Supernatural star Jensen Ackles, who is expecting his first child with his wife, Danneel Harris, wants his fans to help him out with a good cause.
In lieu of baby gifts, Jensen is asking that fans donate to the Hats Off For Cancer organization on Fundly.com. So far, he has managed to raise almost $20,000. Here’s what he writes:
Some of you have expressed interest in giving Danneel and I baby gifts for our little girl. We would ask instead that you donate to this wonderful charity. We are truly grateful for your support and generosity.
Talk about a great cause from a very great actor, right? Plus, there’s only so many baby wipe warmers you can get! To donate to the cause, check out the link here!
FRISCO — A Frisco principal says bald is beautiful. And now, he doesn’t have to worry about his hair in the morning.
He made good on a bet with students.
Imani Miller is a dancer. She’s a lieutenant on the Heritage High School drill team. In September, she had a relapse of leukemia. She’s undergoing chemotherapy. Imani is one of two students at Heritage who are battling cancer.
“It’s really hard to wrap your mind around the fact that someone so close to you has been suffering so much,” said Bethany Alexander, Imani’s friend.
Heritage principal Mark Mimms made a promise to his students: If they raised thousands of dollars for a cancer organization, he would shave his head.
“I chose to do this because I want to honor them,” Mimms said. “My hair will grow back.”
In one week, students exceeded the principal’s challenge. They raised $6,600 for Hats Off For Cancer.
“They were coming in, digging the change out of their purses or out of their pockets, and turning it in,” said Jacqueline Hollowell, DECA sponsor.
Students who helped raise money saw the shaving in person. The rest of the school watched it from their classrooms.
“And I think it was an eye opener to the students that there are a lot of students going through a lot worse than they are, and that we need to be appreciative,” said Tannaz Zakeri, Imani’s friend.
News 8 spent some time with Imani Miller. She didn’t feel up to appearing on camera. She’s in remission and must endure two-and-a-half years of chemo treatments. She and her mother told us all the love coming from her school is therapeutic.
“And to know that her friends and her classmates and the teachers and everyone is not only thinking about her, but rallying for her, it means a lot,” Kimberly Miller said. “It’s a huge boost for her, emotionally.”
The kids at school say it’s been a boost for them too, knowing they’re bringing comfort to two classmates, in such a tough time.
Chris is a 14-year-old who has a probable relapse after fighting stage 4 Hodgkins Lymphoma last year.
Last year, Chris began complaining of arm pain and after many doctor visits, was told he had stage 4 Hogdkins Lymphoma. In June, 2011, Chris had a port put in and started chemotherapy.
Chris was diagnosed during the last week of school in 2011. Even though he spent his whole summer in treatment, he always had a smile on his face. He kept that positive outlook the entire time.
Chris finished his chemo in October and finished radiation in December, 2011. This past April, he was able to go on a Make-A-Wish trip, and celebrated his “End of Chemo” party in July, 2012. He also got his friends together to fundraise for charities focusing on helping cancer patients.
Chris had to be home schooled last year due to treatments, and was looking forward to going back to school this year. However, after going for routine scans, only two days after his 14th birthday, Chris was told he had a probable relapse. On what was supposed to be his first day back to school with friends, Chris had a surgeon consultation, and has his biopsy scheduled for September 10th.
Despite a relapse and returning to treatment and radiation looming over his head, Chris has kept his positive attitude. He is scared and nervous, but focused on school work.
Please join us in praying for Chris and his family as they face cancer once again. You can “like” his facebook page! Help him get to 1,000 likes before he goes for his biopsy appointment on September 10th.
Chris, your selflessness coordinating fundraisers for charities to help others with cancer and your positive outlook are truly inspiring. We are proud to name you our HOC Hero of the Week!
If you know a child or teen who is battling or has battled cancer and you want to nominate them for our next HOC Hero of the Week, tell us about your hero and include photos and any links to their pages so we can support them! Fill out the nomination form here: http://hatsoffforcancer.org/nominate-hero.
I have been receiving a lot of emails from schools, groups and companies, asking how to help spread awareness during September for Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. I thought it might be good to address that here on the blog. First, check out our Get Involved section on the Hats Off For Cancer (HOC) Web site if you know how you want to help. If you’re still unsure, keep reading.
One of the easiest and more impacting ways to get involved is by hosting a Mad Hatter Drive at your school or church, in your community, with an organization or at your place of work.
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There are a ton of different ideas for your drive listed in our e-packets.
Some that have been very successful for groups in the past include designating a “Hat Day” where you collect a $1 donation from each person that wears a hat for the day.
Another great idea for an elementary or middle school is asking everyone to bring in their craziest hat and put it on during an assembly, asking for a $1 donation for HOC, and then holding a “Hat Parade” outside so everyone can see the fun hats and handing out prizes in certain categories!
You can host a Mad Hatter tea party and charge admission, either a new hat or a couple of dollars.
Hat drives are also a great way to give back, asking everyone to bring in new, kid-friendly hats to give to HOC.
