Childhood Cancer Awareness Month

Did you know that September is Childhood Cancer Awareness month and National Leukemia Awareness month?

I probably would not have known..........but then my only child and newborn baby girl was diagnosed with an aggressive form of leukemia. So I wonder now, how does it feel to someone who hasn't watched their child suffer for months at a time with hardly a glimmer of hope that she might survive. How does it feel to someone that has not walked the hallways of a pediatric cancer unit? I don't know what that feels like. I'm not that person anymore. I think I have always been empathetic, tried my best to understand the pain and suffering of others but I wonder did I do enough? Did I say the right thing? Did I take action?

So here it is...I am just one woman trying my best to be heard. I would scream at the top of my lungs, if I thought everyone would pause for a moment to hear me. I am not rich. I do not have an empire behind me that can spread my message to the world. I do not have access to celebrities and lavish resources. I am nurse. I work full time while creating and expanding a non-profit charity. I am a mom to a child in heaven. I am a wife, a friend, a sister and aunt. I am one person trying to create a social medium by whatever method I can to spread awareness that CHILDREN are getting cancer everyday and we don't know why! Childhood cancer strikes regularly, randomly and spares no ethnic group, socioeconomic class or geographic region. Despite all of the facts, research is vastly and consistently underfunded. Without research there is no hope for a cure.

I am fueled by my love for Evelyn and visual images of her pain and departure from this world that haunt me everyday. I cannot sit quietly and do nothing. But I cannot do it on my own either. So I hope you don't mind hearing from me. I hope you won't delete my emails. I hope you will take the time to read about the Evelyn Grace Foundation programs on our website, read the EGF Facebook updates, tweets (yes "tweets" I will do whatever I can to spread our message- follow us at Evelyngracexoxo) and newsletters.

I hope you will join me, in supporting childhood cancer awareness whenever you can in whatever way you can. I want you to know that it is greatly appreciated.

How can you help this month?

EGF Blood Drive- in support of Mattel Children's Hospital UCLA- September 10, 2010 8am to 1pm.

1717 W. Orangewood Ave. Ste G

Orange, CA 92868

To schedule an appointment contact Pamela Ritchhart at 661-313-4188 or email contact@evelyngracefoundation.org. We need folks to sign up right away. If we do not have a minimim of 40, the mobile blood unit will not come to our location.

Pepsi Refresh Project- www.refresheverything.com/evelyngracefoundation

With just a few computer clicks everyday through September 30th, you can help EGF win a $25,000 grant to fund 1 year or 120 Evie's Bundle of Love Care Packages. The Care package is given to a child currently hospitalized for cancer treatment or bone marrow transplant at Mattel Children's Hospital and Children's Hospital of Orange County. Vote for Evelyn Grace Foundation everyday by computer or text- 102140 to Pepsi (73774). Help us spread the word by forwarding the link to your friends and family. You can Vote below by clicking "Vote for this idea."

There are a few simple steps to follow. The first time you must sign in to create a Pepsi Refresh account with a password. After this step is completed you can vote everyday by simply clicking on search icon- type in "Evelyn Grace Foundation." Click "Vote for this idea."

THANK YOU!

What's in the Evie's Bundle of Love?

Eco Friendly Monogrammed Bag

Soft Blanket or Cozychic children's robe

Plush Toy (Pillow Pet or Zoobie Pet)

Hat (Crochet flower hat provided by www.Fabowlous.com)

$50 Gasoline Gift Card

$50 Grocery Card or Hospital Meal Coupons

File organizer to store medical information