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mrockwellWriting
Today is Release Day for "Unmade," the latest installment in my Arabian-flavored female-centric S&S series being put out by Musa Publishing.
Get yours while it's still warm! Heh.
In other writing news, The WotC Novels Book Club Discussion for Skein of Shadows has started up. Come join the fun! I also recorded an interview about the book with the lovely Tracy and Jeff from The Tome Show this past weekend; I'll let you know when you can give it a listen. And I have another interview with Stefan over at Civilian Reader, which I believe will go live next Wednesday, so be sure and check that out. Looks like I'm all over the place - you almost can't avoid me! Heh.
Everything Else
As you should know by now, September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month and September 13th (when I originally started the post) is National Childhood Cancer Awareness Day.
Seven children die from cancer EVERY DAY in the Unites States; another 36 are newly diagnosed. In the past 20 years, there has only been ONE new drug approved for treating pediatric cancer, even though there are 35,000 children currently in treatment, and that number grows every day.
More and more kids are diagnosed with cancer every year, but there has been no corresponding increase in funding to find cures for their cancers (which often behave very differently than adult cancers), or even to investigate new treatments. The vast majority of funding comes from the work of private citizens - usually spearheaded by parents of patients, or the patients themselves.
Quite frankly, it's not enough.
We can do more. We HAVE to do more.
That's where you come in.
You all know about Max, so you all know at least one child whose life has been turned upside down by childhood cancer. Max has been lucky so far - his last scans showed no more tumor growth, so his doctors think the tumor is (thank God!) maturing and becoming benign. But most kids with neuroblastoma aren't so fortunate. And even those who beat the cancer (or are at least able to keep it at bay, as we have been) are still at risk for secondary cancers, cognitive and physical delays, chronic illnesses, and a host of other issues that stem DIRECTLY from their treatment. In many cases, the medicine is just as bad as the disease - it just kills them more slowly.
So what can you do? Simple.
Awareness ---> Funding ---> CURE
You know how the stores are covered in pink during October? Why aren't they covered in gold THIS month? I think, if people really knew about childhood cancer, how prevalent it is, and how underfunded research into a cure is, that they would be.
If you're reading this, you're already aware. But how many of you tell your friends, family, coworkers? Or wear a gold ribbon during the month of September? It all starts with spreading the word.
You don't even have to say anything. Just add some links to your website. Here are a few; there are many more:
Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation
CureSearch
Arms Wide Open Childhood Cancer Foundation
The Truth 365
It's a small thing, but that's how big things start.
Thank you.
(And to those of you who have gone further, giving money to various groups that help fund research into cures for pediatric cancer, I can't thank you enough. If you ever doubt that there are superheroes living among us, just take a look in the mirror. There you go.)
Today is Release Day for "Unmade," the latest installment in my Arabian-flavored female-centric S&S series being put out by Musa Publishing.
Get yours while it's still warm! Heh.
In other writing news, The WotC Novels Book Club Discussion for Skein of Shadows has started up. Come join the fun! I also recorded an interview about the book with the lovely Tracy and Jeff from The Tome Show this past weekend; I'll let you know when you can give it a listen. And I have another interview with Stefan over at Civilian Reader, which I believe will go live next Wednesday, so be sure and check that out. Looks like I'm all over the place - you almost can't avoid me! Heh.
Everything Else
As you should know by now, September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month and September 13th (when I originally started the post) is National Childhood Cancer Awareness Day.
Seven children die from cancer EVERY DAY in the Unites States; another 36 are newly diagnosed. In the past 20 years, there has only been ONE new drug approved for treating pediatric cancer, even though there are 35,000 children currently in treatment, and that number grows every day.
More and more kids are diagnosed with cancer every year, but there has been no corresponding increase in funding to find cures for their cancers (which often behave very differently than adult cancers), or even to investigate new treatments. The vast majority of funding comes from the work of private citizens - usually spearheaded by parents of patients, or the patients themselves.
Quite frankly, it's not enough.
We can do more. We HAVE to do more.
That's where you come in.
You all know about Max, so you all know at least one child whose life has been turned upside down by childhood cancer. Max has been lucky so far - his last scans showed no more tumor growth, so his doctors think the tumor is (thank God!) maturing and becoming benign. But most kids with neuroblastoma aren't so fortunate. And even those who beat the cancer (or are at least able to keep it at bay, as we have been) are still at risk for secondary cancers, cognitive and physical delays, chronic illnesses, and a host of other issues that stem DIRECTLY from their treatment. In many cases, the medicine is just as bad as the disease - it just kills them more slowly.
So what can you do? Simple.
Awareness ---> Funding ---> CURE
You know how the stores are covered in pink during October? Why aren't they covered in gold THIS month? I think, if people really knew about childhood cancer, how prevalent it is, and how underfunded research into a cure is, that they would be.
If you're reading this, you're already aware. But how many of you tell your friends, family, coworkers? Or wear a gold ribbon during the month of September? It all starts with spreading the word.
You don't even have to say anything. Just add some links to your website. Here are a few; there are many more:
Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation
CureSearch
Arms Wide Open Childhood Cancer Foundation
The Truth 365
It's a small thing, but that's how big things start.
Thank you.
(And to those of you who have gone further, giving money to various groups that help fund research into cures for pediatric cancer, I can't thank you enough. If you ever doubt that there are superheroes living among us, just take a look in the mirror. There you go.)
