This year I was on the board for the Salt Lake City Curesearch walk.
I am always floored by the generosity of people. I love that so many friends and acquaintances are willing to donate to a cause that I am passionate about. Even somebody that I do not know contributed to Emma's team.
Emma's team raised $470 for cancer research. Emma won a FitBit, as well, which she donated to the silent auction for the walk. My mom made some handmade cards which also were sold at the silent auction. I'm so grateful.
The Salt Lake City walk raised over $60,000. All of that will be used to support research. Research leads to better treatments and less toxicity in those treatments.
I think I'll always be passionate about this. Our lives have been changed by the people we have met. We know some incredible fighters who didn't do anything and whose parents didn't do anything to bring about cancer. Most childhood cancers are not linked to any environmental causes. Instead of asking why, they take on the challenges and the heartaches and trust the doctors and work through the best treatment that is available.
If some organization comes looking for donations for childhood cancer, I can only recommend 3 nationally:
Curesearch
St. Baldricks
St. Jude's
Any other organization does not put enough of their catch into research for childhood cancers. If you donate there, your dollars are going mostly someplace else.
Curesearch funds COG (children's oncology group) studies - of which Emma is participating in several.
Locally, there are lots of groups that do good. I am so grateful for them. I am so hopeful that the future will be better for kids that get cancer. That's why we walked.
