My Declaration

Last year on this date, the last day of August, I was reading the Presidential Proclamation declaring September as National Childhood Cancer Awareness month. It was then that I realized how big pediatric cancer really was and how foolish it was for anybody to call the #1 disease killer a petty criminal that rarely devastated families lives like mine. By this time, since my own son's diagnosis with A.L.L. I had come to know 7 children who had or would pass away from cancer. As a way of declaring to the world my cause for children like Ethan, Faith, Gabby, R.J. Brennan, Lennon and Daniella, I rolled out the Red Carpet for these young Hero's to Celebrate them as they fought courageously through their journeys. Little did I know that one year later over 1000 people would faithfully follow these Celebrity Kids and look forward to seeing their glorious smiling faces with each new birthday, news of N.E.D. or even professional photographs taken in their honor. Eventually the Red Carpet Kids themselves would begin to make history sharing the Joy of Jessie Rees in N.E.G.U. (never ever giving up) and witnessing the face of childhood cancer in 2012 through the story and video blogs of 13 year old Talia Joy.

This September it is time to Declare something new for our kids fighting against pediatric cancer. It is time to declare to the American public and around the world the Truth that has been hidden for several decades, that childhood cancer is Not Rare. The numbers speak aloud that 50 children will die in all 50 states and thousands more will be diagnosed and lose the life that every child should be able to live because funding for critical research has been a fraction of what adult cancers receive. The Truth is that cancer can affect any child including newborns and can steal any life from families that never saw it coming. Everyone says that it won't be my child but no one knows for sure with children and it can happen at any age 0-18.

 

 

This year I Declare that the Truth will be revealed on September 13th which is National Cancer Awareness Day in a film backed by a social media campaign that will shine a bright spot light on the universe of childhood cancer. There are so many ways that people can help in this effort from signing the petition demanding and increase in funding from the National Cancer Institute, to sharing real, personal and heartbreaking stories stealing the attention of those hooked on reality TV shows. The news channels won't show these children because some foolish criminal will make them more money. That is why now more than ever, these Red Carpet Celebrities need to shine like American Olympic Gold Medalists as they stand with the few that would fight aggressively with them on their journey.

My Declaration is not my own, but with the voice of thousands we can make known the Truth 365 days of the year, day in and day out that we will find a cure for our kids because there is Nothing more important for our future, nothing. Declare with me today, I will fight for a child's right to have as much funding for research as any other adult cancer diagnosis because kids can't do it alone. Know the Truth September 2012 and never stop sharing it.

Please start by signing the petition until 5000 voices are heard @ http://thetruth365.org/petition/ LIKE and SHARE as often as you can http://www.facebook.com/theTruth365film and http://www.facebook.com/redcarpetkidsforthecure

Do you Agree?

 

Have you ever spent a lot of time with someone only to realize they they always agree with everything you ever talked about? If you haven't then you probably think it would feel great if that happened. Its quite the opposite actually and one of the worst experiences I have ever had. It may not even seem possible for someone to agree all the time, but you will know it when it happens. Just about everything you hear or see in the media has some form of disagreement. Just think about all of the reality TV shows where a vote determines who will stay on the show and who will go. What would happen if 100% of the people voting agreed on one person the whole season, how boring would that be? What would happen if there was not trash talk in sports and everyone only routed for one team? What would any sports movie be without the underdog that came back to win it all?

Conflict is simply a part of life that we all endure and disagreements are inevitable, but for the most part we adapt and learn to live with it. I don't talk about politics much, but I can make noise with the rest of them if I really wanted to. I think it makes people feel powerful to have an opinion that makes a statement, but does it really help others choose that way of thinking? What if, instead of pointing out weaknesses we proved our confidence by sharing the strengths of what we believe in?

During a battle it is vital to know your enemies weakness, but that doesn't mean you fight without weapons are armor. I like to watch the playoffs and championships games because I know that the teams that made it are more than capable of winning, but its those who make the fewest mistakes. Even Michael Phelps got 4th place in the Olympics this year, but he didn't let it stop him from making history with over 20 medals.

