“Reason this person is a Gold Ribbon Hero: Gage was diagnosed with Leukemia shortly after his first birthday. On January 17, 2015, at the age of 5 years 7 months he lost his battle. Gage fought and was braver than anyone I have ever know. How is missed beyond words, his story continues to touch and inspire everyone who knew and loved him. He was and will always remain a hero.” – Millie L.
“Reason this person is a Gold Ribbon Hero: Avery is an amazing little girl who has been battling cancer, with a smile on her face. She is truly an amazing little girl who while going through treatment still came to dance class and performed at recital. She is an inspiration to all of the girls at the dance studio! We all love Avery! (Photo credit to Alisha Stountenberg photography)” – Ashley R.
When a child goes through grueling cancer treatment, a lot of bad things happen to their bodies. When they get mouth sores and they don’t want to eat anything, they turn to the popular frozen treat Fla-Vor-Ice. When they are running a fever, this frozen pop can provide a cooling comfort and can help replenish fluids. Since 2008, Fla-Vor-Ice’s parent company Jel Sert has partnered with the American Childhood Cancer Organization to promote awareness and advocacy programs on a national scale.
The “Take a Pop, Share a Smile” program helps children across the U.S. cope with cancer and all that it brings to their lives. The program involves the donation of freezers and a continuous supply of Jel Sert’s well-known freezer pops to cancer treatment centers throughout the U.S. The Jel Sert company has donated over 1,000,000 pops to 115 hospitals to date!
To nominate a Hospital or Care Center near you, Click Here.
Watch the Video:
“We appreciate the partnership with Jel Sert, knowing the relief and joy an icy treat can bring, especially for children in treatment. Families are so appreciative of this program because it makes a sick child feel a little better,” says ACCO Executive Director Ruth Hoffman.
Every package of Fla-Vor-Ice freezer pops has a Gold Ribbon in support of Childhood Cancer Awareness. This campaign now extends across millions of packages of Fla-Vor-Ice, Otter Pops and Pop-Ice, inspiring childhood cancer advocacy and honoring those affected by the disease.
Approximately 2,000 children will die of cancer this year in the United States; making cancer the number one cause of death by disease of America’s Children. September is International Childhood Cancer Awareness month. The international awareness symbol for Childhood Cancer is the gold ribbon. Unlike other cancer awareness ribbons, which focus on a singular type of cancer, the gold ribbon is a symbol for all forms of cancer affecting children and adolescents.
The American Childhood Cancer Organization (ACCO) is the nation’s largest grassroots organization at the forefront of the crucial battle against childhood cancer. The ACCO is dedicated to improving the lives of children living with childhood cancer and its long-term impacts, and to offering critical advice, support, and assistance to families engaged in this life-altering struggle.
The Jel Sert Company based in West Chicago, Ill., is a manufacturer, marketer and distributor of a variety of well-known food and beverage products. The company’s proprietary brands include Wyler’s, Wyler’s Light, Pop-Ice, Flavor-Aid, Fla-Vor-Ice, Royal, My*T*Fine, Otter Pops and Mondo, among others.
FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO SET UP AN INTERVIEW:
Ruth Hoffman, CEO
rhoffman@acco.org
For more information about American Childhood Cancer Organization (ACCO) Click Here
Bedford, MA (September 8) – iRacing.com is GOING GOLD! To raise awareness and funds in support of families affected by childhood cancer, the iRacing Ford Mustang that paces every virtual race on the popular online motorsports simulation service will feature the gold livery of the American Childhood Cancer Organization (ACCO) during its fall racing season. In addition, links on iRacing.com will enable the more than 60,000 iRacers to make online donations to the ACCO.
“We’re proud to partner with the American Childhood Cancer Organization in such an important cause,” says Tony Gardner, President of iRacing. “The ACCO is on the front lines of the fight against childhood cancer and iRacing is proud to join them in their efforts to make a difference in the lives of childhood cancer patients, survivors and their families.”
“We’re excited to have iRacing.com join us in the fight against childhood cancer,” says Ruth Hoffman, Executive Director of the ACCO. “Each year in the United States approximately 15,780 children are diagnosed with cancer before the age of 19. In the past year ACCO provided 42,250 of the highest quality free resources designed to educate children and their families in the battle against cancer, coordinated local assistance to thousands of families in need through our 40 regional affiliates and led national and international advocacy campaigns for greater awareness and research. Since 1970, the ACCO remains dedicated to giving every child facing childhood cancer a fighting chance at a healthy, happy future.”
