What can I do?

Think of the countless times you have asked yourself that question when you see or hear something that deserves your assistance. Many times, however, there is not a lot you can do. For instance, if you see a fire happening, unless you are a firefighter, you can only watch. Or if you see someone ill, unless you are a doctor, about the only thing you can provide is comfort. It can be a helpless feeling, wanting to do something, desiring to make a difference, but unable or unsure of doing anything.

When it comes to helping fight childhood cancer, you need not be a doctor or a firefighter, or any other specially trained person, you only need to look down at your feet to answer the question of What can I do?’

With the Maine Children’s Cancer Program’s 19th annual walk, beginning at 9 a.m. Sept. 17 at the Lewiston Shaw’s and at six other locations across Maine, this is an opportunity to do something, to make a difference. Unlike many fund-raisers, all funds raised for the Maine Children’s Cancer Program through this walk go directly, so the funds raised or contributed for the walk can make an impact immediately on children with cancer and their families.

The feeling of accomplishment that comes with participating in the walk will make you wonder why you didn’t do this earlier. The next time you go by a playground and see children playing or at your local grocery store and a teenager bags your groceries, think about the fact that person could be suddenly diagnosed with cancer. Take a long look at their young, innocent faces, with their whole lives ahead of them and imagine the anguish that having cancer will have on those children and their families.

The bad news is that you likely live in a community where a child has been diagnosed with or died from cancer. The good news is, thanks partly to the Maine Children’s Cancer Program, the number of children cured from cancer has risen 25 percent in the past 15 years. Today, more than 70 percent of children with cancer are cured. Unfortunately, that still means about a third of childhood cancer victims are not cured. Again, ask yourself, “What can I do?” The answer is get involved and raise funds for this program so the number of children cured from cancer continues to rise.

Don’t wait another year to get involved! Start doing for children with cancer beginning this Saturday at the Lewiston Shaw’s with the annual Maine Children’s Cancer Program Walk. Walks are also happening in Augusta, Biddeford/Saco, Portland, Rockland, Rumford and Waterville.

Jon Paradise is the statewide communications chair for the Maine Children’s Cancer Program’s annual walk and a member of the program’s board of directors.

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