Light it up gold!
That is what one Big Valley teen is hoping to promote during the month of September to spread awareness for childhood Cancer in Central Alberta.
Tennille Day Chief, who participated in the National Canadian Girl, Teen and Miss pageant in July, has taken it upon herself to promote September as being childhood Cancer awareness month in the Central Alberta area.
Day Chief has created a social media event and is encouraging everyone she knows to join her “Light up Central Alberta Gold 2015” call to action campaign.
On the event, Day Chief suggests ways people can help which include: “lighting up structures such as buildings, fountains, bridges etc. in cities or communities, wearing yellow/gold, creating gold/yellow activities and much more.”
“Anything and everything will help increase awareness to this important issue,” she said in the event description.
In a comment on the event she said what she would, “like to see is for one day of September whether it be on the first of September or towards the end of September is each Albertan (and) eventually Canadian going gold to help raise awareness.”
In Alberta, 113 children between the ages of 0 and 14 years were diagnosed with Cancer in 2012 and as of December 31, 2012 approximately 710 children from ages 0 to 14 years were alive who had previously been diagnosed with cancer in Alberta.
Day Chief said she chose to bring awareness to childhood Cancer because of a local girl from her school that was recently diagnosed with a type of bone Cancer.
“A local girl from my school, Kira Richardson, was recently diagnosed with Osteosarcoma, a type of bone Cancer. I wanted a way to bring attention and raise awareness to not only her, but also to other kids in Central Alberta who may be undergoing treatment,” she said continuing by saying, “My sister also inspired me. She has Neroufibromytosis (NF) that can cause tumors to grown along various types of nerves. NF can also effect the development of non-nervous tissues such as bones and skin. NF causes tumors to grow anywhere on the body,” she said.
Day Chief has been busy creating a poster she will be posting on her Tennille Day Chief National Canadian Jr Teen Central Alberta and asking people to distribute it. She is also planning to reach out to schools in Central Alberta and businesses encouraging people to wear gold or yellow or wear a gold or yellow ribbon to show their support and awareness of childhood Cancers.
She is encouraging everyone to use the hashtag #LightUpGoldCentralAlberta and post their pictures on social media sites to spread the awareness.
Any organization or business looking to participate can visit Day Chief's social media event at https://www.facebook.com/events/728979503895086/