The American Childhood Cancer Organization is the nation’s largest grassroots organization at the forefront of the crucial battle against childhood cancer. The ACCO is dedicated to improving the lives of children living with childhood cancer and its long-term impacts, and to offering critical advice, support, and assistance to families engaged in this life-altering struggle.
About iRacing.com
The company was founded in 2004 by Dave Kaemmer and John Henry and subsequently released iRacing.com in August 2008. Kaemmer was co-founder of Papyrus Design Group, developers of award-winning racing simulations including “Grand Prix Legends” and NASCAR 2003.” Henry is principal owner of the Boston Red Sox and Liverpool Football Club, as well as co-owner of NASCAR’s Roush Fenway Racing. iRacing.com has developed dozens of formal partnerships in the motorsport industry to help create the most authentic racing simulation in the world including with NASCAR, IndyCar, International Speedway Corporation, Speedway Motorsports, the SRO Motorsports Group, Mazda Motorsports, McLaren Electronics, Williams F1, Volkswagen, Ford, the Skip Barber Racing School and General Motors.
CONTACT:
Kevin Bobbitt
iRacing.com
781.271.1919 (office)
603.930.8384 (mobile)
“Reason this person is a Gold Ribbon Hero: My daughter was just two years old when she was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Lukeimia. At the time I was 6 months pregnant with two other little girls. She was diagnosed the night before Thanksgiving and from nine weeks straight after that, we would begin the journey of treatment and our worlds as we knew then had been changed forever. I almost lost my daughter I was pregnant with and she too spent a few weeks in the hospital. It was by far the worst time in my life. She fought for 2.5 years. Uv seen things done to my girl that no parent should ever have to see. She has been in remission for three years now and we still face everyday challenges like PT, OT and some visual problems from all the treatment but this beautiful child still smiles and loves and powers through her days with all the strength and courage that kept us here with us today. A lot has happened to our family over the past few years but there has also been some positive that has come from it. I continued my education and will be a Nurse in May and I was able to not only meet but give birth to my hero. My daughter Gessalyn Dias is the strongest, bravest and most beautiful person I will ever have the pleasure of meeting and she deserves a Gold Ribbon of honor for continuing to inspire everyone around her everyday. Sincerely : A Cancer Mama” – Jessica C.
“Reason this person is a Gold Ribbon Hero: Aaron was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia shortly after turning 3 years old. He is now 5 and just started Kindergarten. It forever changed our lives but he has taught us the meaning of strength through this devastating experience. He is strong, courageous and a great inspiration of strength all while going through very difficult moments throughout his treatment and still maintaining the most positive of attitudes.” – Flor G.
“Reason this person is a Gold Ribbon Hero: September is CHILDHOOD CANCER AWARENESS MONTH. My son Matthew was diagnosed with ALL (acute lymphoblastic leukemia) shortly after his 4th birthday. He was treated at Children’s Hospital in Pittsburgh for 3 years. Today he is 18 and remains in remission. This year I nominated Shriner’s Hospital for Children in Erie for a Golden Ribbon Hero Award. Matthew was misdiagnosed for 6 months after his symptoms started… he was getting worse by the day and not better so my gut told me something was not right and I chose to get a second opinion. Shriner’s was that second opinion and within a couple of hours of several doctors doing tests on Matthew I heard the words NO mother would ever want to hear “I’m sorry, but your child has CANCER” My heart sank and we were off to Pittsburgh the next morning to start chemo. I can’t thank Shriner’s Hospital in Erie enough for being that one blessing of many that helped save Matthew’s life. THANK YOU!!! Shriner’s Children’s Hospital of Erie….YOU ARE my Golden Ribbon Hero wink emoticon xoxoxoxo” – Nicole M.
Presidential Proclamation — National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, 2015NATIONAL CHILDHOOD CANCER AWARENESS MONTH, 2015
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BY BARACK OBAMA, THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
A PROCLAMATION
Pediatric cancer affects thousands of young Americans each year. It is the leading cause of disease-related death for children, and this year, more than 10,000 of our Nation’s youth will be diagnosed with this tragic disease. Every September, America honors all those who have been affected by this life-threatening illness: young girls and boys whose childhoods have been cut short, the loved ones who know the pain pediatric cancer causes, and the communities across our country that rally to support their friends and neighbors during difficult times. As a Nation, we come together to stand with those who have experienced devastating loss, and we renew our commitment to advance research, improve treatment, and ensure a brighter, healthier future for all young Americans. Read more
The ACCO is pleased to introduce Dr. Greg Aune and Mr. Clint Janson as the newest members of our Board of Directors, our volunteer leadership group dedicated to guiding and promoting the ACCO’s role as a grassroots leader in the childhood cancer community. Both Dr. Aune and Mr. Janson bring a wealth of both personal and professional experience to the Board, in addition to their expert contributions to the ACCO, fellow childhood cancer organizations, and the childhood cancer community in a variety of amazing ways. We are so excited at the opportunity to add their voice to the growing chorus of survivors and volunteers dedicated to supporting our childhood cancer warriors and their families. Dr. Aune and Mr. Janson: Welcome!
