=timeline

Can you say "Viral"?

Can you say “Viral”?

 

 

 

                   Ready, set, go!

 

 

 

 

 

Guest Blogger: Lee Marchiano

Melinda will be back soon!

 

 

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