September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month; and the Antler Creek Golf Course and JAKs Brewing Co. in Falcon are hosting two separate events to support childhood cancer awareness and fundraising efforts.On Sept. 9, proceeds from the Heroes Golf Tournament at Antler Creek will benefit the Rocky Mountain Childhood Cancer Foundation. Twelve years ago, a group of doctors and hospital administrators started the foundation to provide families battling childhood cancer with financial resources to gain access to the best available care, regardless of the ability to pay.On Sept. 10, JAKs Brewing Co. is hosting a family-friendly fundraiser for childhood cancer research. Amy Dyess is a St. Baldrickís Foundation ambassador and the mother of a young cancer patient, Cheyenne. “Out of all the funding for cancer research in our nation, only 4 percent is given to find a cure for our children,î Dyess said.†ìRaising awareness about all childhood cancer is the key to increasing the funding for research and eventually reducing the risk of our children getting cancer.îRead the community calendar section this month for details of the above events.St. Judeís Childrenís Hospital runs occasional commercials on television that feature young cancer patients. I cannot imagine the heartache parents must go through when their child has been diagnosed with cancer, and the statistics are dismal.According to the American Childhood Cancer Organization, an estimated 15,780 children between birth and 19 years of age are diagnosed with cancer every year; globally, the numbers are staggering at more than 250,000 children. Also worldwide, every three minutes, a child is diagnosed with cancer. In the U.S. cancer is the most common cause of death from a disease in children.I canít think of a better reason to support a fundraiser. As a mother and now a grandmother, I think the moms of these young cancer patients are brave beings. I read this by one mother of a child with cancer. ìYou can make it through five minutes. I made it through months of my daughterís cancer treatment five minutes at a time.î Maybe we can take five minutes every day this month to remember the children fighting for what is normal for most of us ó growing older.Labor Day is coming up, and it always reminds me of this quote by Joseph Joubert. ìGenius begins great works; labor alone finishes them.î Peter Hilts, the District 49 CEO, has a great column this month that definitely fits in with Labor Day and an appreciation for all in the workforce. Last, but not least, we are hoping to publish a yearly calendar for 2017, featuring your photos. We are asking you to send us photos based on this theme: What image represents your thoughts of living in eastern El Paso County. From sunsets to unique living quarters, bring out your creative side and send us photos. Entries are limited to two photos, and the deadline to send them to us via email is Sept. 30.I hope you all have a great Labor Day. Itís almost fall in Colorado, so enjoy those warm days for now and the colors of autumn in the mountains and on the plains (could be a photo op). See below for more details.See you in October!– Michelle
