EVERYONE knows what cancer is – but surprisingly, childhood cancer is virtually IGNORED. Here are some shocking facts:

• Childhood cancer is the #1 disease killer of kids. It kills more than asthma, cystic fibrosis, diabetes and pediatric AIDS combined. Even so, it receives almost NO funding, NO research and NO awareness.

• 80% of children are already at STAGE 3 or STAGE 4 when diagnosed as compared to 20% of adults. This means the cancer has already moved to other parts of their bodies which makes it much more difficult to treat and cure. Why? NO awareness = symptoms that are misdiagnosed!

• Only ONE new drug has been approved to combat pediatric cancer since 1980, a period that saw 50 medications approved to fight adult cancers.

• The National Cancer Institute’s (NCI) budget was $4.6 billion. Of that, breast cancer received 12%, prostate cancer received 7% and all 12 major groups of pediatric cancers COMBINED received less than 3%.

On September 3, 2010 something AMAZING began…

A Facebook page was launched entitled “Oprah, Please Do A Show On Childhood Cancer – Our Kids Need Your Help!” (www.facebook.com/Oprah4KidsCancer) We figured, if Facebook can get Betty White to host Saturday Night Live – let’s see if it can get Oprah to spotlight childhood cancer!

In just FOUR short months, over 52,000 people from all over the world have formed an ARMY to finally give a voice … and most importantly HOPE … to these kids! SEVERAL television news stories have aired about our campaign, along with numerous print articles and radio interviews. In addition, we were endorsed by the Kansas City Chiefs and more than 150 celebrities have been regularly helping us spread the word on Twitter!

My inspiration for starting this campaign is my friend, Deliece and her 6-year old son, Braden (www.twitter.com/BradensHope) (http://twitpic.com/2k4wnu). Braden has relapsing, stage 4 neuroblastoma. There is no known cure. His odds for surviving 5 years are less than 10%. Braden is still here and still fighting – thanks to experimental treatments he’s been receiving since October, 2009. He is a TRUE miracle! Unbelievably, Deliece was diagnosed in February, 2010 with Stage 2 breast cancer. She learned more in the first, 1-hour doctor appointment about her breast cancer than she has in THREE YEARS about Braden’s cancer! After seeing, firsthand, the VAST discrepencies in treatment options and awareness of breast cancer compared to childhood cancer – she realized she had to act. She is now on a mission to make sure ALL children fighting cancer get the same shot at life that adult cancer patients do! THIS HAS TO CHANGE!!

Time is now running out and Oprah’s last season is fast approaching it’s end. PLEASE help us by joining our Facebook page – and by signing this petition! Spread the word on Facebook – spread the word on Twitter. We aren’t asking for your money – we aren’t asking for your time. Just a couple of clicks from your mouse and you just might save a child’s life!