In late fall of 2005 Renee and I sat in an office at NYU Medical Centre in New York City. Stephanie was recovering from having her third brain tumour resected. She had already endured 30 rounds of radiation earlier in the fall after the second tumour was resected. We were discussing with Steph’s US neurosurgeon and oncologist what our next move would be to save Stephanie. This is what we were told, “at this point you have to hit it with everything you have”. You have to hit it hard, you cannot give this disease a chance”. Back in London, Renee, Stephanie, and I along with Steph’s oncologist Dr. Cairney decided that was what we would do, and so began the rounds of a nasty protocol nicknamed “ICE”.

Today, it is throughout the media that as many as 1000 cancer patients including children have received cancer treatment with a reduced dose, some for as long as a year!! How does this happen in 2013? Are there no checks and balances? McDonalds has better quality control. Seems wherever government is involved things tend to go wrong. Who is going to pay for this?  Who is going to be held accountable, our health minister, the supplier,the facilities? Well we know it won’t be our health minister seeing her previous track record of debacles and recently being awarded Deputy Premier despite them. You know who will pay the price? Your child and the front line workers! Your child because they may have to endure more treatments than originally planned. Your child’s oncologist because he or she is the one calling with the news that your child was affected. Who else are you going to yell at?  Call the heath minister’s office and they’ll just hang up on you!  A quote from our health minister;  “We must take this very seriously,” she said. “Although oncologists tell me the likelihood of this having a serious impact on patients is slight, it is a very clear indication that we need to be ever vigilant.”

Read more: 

From the LHSC website found here : LHSC   ”Although this issue resulted in a reduced dose of medications in treatment, the probability that this single factor alone has had an overall serious effect is small.”

Those statements right there is why I talked about the fall of 2005. I sure would like to know what oncologists are giving out information like that because the oncologists I’ve dealt with would have a different opinion! If this is the case why was Stephanie weighed before every round of chemo administered? Knowing the devastating effects cancer treatments have on children, why the hell do we give them so much if “serious impact on patients is slight” with 20% less! It enrages me that these people think we are sheep that know nothing and will feel all warm and fuzzy when they tell us everything will be ok. STOP, It’s not ok! Would it be ok if it was your child Ms. health minister? How about you Mr. CEO of Marchese Hospital Solutions?  “You cannot give cancer a chance”  not even 20%!!

For parents who’s child has been affected there will be information sessions at LHSC

For paediatric patients:

Monday, April 8 at 7:00pm
Tuesday, April 9 at 7:00 pm
Children’s Hospital (at Victoria Hospital)

800 Commissioners Road East, London ON

Room B5 – 118

There is also an information line you can call.

• For paediatric patients: Call 519-685-8806 or toll free 1-855-464-3253 available daily from 9am to 5pm starting April 3, 2013.

More info can be found on their website

LHSC Info:

This past couple months has been a little slow at Gold Ribbon Campaign. We have seen changes in Stephanie and although she is ok, our first priority is of course managing her health. We have been working on different campaigns and ideas for the coming year and I think things will only get bigger and better at “GRC” in 2013!  We are taking a week this week to celebrate Christmas and the holidays and enjoy the company of family and good friends, then it will be back to work raising Childhood cancer awareness! If you haven’t done so already please visit www.facebook.com/gogoldcanadapost and “like” and “share” it with everyone you know.

We want to thank everyone who supported the girls’ efforts in 2012. They are dedicated to making things better for children touched by cancer and they need your support to make change. On behalf of the Simmons family I would like to wish all of you a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Dean, Renee, Nancy, Pie and Stephanie

Tomorrow, October 18 2012 marks one year since the world lost one of it’s most beautiful children. Jessica we miss you and we think of you often……..

FOR JESS 

Our September blood drive was a success! Our goal was 1500 donations for the approximately 1500 children diagnosed in Canada each year. We got 1504 donations with 110 of those being from new donors! Thanks to Marisa Gianna Gatfield for all your help and support. Thanks to the Norburys (your girl wold be proud of you!) and the Stapletons for joining us at the launch in London. Big thank you’s to all the families who organized clinics in their communities and thank you so much to everyone who donated in support of the Gold Ribbon Campaign. Without all of you this would not have been possible! Please continue to donate with our partners for life ID# GOLD013121. Stay tuned as the girls are working on something bigger and better! I would like to share the e-mail we received from Marisa with the totals for the drive.

Hello Renee,

Wanted to share some great news with you, Stephanie, Pie, Nancy, and Dean.

Gold Ribbon Campaign Results thus far…..

