Editor’s Note: This is the second story in a series about childhood cancer awareness month. A story on Sept. 5 highlighted two pediatric cancer survivors. Today’s story focuses on awareness events. The Sept. 12 story focuses on the Press On Fund and its efforts to raise money for childhood cancer research. A final story will highlight the Sept. 18 Go Gold For September: Fun Walk and Butterfly Release.
Katina Horne wishes the color gold would become as synonymous to childhood cancer awareness as pink is to breast cancer awareness.
“Kids have cancer, and people need to be aware,” said Horne, whose son, Amari “Aj” Wilson, 10, was diagnosed with non-Hodgkins lymphoma when he was 4. She’s planning a couple of events in September to mark the month.
MORE: Childhood Cancer: September Brings Awareness
Wilson underwent chemotherapy for two years and has been cancer free for four years. He plays Pop Warner football, and Horne plans to bring awareness to childhood cancers at his U-10 team’s Sept. 18 game. The game is set for a 12:50 p.m. kickoff at Grovetown High School.
She’s asked everyone to wear gold and to make signs. She’s also planned a “kicking cancer” halftime event.
Six people will wear shirts with a different letter to spell out the word “cancer.” Each one will represent a different type of cancer that affects children. The announcer will highlight the types of childhood cancers. The players will then “tackle” cancer and lift Wilson up as a sign of support, she said.
She’s also the leader of Girl Scout Troop 20131. The scouts have created a childhood cancer video. She hopes to have a walk through her neighborhood as well.
Another event slated for Sept. 18 is the Go Gold for September Fun Walk and Butterfly Release.
Organized by the AlexStrong Foundation, it will begin at 11 a.m. at St. Mary On the Hill Catholic School on Monte Sano Avenue. The fun walk will be at 11:20 that morning with the butterfly distribution at 11:50. The release will be at noon symbolizing “the children whose cancer was replaced by wings,” according to the foundation’s website.
Funds raised will go toward establishing a bone marrow transplant program at the Children’s Hospital of Georgia.
The Foundation was created in memory of Alex Dexter who was diagnosed with a neuroblastoma at the age of 10 months-old in August 2019. For nearly a year, he underwent surgeries, chemotherapy and immunotherapy and other protocols to stave off the disease. According to the foundation website, Alex laughed, danced and taught his family “how important it is to appreciate what is in front of you; to live life with a smile no matter what is put in front of you, no matter the struggle with which you’re faced; to keep on dancing,” according to the website.
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Alex was buried on the anniversary of his diagnosis.
To learn more or to register for the fundraiser, visit alexstrongfoundation.com.
Also, the Press On Fund encourages people to Play for Press On.
“Kids play,” said Tara Simkins, one of the fund’s co-founders. Her son, Brennan, is celebrating his 10th year in remission this year and recently went to college in Memphis, Tenn., a city which became his home during his treatments at St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital.
But when children are hospitalized for cancer treatment, they can’t play like they once did, she said.
Adults can play in their stead and raise money.
Whether it’s a round of golf or a game of bowling, people can play and make a challenge and donation to help children’s cancer research.
Then post the score on social media and donate the score to the Press On Fund at www.pressonfund.org. And finally challenge others to do the same.
Charmain Z. Brackett is the Features Editor for The Augusta Press. Reach her at charmain@theaugustapress.com.
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