In 2012, Taylor Swift became arguably one of the most admirable artists when she performed at the Stand Up to Cancer’s Telethon, singing a song she titled “Ronan” and began talking about the truths of pediatric cancer.
Back in 2010, a very brave woman named Maya Thompson began a blog entitled "Rockstar Ronan." Taylor, myself, and many others began following Maya’s blog learning about her family, the hardships that cancer plagues a family, pediatric cancer specifically, and, of course, her son, Ronan, who was diagnosed with Neuroblastoma when he was just three years old. Touching the hearts of many, including Taylor Swift, Ronan lost his battle with cancer in May of 2011. Taylor was inspired by Ronan, Maya, and their family’s journey, that “Ronan” was named and performed at Stand Up To Cancer in Ronan Thompson’s honor, co-written by Maya, as Taylor took many of the words for the song from Maya’s blog.
Taylor Swift has since been such an amazing advocate of childhood cancer, not only do the proceeds from her song “Ronan” go to The Ronan Thompson Foundation and other cancer charities, she has gotten personally involved in the lives of cancer patients. In April of 2015, Taylor gave 12-year-old Emily Beazley and her family a phone call to make one of Emily’s biggest wishes come true. Emily has been battling a type of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma for years and has recently stopped treatment because doctors have determined that cancer has become too aggressive and there was nothing more they could do. Taylor was able to brighten this little girl’s day day despite her circumstances.
Just recently, Taylor has made another splash in the world of pediatric cancer by performing “Ronan” live again for the first time since the Stand Up To Cancer’s Telethon in 2012. At her "1989" tour stop in Glendale, Arizona, Taylor told her audience about Ronan, Maya, and Maya’s blog "Rockstar Ronan" and the impact it, along with cancer, has had on her life. She sang “Ronan” for Maya along with her husband Woody, two oldest boys, Liam and Quinn, and daughter Poppy, who were all in attendance that night.
You can watch Taylor perform “Ronan” in Glendale, Arizona here.
Like Maya, Taylor has advocated that childhood cancer needs a voice. Federal funding for pediatric cancer is very low, receiving about four percent of federal government funding for cancer research a year. Childhood cancer is also the leading cause of death by disease in children under the age of 15 here in the United States. And if that doesn’t make you cringe, this will: Every year it is estimated about 230,000 children are diagnosed with pediatric cancer worldwide, that’s about 720 children a day. In the U.S., that's about 46 children a day, and about seven children will die today in the United States because of pediatric cancer. These numbers tell all.
So, if you take anything from this, let it be to talk about pediatric cancer. Raise awareness for the disease that is crippling the lives of our future leaders, teachers, and Taylors. If you never liked Taylor Swift, here’s your reason to start—she stands up for something that not many people are willing to because of the fact that it is so heartbreaking and hard to talk about. Start following Maya’s blog, "Rockstar Ronan," or even her Instagram. Stay informed on what is going on in the cancer world, because as unfortunate as it is, cancer will touch everyone’s life at some point in time, in some form or another. Follow in the footsteps of Maya and Taylor and find something you believe in and fight for it!
Statistics and information from:
http://www.theronanthompsonfoundation.com
http://www.cancer.gov/researchandfunding/snapshots/pediatric
http://www.acco.org/about-childhood-cancer/diagnosis/childhood-cancer-statistics/
http://www.alexslemonade.org/childhood-cancer-facts
http://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/emily-beazley-taylor-swift-301759051.html