As of today there are 856 registered members –  1504 donations of which 110 donations were from new donors.

Wow!  It has truly been an amazing journey.

THANK YOU  - you should be very proud of your efforts in raising Childhood Cancer awareness and the important role blood donations play in helping to give these young warriors the strength to fight back.   I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the Family Ambassadors for coming forward, we are humbled by your actions.

Stephanie,  you and your family are truly an inspiration for us all.

Best regards,

Marisa Gianna Gatfield

Community Development Coordinator

London, Southern Ontario

Jim, a great friend and a brave Dad donating in honour of his baby girl Jess.

Stephanie, Renee and I were out last weekend taking part in an Inside Ride for Childcan, a charity near and dear to us. Stephanie won 4 London Knights ticket for the most pledges for a female! Her team “Heels Off” also won the “most spirit” award.   She fights her own battles every day, and continues to fight for all children past present and future diagnosed with cancer. You are my inspiration Stephanie, and I am proud to be your daddy. xo

Raising Money for Kids with cancer and their families.

Steph’s new GRC event shoes!

I know I’ve said it already but I will get the pictures up from the CN Tower event this weekend. We  have quite a few different things on the go and sometimes there just isn’t enough time in a day.

In closing I would like to recommend a book for anyone with a child diagnosed with cancer. It is a children’s book written by Susan Ross. It is a story of a little girl (Sydney) who’s best friend is a mouse named Emma.  The story approaches the issue of Sydney’s hair loss from chemotherapy. Susan is local author who has may other great books for children. I can tell you that when Stephanie was at her sickest sitting beside her and quietly reading to her was the only thing we could do. Find out more at the link below.

Emma the Mouse Brings Joy to the House 

Presidential Proclamation — National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, 2012

I’ll start off with some great news about one of our most active Moms out there. Some of you may know Elaine Pennington and I know you have read her letters in a lot of different newspapers across south western Ontario. She has been a wonderful support to Stephanie and the Gold Ribbon Campaign for years. Well Renee and I were happy to return some of that support back by attending a city council meeting in Elaine’s hometown of Stratford. At the meeting Elaine presented to Stratford city council that all city vehicles should don a Gold Ribbon magnet for the month of September in support of Childhood Cancer awareness. When she was finished council voted, and with some debate it was passed! Congratulations Elaine, You presented a wonderful case for the kids that anyone with a heart could not vote against!

A few months ago Stephanie said to me, “hey Dad, Johnny Reid is in Toronto in September.” I said really? That’s awesome, too bad it wasn’t he same weekend as the CN Tower event and we would go. Steph has been a Johnny Reid fan for a few years, as evidenced in the Canadian Blood Services video and on her “picture gallery” page. She had the chance to meet him a couple years back and she got a CD autographed and I have heard a few times what a “hottie” he is. Well earlier this month she reminded me again that “Johnny was in Toronto.”  I can’t say I was ever a fan of Johnny Reid but I can say I have heard plenty of his music blasting out of Stephanie’s bedroom and although not necessarily my style of music it really isn’t bad. I am however a big fan of seeing concerts at Massey Hall and we contacted a friend and through her we got some pretty sweet seats! (thanks Rebecca!) Friday we told Stephanie not to make plans for Sunday and to pick a friend to take to the Johnny Reid concert because we got tickets!

Off we went to Toronto. Before the show Steph said she wanted to give Johnny a Gold Ribbon pin. Not sure how this would happen but we would see what we could do. Three or four songs in Johnny started singing “Today I’m going to Try and Change the World” I figured this was as good a time as any to  help Stephanie up to the stage so she could try and give Johnny the pin that she had attached to one of her Gold Ribbon Campaign business cards. Johnny, in mid song sat down on the edge of the stage, legs dangling, took Stephanie’s pin and card, looked at it, kissed her cheek and gave her the longest hug, all the while singing Today I’m Going to Try and Change the World to her. It was a beautiful moment and I felt it. Apparently a lot of others felt it too because there were a lot of tears in the audience on our way back to our seats.  It made Stephanie’s night, and Johnny Reid has two more fans as of Sunday night. After the show when the lights went up we were approached by a Mom and her Daughter. The young woman was about Steph’s age and she gave Stephanie a silver bracelet and they chatted a bit while Renee and Mom talked. The bracelet she gave Steph stated “Fuck Cancer” ……. The young woman lost her twin sister to cancer in March.  A little story about how even on your “day off” where you least expect it you can cross paths with a family who has traveled the same journey as you and although this family’s journey ended with the loss of a beautiful young woman, daughter……sister a connection was made.         Prayers For Heather Leonardo

The event in Toronto was a success again this year. I think everyone in attendance had a good time. It was good to see familiar faces and we  met some new friends that I think will play a role in helping us push our Gold Ribbon Campaign far and wide! If I could I would like to thank all the partners who came out and helped make this day a special one. We would like to thank Wendel Clark for taking time from his busy schedule to stop by and visit and chat with the kids……..and the Moms! (you know who you are ) All of the generous sponsors that helped make the day a success. Thanks to all of you who came out in support of Childhood Cancer awareness, and last but certainly not least our volunteers. Without you we couldn’t have pulled it off!

