CCCN Beginnings
Imagine walking through the doors of a children’s oncology floor for the first time. The numbness, panic, fear, and uncertainty are almost more than you can stand. Your child has just been diagnosed with cancer. Where do you turn? What do you do? How do we fight this monster?
Conquer Childhood Cancer Now is working to help answer these questions for families. CCCN is a non-profit group, made up of volunteers who are working to raise awareness about the issue of childhood cancer. The group is dedicated to giving hope to children and families that are presently coping with the diagnosis of childhood cancer. Conquer Childhood Cancer Now first met on April 29, 2010. It was the dream of Tiana Bishop, then just 10 years old. Tiana had been diagnosed in the Spring of 2009 with a rare form of childhood cancer called rhabdomyosarcoma. After a year of treatments that included chemotherapy and radiation, Tiana was cancer free. During that first year, her treatments caused her to lose her hair and make her sick. Tiana’s amazing strength and faith helped her through that year and allowed her to look beyond herself and what she had endured. She didn’t want to forget about the friends and families who were still fighting their cancers. She had also discovered the pain of having to attend seven funerals of friends she had met and lost through the cancer world. She talked her mom, Patty Bishop, into starting an organization that would help other kids and their families that were battling cancer.
After seeing what it was like living in the cancer world, Patty, with the support of her husband, Pat, took on the mission. The Bishop’s had been, and continue to be blessed by an amazing and supportive community. During their stays at the hospital they realized that most of the families were not blessed with the same response from their communities. They found this heartbreaking and Conquer Childhood Cancer Now was born. The Bishop’s, as founders of the group, have made themselves exempt from any financial assistance from the organization. Because of the support shown them by the community, they would instead, like to “pay it forward” to others as they journey down the path of the cancer world.
Goals
One of the goals of Conquer Childhood Cancer Now is to raise awareness about childhood cancer. Everyone knows that the pink ribbon stands for breast cancer. They would like to make the gold ribbon, which is the symbol for childhood cancer, just as recognizable. It is difficult to explain to the kids who are battling these dreaded diseases why they aren’t as recognized and supported by the media and many others. Support for these kids is vital. They are our future.
Another goal of CCCN is to support childhood cancer research. There is currently too little funding dedicated to childhood cancer research. There have been no new drugs approved for treatments of these kids in over 20 years. Most childhood cancers are not diagnosed until they are already in stage 4 because they are very fast growing and some children are even born with cancer. CCCN has been very active in raising money to donate to CureSearch, which is an organization which funds and supports children’s cancer research and provides information and resources to all those affected by children’s cancer. The group has also donated to the St. Baldrick’s foundation, which is a volunteer-driven charity committed to funding research to find cures for childhood cancers.
The third goal of Conquer Childhood Cancer Now is to assist families that have been affected by childhood cancer. The group has assisted families with utility bills, gas cards, gift cards for groceries, as well as assistance during the holidays. CCCN has donated over $12,500 to these families over the past year. We hope to continue to assist the families who are in need.
Community Involvement
Over the past 2 ½ years, Conquer Childhood Cancer Now has been very active as they have been involved in the following events:
Childhood Cancer Awareness Event and Fundraiser held at the Northtowne Mall
In Defiance, Ohio. This event included the 3rd annual "Queen Contest," Vendor
Fair, Live Auction and Bake Sale.
Conquer Childhood Cancer Now Poker Run
Tinora Volleyball Fundraisers
Holland Elementary Girl Scout Fundraiser
Route 127 Garage Sale
Lemonade Stand at Wal-Mart in Defiance
Grover Hill Summer Fest
Buffalo Wild Wings Events
Applebee’s Dine to Donate
Abuelo’s Restaurant Events
Bob Evans Dining to Donate Events
The Mid-Ohio IRL Race in conjunction with Racing For Cancer
The Lilac Festival
Elder-Beerman’s Community Days booklet sales
Holy Cross School Going Gold
One Stop Shopping Extravaganzas
The Ball Summer Fest
Defiance County Fair “Queen Contest” (2010 and 2011)
The Buck Run ATV Poker Run
Rollin’ Thunder Motorcycle Club Poker Runs in 2011 and 2012
The Defiance Lion’s Club Halloween Parade in 2010
CCCN Zumbathon Fundraisers
CCCN 5K Run/Walk at Independence Dam State Park
Chief Supermarket Events – Wiener Mobile, Hot Dog Stands, Donation Cards
Gold Balloon Release for Childhood Cancer at Tinora football game
The CureSearch Walks held in Toledo (2011 and 2012)
St. Baldrick’s Fundraisers in Archbold and Defiance
Many of these events were held because organizations and individuals approached CCCN with many wonderful ideas and volunteered to make these events happen. Future events will continue to be planned and carried out by a wonderful group of volunteers. New ideas and volunteers are always welcome.
The Future
The generosity of the community continues to amaze Tiana’s family as Tiana’s dream of a group to help the kids comes true. Conquer Childhood Cancer Now will continue their mission for years to come because of a promise made to Tiana. Tiana relapsed in July, 2010. Tiana’s concern at that time was still for all the kids who are battling cancer, for those who have lost their battle, and for those who have yet to start their battle against cancer.
In a difficult, but uplifting conversation, Tiana asked her mom to continue the fight against childhood cancer even if she lost her battle with cancer. Someday, Tiana’s dream of a cancer free world will come true.
Contact Information
PO Box 126
419-576-7021