Swinging into September
I love autumn. The summer temps finally start to cool and the leaves start to change to beautiful hues of orange, red, yellow and brown. September signifies back-to-school and back to living on a schedule.
In the last few years, September has taken on new meaning for me. It is Childhood Cancer Awareness month and I reflect back to September ’04 when I was deeply moved by Allie Scott’s life and passing – her family was living my worst imaginable nightmare.
I knew that I wanted to do something to help end the horror of childhood cancer. Each September means my Light The Night walk is around the corner and I have an opportunity to make a difference.
You can too.
On September 7th, the first Light The Night walks will commence. Are you ready? Have you registered to join us and make a difference? It’s not too late and it’s very simple.
- Go to http://teams.lightthenight.org/friendsofheroes to search and join a walk.
- Register to receive your active.com account and you can start fundraising online!
September is also Friends of Heroes Awareness Event month. Have you held an awareness event or considered setting one up? Because there is no cure for blood cancers, getting the word out is vital. Through awareness events, we can share why a cure is so important and how Friends of Heroes can make an impact with the grant naming opportunity. (See the Childhood Cancer article to see how it will make a difference!)
Last Thursday, I held an awareness booth and had an amazing night. My co-captain’s daughter raised $13 in paper balloon sales and the contacts we made were priceless. Many people don’t realize that children can and DO get cancer. A 3rd grade girl who was selling bracelets gave us some of her profits because she wanted to make a difference. A young boy spotted us and introduced his mom, a cancer survivor. She came up to thank us, grateful that she could continue being a wife and mother due to recent research.
This reinforced to me why Friends of Heroes is so important. The money raised through fundraisers like Light The Night has advanced research and developed therapies which SAVES LIVES. It’s incredibly motivating to know that what we do as Friends of Heroes can and will make a difference!
Still not convinced to join this year?
We really need you. Our walkers and team captains are the heart and soul of our team. We had changes this year with a new team name and new logo, a new website and a new forum, but our mission and purpose remain the same. Childhood cancer has not gone away. We need you to help us make a difference and to help us reach the $100,000 to achieve the grant naming. I can’t promise you prizes or that big donations will come your way, but you’ll know you were part of an amazing team that is actively making a difference in the war on cancer. Please join the Friends of Heroes team!
By National Team Co-Captain Jenn B.
p.s. There is still time to fundraise! It’s easy to forward your active.com site or add it to your email signature. Check out the Friends of Heroes Point Challenge and select a few things you can do to raise money and earn points for a prize. Every donation counts whether it is $1, $10, or $100!
p.s.s. We’d love to have you as a team captain! If you’re interested, email Lynette at tcrelations@friendsofheroes.org with your name and walk location for more information.
Friends of Heroes is a national Light the Night Friends and Family team. We are comprised of moms, dads, families and friends compelled to help find a cure for blood cancers.