We really want this event to grow every year. If it grows people will take notice. When people take notice maybe the media will take five minutes from the Toronto Film Festival and all the self important millionaires and give some it some coverage. If the media shows up, businesses will want to get involved. If business/corporations get involved there is money, with that comes research, with research comes………? It’s not rocket science. Bottom line is it needs the support of everyone touched by Childhood Cancer first. I know we all have busy lives and schedules and it can be hard to give up a day but think of it this way, Childhood Cancer didn’t care about your schedule when it brought your world down around you………..

P.S. I will be adding photos from the event in the next few days, and a video is coming as well.

P.S.S. Stephanie’s social media stamp campaign is trickling it’s way to 400 likes……really? Does she have to create 25 000 new facebook pages in other names and do this herself? Where is everyone? Get involved!

I know it has been over a week since the CN Tower event and we have been very busy but we see an opening tomorrow evening to get some new and exciting news up so come back tomorrow night or Wednesday morning.  This is just a quick post, I wanted to get up tonight as, the past couple days we have traveled to events and  met some inspiring people who are helping us spread the word by referring people to our website. For those of you who somehow haven’t heard or those visiting for the first time. Stephanie is going to try the social media route to try and get that damned stamp advisory committee to listen to her! Click this link;  Go Gold Canada Post  “like” it, then “share” it, tweet it, email it, whatever it takes!

We collected over 25 000 hard copy letters of support for the Gold Ribbon stamp last year! When we handed them to the stamp advisory committee……they said NO! Stephanie will NOT TAKE NO FOR AN ANSWER! She will honour all the children who battled before her, the ones who have lost their lives, and the over 10 000 children in Canada currently fighting this dreadful disease. You should not take no for an answer……lets let the Stamp Advisory Committee know that we support Stephanie and her Gold Ribbon Stamp!

For all of you who are attending the event on Saturday, here is what the event will look like. I hope to see everyone out on Saturday. If we are going to make a difference for our children everyone needs to support events like this. I’ve said it once I’ll say it again, A very special young lady once said; “the pink ribbon started when someone who someone loved was diagnosed with breast cancer, we can do this”.

2:00 PM-Park opens

HTO Park East, 339 QueensQuay West,Toronto,Ontario

We welcome POGO, Camp Trillium, Camp Ooch, The James Fund, OPACC, The Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada, Gilda’s Club (Toronto), Childcan, Coast to Coast, and Canadian Blood Services. Thank you for joining us today to raise awareness and honour all our childhood cancer heroes.

We also welcome the many officers, both active and retired, of the Toronto City Police Services. They will be wandering through the crowd, interacting with the families.

2:00-6:00 pm- Face Painting available

3:30 pm- tickets go on sale for the barbecue

4:00 pm – 7:30 pm- Barbecued Burgers, Hotdogs or Sausages will be available

$3 gets you a choice of 1 item, with a bag of chips and a cookie. A water station will be available to refill your personal water bottles at any time.

4:30-6:00 pm- Juggler and Magician performing

5:00 pm and 6:55 pm-Camp Ooch performers

Throughout this time, you’re welcome to visit the hero wall and hang a photo of your hero, or leave a message for other families.

6:30 pm-Nancy, Pie and Steph welcome everyone.

6:40 pm- Childcan speaker, parent

6:45 pm- Coast to Coast, Jeff Rushton

6:50 pm- James Fund, Diana Birrell

6:55 pm-Camp Ooch performers

7:00 pm- POGO, Dr. David Malkin

7:15 pm- James Thomson, OPACC

7:20 pm-Camp Trillium speaker, Marci Shea-Perry

7:25 pm-Camp Ooch, speaker

7:30 pm- Recognition for the ones we’ve lost

7:35 pm- Greg Lawless, the Goodnight Song

7:38 pm- CN Tower lights up in gold. It will most likely not be really clear until approximately 8:00 pm

*From 7:30 – 8:30 we have arranged a visit from a special guest that you won’t want to miss!*

Glow sticks will be distributed amongst the crowd beginning at approximately 7:30 pm.

