According to the American Cancer Society, cancer is one of the leading causes of death among children between the ages of 1 and 14 years old. This means that children nationwide are fighting a dangerous battle with an often devastating outcome. It is no secret that cancer is dangerous, very difficult to treat, and thus, potentially terminal. In order to change that, there are many organizations and events that have developed over time to advance cancer research and awareness. For example, most people are aware that October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month , and pink is the ribbon color for breast cancer . Unfortunately, very few people know that the month before that is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, and the ribbon color for childhood cancer is gold. Childhood cancer is often overlooked, or simply lumped together with adult cancer even though the two are very different. The American Cancer Society explains that the types of cancers that develop in children come from DNA mutations that occur at early ages or even before birth. On the other hand, adult cancer develops over time, usually from external factors. This is an important distinction that people need have a better understanding of in order to give childhood cancer the attention that it needs.
Nonprofit organization, With Purpose, takes the broad topic of cancer awareness and targets it toward the awareness level of childhood cancer among today's youth population. To achieve this goal, With Purpose has partnered with this year's Bateman Case Study Competition. Universities across the country field teams of public relations students that participate in this competition by creating a campaign for the chosen client. This year, that client is With Purpose. As the Project Manager of the 2017-2018 York College of Pennsylvania Bateman Team, I am dedicated to being an advocate for childhood cancer.
I believe that children and youth are the future. They are the voices that need to be heard in order to enact change. But, most importantly, they do not deserve to be swept under the rug when faced with this detrimental disease. Childhood cancer needs to be recognized and addressed more in terms of awareness, treatment, and funding. Without the recognition and public understanding of this issue, helpless children are suffering and losing their battle against this fatal enemy. It is time that we stand up and fight with them.
Haley Keller
Mount Airy
