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Hometown Heroes: Family Adversity Spawns Actions to Raise Awareness of Childhood Cancer
By: Tom Hodson
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Charlie Dina, the son of Angela and Michael, had a stomach ache that didn’t get better. Instead, it got worse – much worse. Soon, Charlie was diagnosed with Stage 4, High Risk, Neuroblastoma Cancer and the life of Charlie, his family and friends turned upside down.
After a long battle, Charlie has now been in remission for two years but his family and friends have not forgotten the terrible turmoil childhood cancer causes others. They proceeded to establish the Go Gold Fund, a non-profit group, dedicated to raising awareness of childhood cancer and raising research dollars.
To do that, the Go Gold Fund partners with various athletic organizations to help focus a spotlight on this cause. This week, the fund has partnered with Ohio University football and other organizations on campus to promote “Going Gold” for Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.
Angela, Michael, and their helpmate and friend Michelle Payne Schoonover have traveled to Athens and talked with Dr. Lynn Harter as part of the Hometown Hero series on WOUB Public Media.
In a very moving and honest way, they tell of their journey through Charlie’s cancer and his treatment and the help and support given to them by their faith, their family and their friends.
They discuss the inception and creation of the Go Gold Fund and their strategies for increasing awareness and research money. Currently, only four percent of cancer research dollars are spent on fighting childhood cancer yet over 250,000 children are diagnosed with cancer each year.
Some 91,000 children die each year from cancer and cancer related illnesses.
If you would like more information, you can go to gogold.org or visit them on Facebook at Go Gold Fund.