09/05/2017
I have a story to share, and a favor to ask...So please bear with me, and read to the end. I guarantee there is something for everybody...
First the story...
I am wearing a pair of shoes. They are ugly shoes. Uncomfortable shoes. I hate my shoes. Each day I wear them, and each day I wish I had another pair. Some days my shoes hurt so bad that I do not think I can take another step. Yet, I continue to wear them. I get funny looks wearing these shoes. They are looks of sympathy. I can tell in others eyes that they are glad they are my shoes and not theirs. They never talk about my shoes.
To learn how awful my shoes are might make them uncomfortable. To truly understand these shoes you must walk in them. But, once you put them on, you can never take them off. I now realize that I am not the only one who wears these shoes. There are many pairs in this world. Some people are like me and ache daily as they try and walk in them. Some have learned how to walk in them so they don’t hurt quite as much. Some have worn the shoes so long that days will go by before they think about how much they hurt.
No one deserves to wear these shoes. Yet, because of these shoes I am a stronger person. These shoes have given me the strength to face anything. They have made me who I am. I will forever walk in the shoes of a person who had a child with Cancer.
-author unknown-
My wife and I received our shoes on February 27, 2013, when our otherwise healthy three and a half year old son, Joshua, was diagnosed with Very High Risk Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. He battled through 40 months of treatments, countless hospital stays, infections, hard loss, weight loss, too many pokes and scans and tests to even count. Hundreds of pills, so many bags of IV Chemotherapy, and through it all, he never wavered. He only got stronger. He lived by his motto of "Be Brave". June 19, 2016 he rang the bell signifying the end of treatment. Over a year later he is still healthy, happy, brave, and cancer free.
His courage inspired us to start the Be Brave Foundation to help support tother families financially who have a child battling pediatric cancer. The #1 disease killer of children under 18. 46 children diagnosed every day in the U.S. 7 lose their life to it every day. And yet our government believes that kids are worth about 3.8% of the National Cancer Institute's budget for research.
So why should you care about being a voice for these kids? Your kid doesn't have cancer, right? Well guess what, prior to 2/27/2013 neither did ours.
What can you do? A lot. Profile frames are available on our foundation page, which help raise awareness and show support. We also have an iPhone app. We have a website where you can donate and have nearly 100% go directly to families in need (we are fully volunteer run). We have professional athletes and celebrities who have campaigns that you can donate to and get some cool signed swag as a reward. You can start your own campaign for Be Brave and use your social media influence to make a real tangible difference. And if you're in Florida, we have a private event coming up in Orlando on October 7th, hosted by RJ Mitte from the emmy winning show Breaking Bad.
I will post all these links below, but if everyone gave $5-$10 we could help so many families pay their rent, or buy food, or medication. Or even allow a parent to take a day off so their child isn't alone in the hospital fighting for their life.
page = https://www.facebook.com/BeBraveFoundation.org
Website = http://bebravefoundation.org
iPhone app = http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/be-brave-childhood-cancer/id966685029
RJ Mitte (Breaking Bad) campaign = https://bebrave.networkforgood.com/projects/29071-teamrj
Bex Taylor-Klaus (Actress Scream, Voltron, The Killing) campaign = https://bebrave.networkforgood.com/projects/18871-teambex
Taylor Decker (NFL Detroit Lions) campaign = https://bebrave.networkforgood.com/projects/17086-teamdecker
Gigi Meyer (Daughter of OSU coach Urban Meyer) campaign = https://bebrave.networkforgood.com/projects/16080-teamgigi
I know what happened in Houston, and what is about to possibly happen to Florida is sad, and we need to support those in need also, but seriously, a latte, a sushi roll, can you sacrifice one of those to help a child battling cancer?
Please share.
Be Brave Foundation is here to offer financial assistance to families in Central Florida who have a
