Walking For Childhood Cancer

About This Author

Guten tag! My name is Jessica and I'm 19 years old. I obviously love to write; I have been writing since I was six years old, but I became an avid writer in sixth grade. I also love listening to music and studying history. I am obsessed with Civil War, World War II, Russian, Romanov, German, and Norweigan history. I listen to mostly metal, some country, and grunge.

Walking For Childhood Cancer

September was Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. Before September 2015, the month didn't really register as Childhood Cancer Awareness Month for me, which I know is terrible to admit. However, after a friend of mine had a five-year-old daughter diagnosed with Leukemia on September 6, 2015, the meaning of September changed for me, as it changed for our entire writing community. This was the first year that I recognized September as Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, a month that is used to fundraise for various causes and hospitals that help children (and their parents) battle the monster known as cancer.

One morning as I was riding the train to work, I noticed an ad for Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) hanging up near the door. CHOP was advertising their fun run/walk for September 25, 2016. While I've participated in polar plunges for charity, I had never participated in a walk for charity. I decided I would sign up, I would sign up for my friend's daughter; I would raise money for her daughter, as well as the children and their families that utilize CHOP's services. I raised $175 for the charity by reaching out through e-mail and social media.

The morning of September 25, 2016, was beautiful. I had to get up at 5 AM (not much different than a work day) to be in Philadelphia by 7 AM. The fun run/walk started at 8:30, but the opening ceremony was at 8 AM. When I arrived, I was amazed to see how many people were participating in this event. Some of the patients were also participating in the walk. Seeing some of the children made me cry; after reading what my friend and her daughter go through, I could only imagine what these children go through on a daily basis. The least I could do for them is participating in a walk for charity.

During the opening ceremony, we were informed we raised over $1 million for CHOP, and they expect to raise over $2 million by the end of 2016. The opening ceremony, with information about CHOP, what the cause is for, how many children they have helped over the years, went quickly. By 8:30 AM, the runners were beginning to run.

As a walker, our start time was 8:45 AM. We walked a 2K and walking around Eakins Oval, Logan Square, the Academy of Natural Sciences, the Franklin Institute, then back to the Philadelphia Museum of Art was a beautiful walk. I loved taking selfies with the international flags as I walked. The sky was also a crystal blue and the temperature was perfect. There was a chill in the air, but as I walked, I didn't notice the chill. I had my iPod on and rocked out as I walked. I finished the 2K in 35 minutes.

I would participate in a walk for charity again. It was great to get moving for a good cause that helps others. I would also recommend it to everyone, even if one is not totally fit. With charity walks, they make them easy so anyone can participate and have fun. And I had a lot of fun that day!

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