Grant Dillard
Staff Writer
September is not only Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, but it also marks the fourth annual Book for Hope Childhood Cancer Walk; an event dedicated to funding childhood cancer research.
Book for Hope was initially inspired by the 2015 book, “It’s Christmas Again,” which was intended to educate children who had been diagnosed with cancer about the experiences they would go through and how to still find joy in life.
“It’s Christmas Again” was written by Gaylon Hayden, a cancer survivor who was diagnosed with breast cancer on Christmas Eve in 2007 at the age of 51.
Hayden wanted to dedicate her life to help children diagnosed with cancer. With that goal in mind she founded Book for Hope.
“There are 43 children diagnosed with cancer in our country daily, and that is double the size of a classroom,” Hayden said. “Last year there were nearly 16,000 new cases of children diagnosed with cancer in our country. One out of eight children will not survive a cancer diagnosis.”
Book for Hope hosted its first walk in September 2016, with over 350 people registering.
“We are going on five years with our childhood cancer organization,” Hayden said. “And if possible, are more passionate than ever to continue to support those that we feel are the most vulnerable people on earth, children diagnosed with the No. 1 disease-related death in children – cancer.”
Families register by filling out an application and working with their social worker at the hospital they are being treated in. In return, Book for Hope pays one monthly bill for each family.
“We have teams that have registered, families, and individuals,” Hayden said. “The team with the highest number of walkers will receive free pizza from Mellow Mushroom in Paducah, Kentucky, for a pizza party.”
The walk begins Sept. 7 at 9 a.m., but other activities including face painting and cornhole will take place at 8 a.m.
Registration can be done online and will cost $20 per participant.
The walk is a 2.5k with no time limit, and there will be plenty of golf carts on standby to get people back to shelter in case some are not able to walk the entire way.
Book for Hope will have other events throughout the year, and encourages as many people as possible to pitch in. Those looking to help or learn more about the organization can check out their website at www.bookforhope.org, and also follow them on Facebook.
“Children are worth lacing-up your tennis shoes and coming to Paducah, Kentucky, to walk for them,” Gaylon said. “Families need to know they are not alone.”