Politics, religion, sports, work, family and even friends will have disagreements as long as the clock keeps ticking. If there was one thing that every person can agree with, its probably not going to be who the next president is, but there are many reasons to agree on making funding for childhood cancer research one of America's top 10 priorities to save the lives of children who don't deserve a single cancer cell in their little bodies. I can't think of one reason to disagree and I dare anyone to care as much as the hundreds of people that I know who are trying to get the attention of 1,000,000 people to share the Truth that childhood cancer is Not Rare.

Speak the Truth, even when no one agrees with you.

Like the Page http://www.facebook.com/theTruth365film

Sign the Petition http://thetruth365.org/petition/

Help Talia (T365 preview) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0DJmjzCwalM&feature=plcp

Celebrate the Kids http://www.facebook.com/redcarpetkidsforthecure

Speak up to Silence Cancer http://www.facebook.com/speakuptosilencecancer

Facing the Giants

Over the last couple days the world has been listening as one of the greatest athletes in the history of sports faces persecution that would try to take away all that he has ever worked for. In the world of competitive sports everybody is looking for an edge to launch them into glory but Living Strong against cancer and for the millions fighting it is not detectable in any drug test. It is a sad day when the one individual who lead the race for a Cure by raising hundreds of millions of dollars for cancer research has a target on his back.

 

 

 

A few weeks ago I was driving to Portland early in the morning and I wanted to listen to my favorite radio show for over 10 years with Mike and Amy. When I didn't hear the beginning of the show I thought they just took a vacation, but 10 days later I started to wonder where they went. I turned on the news and checked CNN but no one seemed to know so I went to their website and they had Vanished!

I was beside myself wondering how the voice of these radio Giants who have been nationally recognized had been silenced on the only radio station that could be heard all over Portland, Oregon and around the world online (I heard they even reached Mars before they disappeared).

 

All of a sudden it feels like our Freedom of Speech has no more Liberty!

 

 

This week as thousands of people and parents prepare to Speak up to Silence Pediatric Cancer in September I think of the kids who have suffered and earned their angel wings who never had the chance to speak up for themselves. When the news channels would rather report on hate, violence and murders they fail to recognize the #1 serial killer in childhood cancer. September is the world's only chance to reveal the destructive nature of this disease and the lack of funding that is desperately need to find a cure for the future of this country, our children.

 

We all need to take advice from Lance Armstrong and choose our battlefield this September.

"I will commit myself to the work I began before ever winning a single Tour de France title: serving people and families affected by cancer, especially those in undeserved communities."

 

 

Don't let another moment pass when you know that Right Now you can take a small step in taking down the Goliath of pediatric cancer!

 

Like the Page http://www.facebook.com/theTruth365film

Sign the Petition http://thetruth365.org/petition/

Help Talia (T365 preview) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0DJmjzCwalM&feature=plcp

Celebrate the Kids http://www.facebook.com/redcarpetkidsforthecure

Speak up to Silence Cancer http://www.facebook.com/speakuptosilencecancer

 

URGENT!!!

I have been working up in Portland for a few weeks and I have spent a lot of time on the road in traffic. I have seen a few things like people in cars on the side of the road making a cell phone call, fender benders and police that have pulled people over for speeding. Everyone is in a hurry because no one likes to waste a moment, especially on the road. Today, however I saw something that I have not seen yet, not once, not twice but three times all within a few miles of each other. I see a lot of nature, but this time mother nature was the one calling loud and clear!

In reality, the things that happen on the road can wait, but sometimes there is just no time left and the urgent becomes imminent.

 

If you have young children, you know that waiting is never an option because everything has to happen immediately or its screaming and crying. Sometimes its your boss who can't seem to wait for you to produce the profits he wants. What's non-important become important, what's non-urgent becomes urgent. There is so much going on its hard to tell what really has to happen right now. Steven Covey breaks it down for us like this.