Some groups have held a Battle of the Bands or a local concert after school or at church and used the admission fees to donate to HOC.
High Schools and Colleges have challenged rival schools to a competition to see who can raise the most money or collect the most hats.
Contact your local grocery store about partnering to ask patrons to donate $1 and they can write their name on a hat cut-out and post them up in the store display area.
Schools have used assembly time to show the HOC PSA and music video as a way to help everyone understand a little more about cancer and who is being helped through volunteering for Hats Off For Cancer.
Companies can give workers additional casual day passes for those that have participated in a donation or hat drive, or hold a golf outing with your company as the sponsor.
You can find more ideas based on your type of group and event by visiting the Get Involved section of our Web site: Get Involved.
Truly, the opportunities are endless. However, the most important part to remember is that you’re helping to spread awareness of this terrible disease, and you’re encouraging others to donate in a very simple, but in a way that is very meaningful and important to those benefiting from it.
Ultimately, one of the goals of Hats Off For Cancer is that everyone who participates in or coordinates an event, realizes how easy it is to give back, and uses this as a springboard to continue seeking out opportunities to give back to others in need.
Here is a fun way to promote awareness. Just share this photo on your facebook page or tweet it to your followers!
Remember, getting involved can be as easy as you want it to be, but the impact can be felt for the rest of your life.
Thank you for reading and we hope you’ll consider joining us in bringing some much needed awareness to the courageous kids and teens who are battling and have battled cancer!
This week we are honoring Breonia Adam, described as an “amazing daughter”, who was diagnosed with Hypodiploid Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia on January 5, 2010 at the age of 15.
Breonia developed complications and suffered pancreatitis and liver failure. She surprised all of her doctors when she recovered from this set-back and continued receiving chemotherapy and a stem cell transplant in July, 2010. Her older sister, Felicia, was her donor.
A year later, her arm started hurting and within 6 months, she relapsed. Her family was crushed and the doctors said there was nothing that they could do. Demanding she receive treatment, Breonia’s mother saw that she start chemotherapy. Unfortunately, they found that her spleen and liver were now full of leukemia cells and she was admitted to the hospital for the last time on February 18, 2012. On February 26, 2012, Breonia earned her angel wings from a bleed in her brain caused by the chemo and low counts.
Breonia’s mother told us:
Breonia inspired all who has heard her story, she always kept a smile on her face. Her strength and courage with all she went through was so great, nothing could ever compare to it, ever. We were determined to prove the doctors wrong, she was the 1% of ALL cases being hypodiploid.
She will always be my hero, we miss her so much and she will forever be 17. She always said she would live with us forever, she was cremated, so she will be with us forever. She also said she never wanted to be an adult and have the responsibilities–she is forever 17, like she wanted it to be like that. She would tell me she wanted to fly around with wings, and now she can do that. She said if she could go back in time and change things, she said she would not change the fact of her being sick. Her sickness opened her eyes and made her see things differently, she was so easy going and never would be serious, she never wanted to worry me at all.
Breonia was truly an amazing daughter, and I wish she was still here with us.
If you’d like to know more about Breonia, or leave her family words of encouragement, you can visit her Facebook group.
We are so honored to call Breonia our HOC Hero of the Week!
If you know a child or teen who is battling or has battled cancer and you want to nominate them for our next HOC Hero of the Week, tell us about your hero and include photos and any links to their pages so we can support them! Fill out the nomination form here: http://hatsoffforcancer.org/nominate-hero.
This week we are honoring Benjamin Perry, a 15 year-old young man who is fighting Alveolar Rhabdomyosarcoma, an aggressive type of soft tissue cancer.
Benjamin Perry
Ben’s cancer has spread into his arm and his lungs. He starts chemo again on Thursday and hopes to have at least 1,000 likes on his Facebook page: Prayers for Benjamin Perry. You can leave Ben words of encouragement and prayers as he begins this second round of chemo this week!
Benjamin Perry
Ben is described as a very strong person who always looks for the silver lining.
Last Thursday, he gave the doctor a high-five and said, “Let’s do this!”
Maybe we all need to see things in the eyes of a child. Hit it head on and don’t look back. Thank you Ben for showing your Momma many life lessons through out the past year. I love you! 🙂
So, help show Ben that you are thinking of him and sending prayers his way by “liking” his page: Prayers for Benjamin Perry!
You’re a hero to us, Ben, and to many people praying for you!
If you know a child or teen who is battling or has battled cancer and you want to nominate them for our next HOC Hero of the Week, tell us about your hero and include photos and any links to their pages so we can support them! Fill out the nomination form here: http://hatsoffforcancer.org/nominate-hero.
Jordynn was diagnosed in March 2011 with Hodgkins Lymphoma. She started chemotherapy and lost her hair, but never lost her fighting spirit. Jordynn even continued going to school when she was feeling up to it in between her chemo treatments.
As one supporter commented:
Jordynn is a brave and strong young woman. She is an inspiration to us all. I am proud to be part of her life
Jordynn Schoenberger – March 2011
After months of treatments, Jordynn’s scans came back clear and she was declared cancer free in June 2011! Jordynn will graduate from High School this summer.
