By MEGAN SPRAY, Guest Columnist
Cancer.
The word no family wants to hear. My baby brother, Luke, was born with cancer. Although the fight was not easy for my family, Luke won the battle and is thriving today. My family’s challenge has inspired me to advocate for children who are faced with no choice but to FIGHT this horrible disease.
The Miss America Organization gives each titleholder the opportunity to promote something they’re passionate about with the use of a Community Service Initiative. My CSI is “Action & Awareness for Childhood Cancer: Fight Like a Kid!” My passion for advocating for children with this disease stems from my family’s experience with childhood cancer.
Childhood cancer is a horrendous disease that is too common in our world today. Once past infancy, cancer is the leading cause of death in children. Although most of the world is familiar with cancer, childhood cancer seems to be overlooked in regards to financing and advances in treatment. Just like any disease, it is hard to understand the severity of the situation unless experienced, so it is crucial to raise awareness and actively create a change.
On May 13th, 2013, Luke was born with a grapefruit-sized tumor in his abdomen. Four days later he had an unpredictable, life-altering surgery. Luke was cut from side to side. The tumor was attached to both his esophagus and stomach, which then had to be partially removed and reattached to extract the tumor. After the surgery, the tumor was diagnosed as cancerous. While cancer free now, Luke will forever live with the side effects of his cancer and surgery.
My family and I are incredibly blessed to have Luke here with us. However, many children lose their battle or suffer through years of treatments and hospital visits. This is why raising awareness for this cause is so important.
With my current title of Miss Northwestern, I have incorporated ‘Gold Night’ events at local schools in northwest Oklahoma and have teamed up with Ranger Athletics to bring ‘Gold Nights’ to the NCAA level. At each event, I have been able to raise funds for families within our state currently fighting childhood cancer. Additional funds were raised and distributed to local childhood cancer foundations that helped my brother during his fight. Currently, I have raised over $7,000 for local families and foundations, and am still actively scheduling and partnering to continue funding these organizations and families to help ease the burden during their fight.
An additional project I’ve promoted is window painting to “paint the town gold” during the month of September, which is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. Windows have been decorated all over campus and businesses on the square with the gold ribbon and encouraging quotes such as “Fight Like a Kid” and more! Not only have we advocated through the display of the gold ribbon, but we have had the opportunity to reach every person who has noticed the design or asked questions about the ribbon. We have successfully raised awareness by reaching any individual that has encountered a Gold Night or window painting and they now know more about this disease and the options available to dedicate themselves to the cause, whether it be through a donation or word of mouth.
I have been very busy this month advocating for childhood cancer by filling the month with Gold Night games and window painting. Northwestern has three scheduled Gold Night games this month starting with football on September 12th, volleyball on September 17th, and soccer on September 25th.
I’m so grateful to have the opportunity as Miss Northwestern to promote a cause so near to my heart and ease the burden for families who are currently fighting childhood cancer. I’m thankful for my hero, Luke, every day and I’m even more thankful that he fought like a kid.