 

September is only a week away which means back to school, changes in the weather and a last chance at summer vacation days. While many are rushing off to the beach to witness the setting of the sun, the urgency to save the lives of children suffering from cancer is rising. During September 2012 I want to urge you to make a new commitment to help us raise pediatric awarness to the next level. Even though there is a new schedule on primetime tv to watch, there is one new reality show you won't want to miss. The Truth 365 film is not about to disappoint those who are anxiously waiting its release on September 13th. Please check out the new website and sign the petition to show your support for increasing the amount of critical funding needed to research a cure for 13,500 newly diagnosed children each year. If you think kids can wait another year, why don't you ask the parents of one diagnosed with DIPG. Believe me, this is more Urgent and Important than the next season of Survivor.

 

 

 

Like the Page http://www.facebook.com/theTruth365film

Sign the Petition http://thetruth365.org/petition/

Help Talia  (T365 preview) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0DJmjzCwalM&feature=plcp

Celebrate the Kids http://www.facebook.com/redcarpetkidsforthecure

Speak up to Silence Cancer http://www.facebook.com/speakuptosilencecancer



Lincoln Lately

Its been Hot lately so Lincoln got some ice cream

He has been staying inside on these extra hot days playing with legos

He still has a lot of energy and runs around the house playing with daddy and Emma

His hair is coming back and he wanted a mohawk

There is never a time to let down his guard during his battle with leukemia

And there is no time to sit on the job, its time for a call to Action!

 He will Never Ever Give Up

And his tough guy attitude will not hold back the Truth that kids get cancer too.

Please visit the Truth 365 and sign the Petition @ http://thetruth365.org/petition/
Support the Thunder Clap to reach the goal today @
https://www.thunderclap.it/projects/253-the-truth-365-film
Like the Truth 365 page @ http://www.facebook.com/theTruth365film

50/50

The first time I saw a 50 cent piece my eyes got as big as the coin itself. I was in awe that so much money could fit in this over sized coin. A roll of 50 pennies could not compare to something so magnificent. I wanted a pocket full so I could go to the toy store, but I knew I couldn't spend it so I kept it in a special place that would one day hold many other rare and amazing coins.

Fifty cents was a lot of money when I was 10 years old but these days 50 dollars would be gone in a few minutes even at Walmart. With credit cards people don't think much about how many $50 bills they would have pulled out of there wallets, they just swipe and go.

The number 50 has been on my mind a lot lately.

What does the number 50 mean to you?

Were you born in 1950?

Do you have 50,000 miles on your car?

If you had a 50/50 chance of winning the lottery, would you play it every week?

Do you normally work 50 hours a week or 50 weeks a year?

If you drove 50 miles to work everyday, would you spend $50 in for gas when you filled up?

Are you hoping to retire at 50 and travel to all 50 states?

I like the last one on the list but there is something missing that I have just discovered.

On average 50 children will lose their lives in the fight against cancer. 

To some people that is too many, but to others it is relatively rare.

If you found out that all 50 of these children were in your state alone, would you notice?

What if 50 towns in your state lost 50 children to cancer? Would the news report on it?

If 50 is not enough to get people's attention, how many more have to die before people care?

The Truth is that an average of 50 children in ALL 50 states will lose their lives to cancer each and every year.

Now here is a staggering number. The National Cancer Institute has a budget of $5 billion dollars. The research needed to save children's lives only gets 3-4% and a 1% increase would be $50,000,000!

The word Rare is not in my dictionary anymore but kids fighting cancer are.

We have got to get back to the basics of life and pay attention with a little common "cents"

Visit the Truth 365 website @ http://thetruth365.org/

Show your support and Like the page @ http://www.facebook.com/theTruth365film

LIKE on Facebook @ http://www.facebook.com/briansphirstblog

The Fire Inside

In 1999 I moved to Oregon where I met Jenny who would soon become my wife. A whirlwind of events sparked our love for each other and in less than two years, and two months earlier than planned, we were married. It was the best year of my life up to that moment in June, but after the explosive events of 9/11 unfolded our world view became much bigger. Then in October, while we were away in Washington at my families house, we would face our very first, personal devastation when we got a phone call that our apartment caught fire.

