When one hears about cancer and dying, an image of an adult male or female comes to mind. Yet, cancer not only affects adults, it also affects young children. The National Cancer Institute reports that cancer is the leading cause of death by disease among U.S. children between infancy and age 15 and approximately 10,730 new cases of pediatric cancer are expected to be diagnosed in children 0–14 years of age in 2008. As we spoke with local businesses around Middle Georgia for this special issue of Around Town Magazine, we were reminded that childhood cancer hits close to home for many families in Middle Georgia.
 
The non-profit organization, Jay’s Hope, has been on a mission, to improve the quality of life of children with cancer and their families in Middle Georgia. The organization provides social, emotional, spiritual and financial support. Founder of Jay’s Hope, Cindy Gaskins, says that the organization is an opportunity to provide parents with a place to find comfort and support. Gaskins started the organization when her son, Jay, got sick. “He was diagnosed with a brain tumor at 2-years old, and during the midst of our battle, we realized we were in the minority with the support we were receiving back home (in Middle Georgia),” says Gaskins.
 
At the time, Gaskins was pregnant with her third child when Jay got sick and said she always had someone to help out: “I met many, many moms and dads at St. Jude’s, that didn’t have that type of support, who were wondering whether they would be able to keep their house, and met many families, two-income families, where moms that had to quit their jobs to be with their sick child…single moms up there with all of her children and her sick child. And I would hear these stories of how they would be able to keep their homes, keep their lights on, pay the bills…” Gaskins says she witnessed a family getting their car repossessed in the parking lot of the Ronald McDonald home and felt a deep desire to help these families by providing unique services.
 
 
So in 2006, Jay’s Hope opened its doors to offer families hope and support and help memorialize Jay’s battle with cancer (he died in 2006). The organization currently offers play therapy, a family resource center, an apartment for families to stay in while their child is in the hospital and a Walk-in Bone Marrow Testing Center. The organization, which offers bone marrow drives throughout the year, is actually the largest bone marrow volunteer recruitment group in Georgia. The foundation will soon include the largest walk-in bone marrow testing center in the state as well. “People will be able to walk in and get on the registry,” explains Gaskins. During the month of September, getting people signed up for the registry is part of the foundation’s mission.
 
“Education awareness is a large part of Jay’s Hope,” says Gaskins. “A lot of people believe that kids don’t get cancer; that it’s an old people’s disease…but cancer doesn’t discriminate.”
 
Jay’s Hope has a number of events taking place in the month of September. For more information on upcoming events, call (478) 238-6360 or visit www.jayshope.org.
 

Childhood Cancer Facts
 
·       Each day, 46 children are diagnosed with cancer.
 
·       One in 330 children will develop cancer before the age of 20.
 
 
·       Since 2004, the Pediatric Oncology population in Middle Georgia has risen 347%.
 
·       Three local children a month are diagnosed with some form of pediatric cancer.
 
 
·       Each year 2,000 children with cancer will die.
 
 
·       To date, Jay’s HOPE has touched the lives of over 350 children with cancer.

 
Statistics courtesy of Jay’s HOPE.