Sat. Sept. 24th

This was a very busy week in Washington, DC for the Childhood Cancer Community.

On Wednesday, I attended the “46 Mommas Shave for the Brave” at Union Station.  An activity of the St. Baldrick’s Foundation, 46 Moms of kids with cancer – and a few other folks – shaved their head in solidarity and to raise money for our battle.  I believe they raised something like $300,000 from that event.  Congratulations, St. Baldrick’s.

On Thursday, we held our 2nd People Against Childhood Cancer Summit.  As I have mentioned before, while there is no more passionate group of people in the world than those who have lost a child, one of our challenges is that we are a very fractured community.  There is not a Susan G. Komen in childhood cancer.  So, along with Bob Piniewski of PAC2 and Andy Mikulak of Max’s Ring of Fire, we brought together about 55 people in the childhood cancer community.  If we can harness our collective energy, we can accomplish so much.  The goal of our gathering and organization is NOT to take over anyone’s group or search for the limelight.  We just see value in creating a trade association-like group…a NATO of childhood cancer whereby everyone maintains their sovereignty, but we work more smartly together.  It’s a great group of people and I look forward to even more progress.

At our Summit/Conference/Meeting/whatever you want to call it (that’s not important), we had 2 guest speakers who have experience in the harnessing the energy of the HIV/AIDS movement in the 80’s & 90’s.  Our hope is that we can learn from others.  Additionally, Dr. Peter Adamson, Chair of the Children’s Oncology Group (COG), kicked off our day with a short address.  I am VERY high on Peter.  This guy is not only a very bright oncologist, but he has the passion of a family who is living through childhood cancer.  I introduced Peter to my friend and Congressman, John Carney (DE), as the “tip of the spear” in the childhood cancer medical community.  Over 90% of children treated for childhood cancer are treated in COG institutions.  I look forward to great leadership and contributions from COG under Peter’s leadership.

On Friday morning, I attended the 2nd Annual Congressional Childhood Cancer Caucus, hosted by Reps. Michael McCaul (TX) and Chris Van Hollen (MD).  Also in attendance were numerous executives from the Hyundai corporation.  I got the opportunity to share with numerous Hyundai folks of my story of trading in my Mercedes convertible for a Hyundai Sonata.  Hyundai is one of the few companies in the world who is behind us in the battle against childhood cancers.  Time will tell if the Caucus helps make a difference in the battle, but I’m keeping an open mind.  Thank you, Reps. McCaul, Van Hollen, Speier, Carney and Children’s Cause for Cancer Advocacy, the co-organizer of the Caucus.

I have to vent to you about one thing, though.  On my cab ride to the Capitol on Friday, I passed hundreds of people in pink participating in a breast cancer walk for “Breast Cancer Awareness Month”.  What the hell!!!  It’s not even October yet.  Football refs are already sporting pink whistles.  Can we please let the kids at least have their one month of the year!!!  Don’t get me wrong.  I’m not saying breast cancer is a good thing.  ALL cancers are horrible.  My Mother had breast cancer and she was the first one to say that curing cancer among children should receive more attention.  There’s more than one kind of cancer out there, folks.  Even though ‘corporate America’ thinks that pink is the only ‘ribbon color’, it’s not!  Why are our kids forgotten???

Trying hard to “B+” and “Live Like Andrew”.

Ali & Andrew’s Dad

www.caringbridge.org/visit/andrewmcdonough

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