To our many sponsors and supporters, we want to send out our heartfelt thanks. Without your support, we would not have such a fantastic celebration of our heroes today.

The parking lot directly across from the park is $20 per day,CASH ONLY. Other lots are available within walking distance of the park.

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It is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month and we here at Gold Ribbon Campaign want to know what you are doing to promote it. Gold ribbons on your home, signs, car magnets? Driving around London I have seen different ways of spreading awareness about our cause.  We challenge you to do something, take a picture and send it to us. We would love to see what is happening in your community to promote a  very under promoted disease that affects thousands of children across our great country. If you send us a picture we will post it on our Facebook page.  Do it for your child, your grandchild or even the kid down the street. Whoever it is, you are on this site for a reason, why not let someone know? This is a pic of our house and just one of the ways we are promoting awareness in our community. Email your photos to dean@goldribboncampaign.com

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 I would like to share with you a letter written by one of our Moms to her local newspaper editor. 

Dear Editor,

The silence surrounding Childhood Cancers is deafening especially for the 10,000 Canadian children currently fighting for their lives. It is true that many now stand a good chance of survival but what about the long term consequences of the chemo, radiation and surgeries they need just for that chance at survival. In many cases it will leave them with long term health concerns from blindness, partial or total hearing loss to mobility issues and much more. Yes, a chance at life it worth that gamble, but more can and should be done to lessen the impact on their young bodies.

If the silence surrounding Childhood Cancers wasn’t so deafening, headlines across Canada and news broadcasts would scream of the eight Canadian children murdered by this silent killer each and every day and of the four others permanently injured. We would hear that Canada Post doesn’t believe over 25,000 letters of support warrant putting the gold ribbon, the symbol of childhood cancer, on a postage stamp or that our own federal government refuses to acknowledge the impact of childhood cancers by agreeing to light up the Parliament Buildings in gold for a day or designate an official day of awareness.

September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month and it is about time the world knew about Childhood Cancers and its impact on the lives of innocent young children. It is a local issue, it is an issue that affects children in your neighbourhood, but it continues to be swept under the rug because apparently no one wants to see or hear about a five week old infant screaming in pain while a terrified parent holds his hand tight and eight nurses hold him down to try and get another blood sample. Especially when told that this young infant may only have a 20 per cent chance at life. No one wants to hear about the two- year-old, the four-year-old or the 10-year-old, diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumour, who must undergo 72 weeks of chemo and radiation just to halt the growth of the tumour.

Perhaps the world believes we should remain silent but after all these children do to fight for their very existence, it is time to take action. On September 15, join the Second Annual Day of Action and Awareness for Childhood Cancer will bring childhood cancer warriors, survivors, their family, friends and neighbours and the families of our angels to Toronto for a day. It culminates when the CN Tower is lit up in gold to honour our young heroes and angels.

Or, you could make a difference by donating to the cause. Children who are fighting this merciless disease typically require units of blood to help keep their numbers up so they can continue to receive cancer treatment. The Gold Ribbon Campaign has initiated a new campaign to encourage Canadians to donate blood to help these children and others. Blood donation is easy and only takes a few minutes of your time and yet can make an enormous difference for childhood cancer warriors as well as so many others. Register online during the month of September at www.blood.ca/joinpartnersforlife. It is as simple as entering Partner ID GOLD013121. The next clinic in Stratford is September 25 at the Christian Reformed Church from 1:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Sincerely,

Elaine Pennington, mother of a childhood cancer warrior

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Here is an email we received from another Mom that came with a photo of her donating blood for the first time!

 Along with the extensive list of achievements you already have under your belt, here is yet another:

That’s right, Steph — YOU are responsible for moving me from something I always planned to do “someday” to actually DOING IT … TODAY!!!   I was unable to make it for your kickoff last week (although, the Canadian Blood Services refreshment lady said it was really nice when you all went in!), but I definitely wanted to have it done during Childhood Cancer Month and also, ensure my donation was under your Gold Ribbon Campaign / Partners for Life program.

Sincere thanks, Stephanie, for ALL that you have done, and continue to do, in raising awareness for and honouring every child touched by childhood cancers!!

The *********** family is looking forward to seeing you at the CN Tower in Toronto this month!!

Your staunch supporter, always!

Heather ***********.

We thought we would shoot a video for our Childhood Cancer Awareness Month blood campaign. We hope you like it.