Dr. Aune is a childhood cancer survivor, having been diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma at the age of 16 and as an adult, has suffered serious late effects as a result of the highly toxic chemotherapy regimens required to treat his disease. However, Dr. Aune has harnessed his personal experiences into a lifelong dedication to studying the impact of childhood cancer protocols on cardiac health, developing less toxic chemotherapy regimens, and building awareness about the critical needs for additional research on more effective, less dangerous childhood cancer treatments.
Now a highly successful physician scientist and pediatric oncologist, Dr. Aune directs the Greehey Children’s Cancer Research Institute Shared Resources for Cardiac Function Assessment, where his laboratory research focuses on tumor biology and experimental therapeutics, and their potential impact on the cardiovascular system. Dr. Aune is also the Director of Survivorship Research for the South Texas Pediatric Cancer Survivorship program at University Hospital, where he serves as co-principal investigator and clinical director of the first investigator-initiated survivorship study in the South Texas region. In addition to his work with the ACCO, Dr. Aune is a member of the National Cancer Institute Community Cardiotoxicity Task Force, the Children’s Oncology Cardiometabolic Task Force, and most recently, the National Cancer Institute Council of Research Advocates (NCRA). He received his medical and research training at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, the National Cancer Institute, and Johns Hopkins Hospital.
Mr. Janson is a Principal at Mojo Lab LLC, an advertising agency and production house in Spokane, Washington that has collaborated with the ACCO as well as numerous local and international childhood cancer organizations on several critical fundraising projects, including the Kemper Foods Pizza Ribbon fundraising campaign. However, Mr. Janson’s dedication to fighting childhood cancer started long before Mojo Lab’s collaboration with ACCO. Mr. Janson first become interested in the fight against childhood cancer when he heard his brother-in-law’s story. Michael Moyles is a three-time brain cancer survivor! In 2010, Mr. Janson and Mr. Moyles founded Team Michael Moyles, a cancer charity fundraising team. While in Austin, Texas to accept national recognition for the success of this organization, Mr. Janson and Mr. Moyles participated in a 5k fundraising run led by dozens of pedicabs carrying local children battling cancer. Watching these brave cancer warriors only inspired Mr. Janson to work harder on behalf of all children facing this dreaded disease. He has since founded HOPE Run Spokane and works closely with the American Childhood Cancer Organization Inland NW. He is very excited to lend his experience and enthusiasm to the fight against childhood cancer at the national level through his participation in the ACCO Board of Directors.
If you would like to learn more about Dr. Aune and Mr. Janson and the other ACCO Board of Directors and Staff, and the critical role they play in bringing national and international awareness to the importance of the on-going fight against this deadly disease, as well as the daily support they provide to families across the country facing a cancer diagnosis, treatment, and survivorship issues, we encourage you to visit www.acco.org for additional information.
“Reason this person is a Gold Ribbon Hero: My mom is a nurse practitioner, a very successful university professor, a writer, and the parent of my little brother who is a brain cancer survivor. With all of that, she did not hesitate, she walked away from her career and she put her life into taking care of my brother and helping others who are not just experiencing this tragic disease but who are experiencing any of life’s challenges. She is a true warrior in the fight against childhood cancer in her daily life. She explains she educates, she supports and she is an advocate for encouraging donations and funding to preventing and finding a cure! She has began writing children’s Christian fantasies about a terrible disease that these magical children are faced with that teaches love, loyalty, family, and most of all faith in God. She has written the first two novels in the series and is working on the third. She is always helping someone in some form or another and she spends the entire month of September speaking to spread awareness of childhood cancer. She has touched so many lives, and when she goes back to my brother’s treatment facility for his follow-up care, she gives her book away for free to the families and anyone who wishes to read it! I can’t begin to tell you how amazing she is, and how many people love and appreciate her. It is hard having to share her with so many people, but I am proud to say she is my mom!” – Logan W.