If you know a child or teen who is battling or has battled cancer and you want to nominate them for our next HOC Hero of the Week, tell us about your hero and include photos and any links to their pages so we can support them! Fill out the nomination form here: http://hatsoffforcancer.org/nominate-hero.
This week we want to honor 1-year old Rowdy Perkins. Rowdy was diagnosed with 4S Neuroblastoma at less than a month old. He started chemo and underwent four rounds as well as two surgeries to remove remaining tumors.
Rowdy Perkins, after being diagnosed with 4S Neuroblastoma
Rowdy’s mom let us know why Rowdy is a hero:
To us Rowdy is a real hero, we have learned soo much from him in the past year. It is sad that Rowdy’s life so far has been filled with this hell, but we know how lucky we are that he was able to battle this beast and come out smiling and HEALTHY!
I hope that Rowdy’s story will inspire a lot of people…anything is possible if we have hope! 🙂
Happy and healthy! 1-year old Rowdy shows off his smile!
On July 1, 2011, Rowdy ended his treatments. His most recent scans in February came out clean! Congratulations Rowdy! We honor you as our HOC Hero of the Week! Check out his CaringBridge page and leave a message for him and his family!
If you know a child or teen who is battling or has battled cancer and you want to nominate them for our next HOC Hero of the Week, tell us about your hero and include photos and any links to their pages so we can support them! Fill out the nomination form here: http://hatsoffforcancer.org/nominate-hero.
This week we are honoring 1-year-old Logan Munro, affectionately known as Loganberry and Logie Bear. Little Logan is battling a form of malignant brain cancer known as Medulloblastoma. You can help him and his family by clicking the links at the bottom for his personal donation page!
Logan “Logie Bear” Munro
Logan was born in February, 2011 and at his three month check-up, his doctor noticed his head was large for a baby his age. Those concerns grew when Logan was not meeting certain milestones in development. After a brain scan and biopsies, it was determined that Logan had five tumors. He underwent surgery in December 2011 to remove one tumor. The others were too large and now Logan is undergoing chemotherapy to decrease the size of the others in order for the doctors to operate.
Logan “Logie Bear” Munro
According to Logan’s nominator (his cousin, Melissa):
Throughout it all, Logan continues to be a loving and happy baby. Logan is such a vibrant little boy who almost always has a smile on his face no matter what he is going through (In fact he recently was admitted to the ER and eventually isolation due to a fever and extremely low blood counts and except for when they were accessing his port, was smiling at all the nurses and doctors). Between treatments, Logan is a happy baby who turns up the wattage on his grin when he sees his toy tow truck, watches Baby Einstein on TV or finds an adult with whom to flirt.
You can show your support for Logan via his Facebook page and donation site. “Like” Logan’s page and show him and his family that we are thinking and praying for his health and recovery!
Logan “Logie Bear” Munro
If you know a child or teen who is battling or has battled cancer and you want to nominate them for our next HOC Hero of the Week, tell us about your hero and include photos and any links to their pages so we can support them! Fill out the nomination form here: http://hatsoffforcancer.org/nominate-hero.
This week, we would like to honor Kamryn Schumann, our HOC Hero of the Week! 4-year-old Kamryn was diagnosed with Stage 3 Wilms’ Tumor in November 2010.
Kamryn is an inspiration to ALL those around her! She was never a victim to cancer; she fought and beat cancer, and continues to be a strong girl! Who ever said that kids can’t be teachers? Kamryn has taught me to treasure life and face challenges in a new way. She’s truly an angel here on Earth!
Kamryn shows off her Disney Princess hat sent by Hats Off For Cancer in 2011
We are happy to report that Kamryn beat cancer in June 2011, and has been cancer-free ever since!
Kamryn in 2012, showing off her big smile as a cancer survivor!
To mark this incredible news, a family friend wrote this poem for Kamryn and shared it with us:
S– Sometimes life’s obstacles become one of our greatest ife stories its true, Even though we don’t understand why things happen they way they do.
U– Understanding God’s plan is left unknown and hard, But we cannt give up hope and let down our guard
R– Remembering that your family and friends were all near made it easier to face challenges and anything you feared
V– Voices of prayer were spoken for you, To keep you wiht God’s angels and all you went through
I– In Novemeber you faced the biggest batttle of all, But throught the whole thing you stood courageous and tall
V– Victim of cancer, is what you were not, You stayed strong and brave in every step that you fought
O– On June 27, 2011, the best news was sent from above, For God and his angels watched over you and surrounded you wth their love
R– Reading the scan came easy for doctors as they delivered the news that day- They said you were finished and a SURVIVOR it’s true, Forever and Always!
If you know a child or teen who is battling or has battled cancer and you want to nominate them for our next HOC Hero of the Week, tell us about your hero and include photos and any links to their pages so we can support them! Fill out the nomination form here: http://hatsoffforcancer.org/nominate-hero.
Hats Off For Cancer 