By Beth Butler
Three years ago, my niece Eloise was diagnosed with Rhabdomyosarcoma, a form of childhood cancer. It was difficult to hear Eloise and cancer in the same sentence. During her two years of treatment, she taught me more about the true meaning of hope, real courage, the power of a smile and true grace. A relative described her like this…Eloise, by her quiet example, left us a rare gift. Her courage is that rare, quiet kind, the courage to get up one more time, to face pain and illness head on day after day while still smiling and blowing kisses. Kids with cancer change lives. Eloise changed mine. Childhood cancer is an uncomfortable topic, but it is one that must be talked about if we hope to put an end to the incomprehensible truth that cancer is the #1 cause of death by disease in children.
More than 13,500 children are diagnosed with cancer each year and over 40,000 children are currently in treatment. Understandably, it is hard to comprehend that a child has to go through it. I watched my sister, Eloise and her family brave this big storm with incredible grace and strength and I wanted so much to figure out what I could do to help. I knew that I could be there for them and provide love and support, but I also learned more about the disease – that cancer is mysterious, unpredictable and insidious. I was compelled to do more. When Eloise passed away last May at the age of 14, I watched my sister lose something so precious, but somehow she did not lose her strength to help others with this disease whose lives had, like hers and her family’s, been forever changed by cancer. She continues to advocate for the cause and will be chairing a CureSearch Walk in Virginia in April.
I knew I must follow her lead. It is the reason why I am writing today to spread awareness for childhood cancer and why my family and I are determined to do all that we can to help other families and children impacted by this dreaded disease. We don’t want any more families to hear that their child has cancer. We don’t want any parent to hear that there is nothing more we can do. Parents must always have options when caring for their children. We must find a cure and research will make that possible. Less than 3% of the funds raised for cancer research in the U.S. go specifically to childhood cancer. Children generally don’t get adult cancers so more must be done to find a cure for pediatric cancers. For some cancers like the one that Eloise had, treatment options with low success rates hadn’t changed in 15 years. This must change.
On Sunday, May 15th, Ridgefield will be hosting the inaugural CureSearch Walk for Fairfield County to raise awareness and funds for pediatric cancer. This walk honors children and families who have endured a cancer diagnosis and treatment. CureSearch is 100% focused on childhood cancer research. CureSearch funds the lifesaving, collaborative research of the Children’s Oncology Group (COG). With more than 210 member hospitals worldwide and over 6,500 physicians, nurses and other researchers, Children’s Oncology Group hospitals treat 90 percent of children in the United States with cancer. The money that will be raised will be used right here in our community. Funding efforts by CureSearch for Children’s Cancer allow children with cancer to receive world-class treatment and care close to home including the Connecticut Children’s Medical Center, Yale University, New York Medical College, Sloan Kettering, to name a few. By working collaboratively, the COG has improved cure rates for children’s cancer at a pace much faster than any one individual or single institution could accomplish alone – from a 10% cure rate 40 years ago to 78% overall today. By continuing to raise funds for research, CureSearch will reach the day when children won’t even know the word cancer. This is definitely great progress, but more must be done. I truly do believe that change is possible and especially in communities like Ridgefield. When I approached CureSearch to chair a walk, I knew that Ridgefield would be the perfect place. Unfortunately, like most communities, we have been touched by stories of children with cancer either here in town or through our connections. But, fortunately, our unique community spirit is what gives many of us the strength to get through difficult personal challenges in life. I am a perfect example of that. When my niece passed away last May and my mother passed away weeks later, my friendships here gave me the strength to endure this most challenging time. It is why I want to raise awareness and help others right here in our community.
For more details on the event and to register today, please visit www.curesearchwalk.org/ridgefield. Or to contact me personally, eambutler@comcast.net. I hope to see you at Town Hall on May 15th!