American Cancer Society Relay For Life of Hillsborough/Orange County

**WHAT IS THE KID’S WALK? The Kid’s Walk is a fun-filled celebration designed especially

for young people (14 & under) to participate and get involved in Relay for Life — a

community event to fight cancer. The celebration will include entertainment, games, &

refreshments.

**HOW TO REGISTER--

(1) Complete registration form. (Click  HERE to view and print the form) The registration form must be signed by a parent or guardian.

(2) Pay a $5.00 registration fee. Make check payable to American Cancer Society.

(3) Try to raise $25.00 for the fight against cancer.

(4) Please return completed registration form & $5.00 registration fee to: Lynn Brown,

108 Pass Farm Lane, Rougemont, N.C. 27572 by the deadline – Tuesday, April 20. (Must

be postmarked by deadline to guarantee a t-shirt with sponsors’ names.) If you have

questions, please call Lynn at (919)732-8253.

**HOW TO BE A KID's WALK SPONSOR--

(1) We have prepared a special Kid’s Walk sponsorship opportunity for businesses. For a

minimum donation of $50.00 (tax deductible), you can become a Kid’s Walk sponsor.

(Click HERE to view and print a form)

(2) Being a Kid’s Walk sponsor will provide a way of advertising for your business while

providing an opportunity for kids to get involved in the fight against cancer. Your business

name will appear: (a) on a poster at the Kid’s Walk tent, (b) in the Relay for Life event

program, (c) on our Relay for Life website (www.hillsboroughrelayforlife.com), (d) in the

News of Orange County newspaper, & (e) on Facebook.

(3) Please return completed sponsorship form & check payable to the American Cancer

Society to: Lynn Brown, 108 Pass Farm Lane, Rougemont, N.C. 27572 by the deadline –

Tuesday, April 20. (Must be postmarked by deadline to be included in advertising

mentioned above.) If you have questions, please call Lynn at (919)732-8253.

**HOW TO HELP US GET THE WORD OUT to the public about our Kid’s Walk:

Please place Kid’s Walk posters in area businesses that you visit. (Click HERE to view and print a poster.)

**UPCOMING KID'S WALK FUNDRAISER--

The Blue Ribbon Diner in Mebane will be hosting a community fundraiser for Orange-

Hillsborough Relay for Life Kid’s Walk. Bring a copy of the flyer that can be found online

at www.hillsboroughrelayforlife.com and join them for lunch or dinner on Tuesday, April

20, from 11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Fifteen percent of your total check will be donated to

the Kid’s Walk. (Click HERE to see flyer for more details.)

Deaths: An estimated 1,380 deaths are expected to occur among children aged 0 to 14 years in 2009, about one-third of these from leukemia. Although uncommon, cancer is the second leading cause of death in children, exceeded only by accidents.  Mortality rates for childhood cancer have declined by 50% since 1975. The substantial progress in pediatric cancer survival rates is attributable largely to improved treatments and the high proportion of patients participating in clinical trials.

Early detection: Early symptoms are usually nonspecific. Parents should ensure that children have regular medical checkups and should be alert to any unusual symptoms that persist. These include an unusual mass or swelling; unexplained paleness or loss of energy; sudden tendency to bruise; a persistent, localized pain; prolonged, unexplained fever or illness; frequent headaches, often with vomiting; sudden eye or vision changes; and excessive, rapid weight loss. According to the International Classification of Childhood Cancer, childhood cancers include

Treatment: Childhood cancers can be treated by a combination of therapies (surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy) chosen based on the type and stage of cancer. Treatment is coordinated by a team of experts, including pediatric oncologists, pediatric nurses, social workers, psychologists, and others who assist children and their families. Because these cancers are uncommon, outcomes are more successful when treatment is managed by a cancer center. If the patient is eligible, placement in a clinical trial should also be considered.

Survival: For all childhood cancers combined, 5-year relative survival has improved markedly over the past 30 years, from less than 50% before the 1970s to 80% today, due to new and improved treatments.  Rates vary considerably, however, depending on cancer type. For the most recent time period (1996-

2004), 5-year survival for neuroblastoma is 70%; bone and joint, 71%; brain and other nervous system, 74%; leukemia, 82%; non-Hodgkin lymphoma, 86%; Wilms tumor, 92%; and Hodgkin lymphoma, 96%.  Survivors of childhood cancer may experience treatment-related side effects. Late treatment effects

include organ malfunction, secondary cancers, and cognitive impairments. The Children’s Oncology Group (COG) has developed long-term follow-up guidelines for screening and management of late effects

in survivors of childhood cancer. For more on childhood cancer management, see the COG Web site at: survivorshipguidelines.org.