Nothing can prepare you for that moment when the fuel is ignited into a burning blaze, but it was more than a short fuse and cheap fireworks show that would heat up my passion to fight against my son's cancer.


If you were driving down the road and you saw this, what would your first thought be?

If your first thought was not saving the lives of children, you might want to feel your cold, cold heart to make sure you aren't dead. The old saying, "women and children first" was not meant to be to watch them burn. So why are people still standing by as spectators and no one is jumping in to the rescue? I guarantee if it were your child's bus you would.

This is the way it has been with the critical funding needed to cure pediatric cancers and although awareness levels are dramatically increasing there has to come a point that we fight fire with fire.

I believe with all of my heart that the bar is being raised in 2012 for raising pediatric cancer awareness.

The new Face of pediatric cancer is being revealed this year and we all hope and pray Ellen invites Talia to her show http://www.facebook.com/angelsfortalia

It is going to take teams of volunteers that are already forming and preparing for the fire fight this September @ http://www.facebook.com/theTruth365film

If you don't know what to do Just Ask, I can help, there is still time.

I can't waste another minute until I know this season is over I will stop at nothing for the chance to strike cancer with lightning and a Thunder Clap of noise that will wake the world from its slumber @

https://www.thunderclap.it/projects/253-the-truth-365-film

Please visit and Support all of these links today and let one spark start a consuming fire in your heart again.

Thunder Clap!

I have been extremely busy all this month with work, family and promoting the Truth 365 (click on the right) and now a new job up in Portland! Lincoln continues to do well and had an appointment today which he told me he laughed when they stuck the needle in his chest. He is so tough =)
I have a meeting tonight for work and hope to have a weekend to enjoy this time.

I wanted to quickly share my latest attempt to spread the word about kids fighting cancer especially since it has been one year today that a young boy that I had never met changed my life when he died from cancer. There is also another girl known by thousands who has bad news and its time to fight harder. Here is how you can help, its so simple. Go to my Thunderclap page and click support. If you have facebook and Twitter you can double your support. With each person that supports it the number of other people that it promises to reach will increase dramatically and the more people who are aware, the sooner we will fund research for a cure. Go now to https://www.thunderclap.it/projects/253-the-truth-365-film to help, its free!

Also remember to LIKE the Truth 365 facebook page and The Red Carpet Kids, just click on the pics to the right. Thanks everyone, keep hoping, keep praying, keep believing.

Are you Thirsty? Thirsty for a Cure? http://www.facebook.com/events/347165605357968/

The Check Out Line

Every time I to go into my not-so-favorite-mega-super-duper-grocery store Walmart there is one part that I always dread. A couple of years ago I was asked to go at midnight on Black Friday for a mop that was on sale. A MOP! (I got some pajama's for my kids too.) After wandering aimlessly among countless people I headed for the door, but there was just one thing left to do before I could complete the triple threat mission. I had to Check Out.

As you can imagine, in the earliest hours of Black Friday, there was no other choice than to wait in line to buy these items that were about 20 cents cheaper than normal. The worst part was that I had a non-smart phone at the time and could not text anyone at 1am during my hour and a half wait to check out with my mop. As my mind began to turn to mashed potatoes from the lack of taking a nap after Thanksgiving dinner I finally said to myself, "I will never enter a Walmart again." Checking out can be a life threatening experience when not prepared for such a treacherous journey as this, but worse than this is not knowing that your child's life could be threatened by something like cancer.

There are only two choices that can be made when preparing all of life's plans. Am I going to be aware of unforeseen circumstances or am I just going to check out as much as possible so I don't have to deal with it because my universe is way to complicated. Just remember that there are two lines forming but the only one that is moving is the one where people are shoving and pushing to get through because checking out is no longer an option. Make a conscience choice today to daily become aware of children with cancer because their lives depend on you, not on those who have checked out from the Truth.

Revealing the Truth VERY SOON! @ http://www.facebook.com/theTruth365film
Like my Blog Page @ http://www.facebook.com/briansphirstblog/
Become Aware by Celebrating the Red Carpet Kids @ http://www.facebook.com/redcarpetkidsforthecure