The cure rates for pedatric cancers, leukemia in particular, have shot way up in the last 30 years. Still, the 5 year event-free survival rate for ALL is around 85%. That means that if a whole classroom of kids was diagnosed with ALL, within 5 years ~4 would relapse or die. I don't know about you, but I would find a different school. Unfortunately, it doesn't work that way. Cancer can strike any child at any time. It could be your son or daughter, grandchild, niece, nephew, cousin, neighbor, or someone in your child's class.
There are a lot of "facts" about childhood cancers being thrown around on the internet and I don't have a lot of time or energy to fact check, but the bottom line is the way to prevent and cure cancer is through research and that requires money. Pediatric cancer does not get a lot of research money. Why? It's not profitable for big pharma companies, it is relatively rare (so hard to get enough numbers to do big studies), and (I think) the kids can't advocate for themselves (and their parents are too strapped from the whole ordeal).
What does this have to do with wine? Well, it is one of the few "gold ribbon" products that you can purchase to help support childhood cancer organizations (you can choose between two). Order your bottle of 2009 ONEHOPE Arroyo Seco Reserve Pinot Noir before the end of September and $5 per bottle will be donated to Alex's Lemonade Stand or the Children's Miracle Network (both awesome organizations).
It is Childhood Cancer Awareness month. How many gold ribbons have you seen?
Dear Sarah,
ReplyDeleteI always love your posts and have been meaning to comment after the last few. To say "hang in there, it gets easier", which I am sure you know, and to thank you for your posts on Roro's site and your e-mail. Hearing from you brightens my day.
There are a few retail partners listed on the curesearch website. One of them is Macy's, which for some strange reason chose its shopping day for curesearch during breast cancer awareness month, so spread the word to shop at Macy's on Oct. 17th. Another is proflowers.com. And of course Mike & Ike's lemonade candy (for ALSF) and Chili's on Sep 27th for St. Jude's.
The next time I am on the East Coast I will let you know. I would like to meet you and those sweetie pies. I have a dear friend in Chapel Hill, NC, that I've been meaning to visit; haven't seen her or the "littlest" guy since Ro died last year. If you ever find yourself in my vicinity let me know.
Big hugs to all, keep breathing,
Michele, Rowan's mommy
Very very well put, Sarah. I will drink to that! Off to get some...
ReplyDeleteNicola
Very well said. Toast for a cause. Cheers!
ReplyDeleteSarah,
ReplyDeleteWe wish you and Mollie the absolute best, we're hopeful for a successful outcome. Childhood cancer is one of those gut wrenching diseases we wish we could just snap our fingers and rid the earth of. It saddens all of us at ONEHOPE and we're very appreciative of the mention during these hard times.
After September, our Arroyo Seco Pinot Noir will continue to give back 50% of profits from sales, year-round (24/7/365), to the ONEHOPE Foundation for Children's Hospitals. The ONEHOPE Foundation has partnered with Children's Miracle Network, which treats a very large percentage of pediatric cancer cases in the United States.
Best wishes,
Mike
@ ONEHOPE Wine