By Madison Rohrbach There is one word that has touched us all, that everyone fears that their doctor will say: cancer. Cancer happens when cells in your body growing uncontrollably, all while attacking the surrounding tissue. I originally started writing this with the intention of informing the public with the use of facts and statistics. However, the day I started to write this article, I went to the annual “Gold out” football game for Mini-THON. During this event I realized that the statistics are just numbers. It's not the statistics that are affected, it's the people. Charles Millard, the founder of the Four Diamonds Fund, once said, “When we do things for ourselves, they die with us. When we do things for humanity they live on forever.” No one wants the statistics, they want the stories. They want the reason why we fight, why we have Mini-THON, why we won't stop standing. Mini-THON is a 12-hour dance marathon to raise money for pediatric cancer patients and research for a cure. The event Mini-THON gives you a glimpse into the life of a cancer patient by showing the physically and mentally exhausting you would endure during treatment for cancer because you’re on your feet for 12 hours. When you stand for 12 hours and you see that total go up for all of the money raised over the school year, your life will never be the same because you just witnessed hope in action. A normal teenager can't wait to get to the end of the school day, but the kids battling cancer can’t wait to get back to school and be out of the hospital. These kids can’t fight cancer alone, they need our help. That's why standing for 12 hours and spending so much time planning Mini-THON is a small price to pay compared to the testing and treatments that they have to go through everyday. After they have gone into remission, cancer survivors need more treatments and extra tests to make sure the cancer doesn’t come back; despite this, they aren’t even considered cured for another five years. Imagine having to go back to elementary school all over again while you were struggling with illness and recovery, spending all of that time worried that you might get sick again - except next time, you might not survive. Here is where you come in: you have the opportunity to help. You can help to raise money to find a cure. From as simple as buying a bracelet to donating money to participating in Mini-THON. There are so many stories to tell, but one that really sticks out is about a young man named Nick Pantalone. In September of 2014, Nick’s father, Vince Pantalone, came and spoke to the school about Nick and his battle with cancer. His story starts with the day he got hit by a bus while he was wearing a giant sombrero. He was uninjured, but his parents wanted to make sure he wasn't injured internally. Nick said, “That was probably their best decision ever”. He was sent to Hershey Medical Center and was diagnosed with desmoplastic small round tumors. Desmoplastic small round tumors is a rare cancer that only has a 15% five year survival rate. He went through four major surgeries to try and remove the growth, as well as 35 chemotherapy treatments and two experimental treatments. On March 24, 2013, Nick lost his battle with cancer, but this isn't the end of his story. He continues to inspire others by making such a big impact on those who knew him that they continue to talk about him. His voice is the voice you hear for the safety talk on some rides at Hershey, like the Wildcat. There is also a memorial in Hershey Park for Nick. When a child is diagnosed with cancer, their day to day lives are affected. All it takes is a single word and his or her life changes; there are ups and downs in life, but when it comes to cancer, it is so much more. These kids should never battle alone, even the survivors. Many children who fight and win against cancer still need lifelong treatment for side effects. With every passing moment, a child dies from cancer. Others are diagnosed, and many children battle it everyday. So what are you going to do?
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Elena Caputo
Hi! My name is Elena, and I'm a senior at Wilson and one of the Editors of the Editorial section. If you have any questions or ideas or if you want to write, email me at [email protected]! Olivia MonosHello! My name is Olivia and I'm a junior this year, and one of the editors of the Editorial section! I'm really excited to write for the Paw Print again this year!
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