Personal Narrative: Childhood Cancer

Jim Valvano, a college basketball player at Rutgers University, broadcaster for the NCAA, father, and prolific college basketball coach for North Carolina State University, was presented with the Arthur Ashe Courage and Humanitarian Award at the ESPY Awards on March 3, 1993. Valvano was fighting metastatic adenocarcinoma, a cancer of the bones, at the time and was not expected to live much longer. Because Valvano’s time was fading, sports fans from around the world were anticipating a powerful speech that they would remember and cherish for the rest of their lives. In his speech, Valvano is able to emotionally connect to his audience with the use of humor, enthusiasm, and urgency to encourage the audience to donate to The V Foundation for Cancer Research.

“Don’t give up, don’t ever give up.” The words of the great Jimmy Valvano. Jimmy was a Men’s Basketball Coach at N.C. State University. He is one of the greatest coaches of all time. But he is also the man who delivered the “Never Give Up” speech at the ESPY Awards in 1993. This has inspired so many people. It’s the thought of Cancer that often brings Jimmy into mind. Stuart Scott is also very inspirational when it comes to cancer. A real inspiration is Mrs. Spatz. She has beat cancer 4 times. Over and over again, she has fought and beat cancer. She is now a teacher at Wyndcroft Private School in Pottstown. Although she is my mother, she creates inspiration for many

Cancer runs through my family like crazy, and it’s a tough situation to deal with as a patient and for the family of the patient. Brighten A Kid’s Day 5k/Bike Ride raises money for the University of Iowa Children’s Hospital’s Child Life Program where the

In 2009 my uncle was diagnosed with Cancer. Much like Sundiata, he did not display and fear in the face of danger. No matter how much his condition worsened, he stayed strong and shed no tears. For the sake of his family and friends, he did not want to show weakness. After his diagnosis, he underwent chemotherapy as well as many surgeries. He continued to work and support his family for as long as he could.

In 1941, we formally entered the war. Around the same time, the Ellis Fischel Cancer Center was opened, turning into the first state-possessed and operated clinic west of the Mississippi River dedicated solely to the consideration of cancer patients. I was seventeen years old when war had been declared on Germany. While the men were off at war, women would do as much as they could for the war exertion. Case in point, I went to the USO dance halls with the men who were being sent abroad. On the off chance that I wasn't there, I was helping in the greenhouse. At that point, the day of the assault on Pearl Harbor came around. Sincerely, I can't remember where I was at the time. Yet, I do recall the amount of praying we did and listening to the

This experience allows me to donate my time, money, and commitment to impact the lives of patients taken by the effects of cancer. Participating in Relay for Life requires volunteer hours in and out of the event. This experience touched me in several ways; mainly because it showed me how many people struggle and continue to push through with this life-threatening disease. Learning how many people

Cancer on the one hand can be called as a disaster of life for most people;it affects brings death to some and depression and sadness for families and friends who were involved.Lots of people are mentally broken down by such a terrifying disease but some chose to fight against it.Terry Fox is a great example of a hero which has such life threatening illness still remains positive towards and always inspires other to cherish their lives.He tried to run all across the country with an artificial leg after his right leg was amputated six inches above the knee. He showed the whole world that it is still possible to gain hope and happiness even when life is dogged with illness or cancer; he raised money for cancer research in order to improve the medical techniques as same as to figure out a possible cure to save people’s life and to lessen their pain; he motivated people just

On September 23, 2017, at Botanical Gardens, I participated in the St. Jude Walk/Run to End Childhood Cancer. This was the third year that I supported my little cousin Jaylin Stukes who died February 4, 2017, of Cancer. Many people showed up to participate in the walk. I could smell the different hydrangeas and carnations along the trail. Since Jaylin death, I find myself walking more than ever. I go walking to the store, I go to the local school and walk around the track, I go to Mount Trashmore and walk the trail. I feel like the sequel to another Forest Gump movie.

According to the National Cancer Institute, everyday 43 kids are diagnosed with cancer, and in a year over 1,960 of them will die. That’s why the America Make a Wish Foundation grants a wish every 35 minutes to kids with life threatening diseases. They believe that in some cases, giving the kids their one heartfelt wish could be a real game changer. That's why, one way I’m going to pay it forward is sponsoring a wish.

“Lets not call cancer patients as patients, they are cancer fighters. They are brave hearts” - Vikrmn, Gura. Nowadays, you hear more and more people getting cancer(13). It is a stress that many people worry about. You worry if one of your parents will get it. You pray your children don't’ get it. It’s a constant worry. You watch television and you can get this horrible monster from microwaving your food, drinking bottled water, carrying your phone in your pocket, using deodorant, coloring your hair and much more. Finding a cure for cancer would be a prayer answered for many.

Raising awareness is a step in the right direction to escalating advocacy and support for childhood cancer research (acco.org 1). One nationwide project that brings in the most financial aid for visitors and patients is St. Jude’s Children's Research Hospital (StJude.org 1). The mission of St. Jude is "to advance cures and the means of prevention, for pediatric catastrophic diseases through research and treatment" (StJude.org 1). That being said, the support "helps ensure that St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital will continue its lifesaving mission of finding cures and saving children” (StJudes.org 1). Few people realize the dire situation patients and families are in when they are deciding to not

Cancer is deadly, and people should do everything in their power to help find a cure. There is not a single person on this earth that has not been affected by cancer. Ghandi said, ‘be the change you want to see in your world.” Everyone should choose to “be the change” and choose to be a hero, even if it’s for someone you do not know.

Lori designed, implemented, and secured sustainable funding for innovative programs that provide emotional, financial and practical support to families of children with cancer. Lori Butterworth opened this talk by mentioning that she volunteered at a children hospital for a 1000 hours. She realizes she couldn’t do it, for numerous reasons. She got the courage when her friends son had got admitted to the hospital with cancer. She threw a party for her friend, where she raised enough money for her to quit for job, and be with her son for the entire year. She learned you can handle anything as long as you don’t have to experience it alone. The doctors gave Juab a 5% chance of living, and he just graduated from high school! She has started 2 more non-profit organizations, since that point. The Boomerang Foundation and is passing on her own positive, life-affirming experiences while providing support and guidance to young people about living life on purpose. She broke down how inspiring it would be if the government sent out Thank You letter to everyone, while explaining how they spent your money. Throughout everything she encountered, she realized that Jacob mother was right when she stated “We can handle anything, if we don’t have to handle it

“There is no better exercise for the heart than reaching down and lifting people up.”- John Holmes. There is no better feeling than knowing that you helped someone else. Especially when you could have saved their life. Cancer has killed tons of people all over the world. Many people support cancer research or the patients. Different people have different reasons for supporting cancer. Three charities that support cancer in different ways are Beads of Courage, American Cancer Society and the Cancer Research Institute. If I raise money for these charities it could make a difference in the world.

Cancer is a disease that has had a very intense impact upon a vast number of people throughout the nation. According to the American Cancer Society, roughly 14.5 million people have a history with cancer--this means they are either fighting it currently, have beat it, or recently diagnosed. This year alone, almost 1.7 million people will receive news that they will now have to battle the terrible disease with nearly 600,000 succumbing to its debilitating systems.