September was Childhood Cancer Awareness Month and since it now is October, a little of the immediacy and urgency that accompanied this awareness has died out, overshadowed by thoughts of pumpkins, skeletons, and turkeys.
Unfortunately, no matter what the month, this disease is still rampant and current in our society today and deserves due respect. In fact, according to the National Cancer Institution’s website, nearly 40 percent of all human beings will be diagnosed with cancer at some point in their lives. In terms of kids, according to the National Childhood Cancer Organization’s website, approximately 1 in 285 children in the United States will be diagnosed with cancer prior to their 20th birthday.
These numbers are both saddening and terrifying, hanging over us like an inevitable sentence, something that can’t be changed or helped. For some, this is so intimidating that they feel they cannot help or cannot possibly make a difference.
But they’re wrong.
There are plenty of ways to get involved and help those affected by cancer. There is so much to give and even more to gain from volunteering and it is truly a benefit to all involved. Throughout my life, I have been blessed to have been involved in many volunteer opportunities, my favorite of which I’d like to share in the hope that it may inspire you to look into local opportunities of your own, for such a worthy cause.
I have had the privilege of working alongside some of the brightest, most optimistic, strongest people I’ve ever met through my volunteer opportunities. An organization that I’ve gotten the most out of is a more personal cause, one where you can see the direct effects of your actions. This is my work with a nonprofit organization in Worcester, Massachusetts called Why Me Inc.
According to Why Me Inc.’s website, the organization was created in 1985 by Sherry Shepard, a girl who was just 13 at the time and had been battling cancer for four years.
Why Me’s main headquarters is a place called Sherry’s House; a center that not only puts on fun social events for children affected by cancer and their families but offers them a place to stay as well.
In addition to having living rooms, bathrooms, a kitchen, areas to lounge, and a huge backyard and playground, Sherry’s House has eight different lodging spaces for children who are being treated for cancer and their parents or caregivers. It provides a place for children to feel comfortable and social, and lifts the family of some of the financial burdens that may accompany the treatment— Sherry’s House is completely free of charge to residents. It is a noble cause and a beautiful organization, spearheaded by some of the most genuine and thoughtful people one may ever meet.
Through my all too brief work that I’ve done with them in the past, I can only admire the dedication and compassion of the workers, and respect the efforts that they put out every day to create a normal, comfortable social situation for the children they care so much about. You can see in the way their eyes light up when they talk about the progress of one resident, or the accomplishments of another, that they love what they are doing. It’s such a blessing to work with such devoted people and you can tell that they get as much out of it as they put in.
Anyone can get a sense of the type of community atmosphere there. Whether by stepping through the doors with a donation, or volunteering to watch the children, or even giving the parents some much deserved rest, all efforts of this organization help make the battle easier on all involved.
Working with the children is rewarding in and of itself. These are some of the most spirited and intelligent children that you may ever come across. Oftentimes you’ll find yourself forgetting that there are definite stressors in their lives because they all act so vivaciously, always full of curiosity. They just love having someone to talk to, whether about what they’ve been learning in school, what sports they play, or what they want to be when they grow up.
These kids have clear purposes in life— desires, motivations, optimism.
That’s more than one can say about some healthy adults.
But anyone at any age can learn lessons through such volunteer work in conjunction to cancer charities.
I, myself, have learned appreciation through my volunteer work: an appreciation of my life and opportunities. This appreciation is the kind that can only come from watching other people’s long struggles that they never seem to complain about. You can easily take for granted the positive circumstances that come into your life, until you see that not everyone is so lucky.
I have learned optimism through my work, because no problem is too great and no future is too dark to prevent you from imagining other possibilities and successes. A good attitude can pull you out of the most hopeless situation, and be the push you need to see the answer to your problem.
I’ve learned hope through my work. I’ve learned a hope in the goodness of others, those who put forth selfless daily efforts for causes far greater than themselves. And I’ve learned about a hope in the future, an unbending attachment and belief in an idea. A cure.
My biggest hope is only that I can continue to learn so much more from these people about appreciating my own life, living well, being brave, and being strong. I really believe that only through volunteer work can people see these lessons, and benefit from their teachings. I hope that everybody can experience these lessons at least once, especially working with children who are fighting battles that no child should have to fight through.
For such a truly deserving cause I can’t wait to keep helping them fight too, until someday there will never be a need to do so.
Sources: http://seer.cancer.gov/statfacts/html/all.html
http://www.acco.org/about-childhood-cancer/diagnosis/childhood-cancer-statistics/
