As  was getting on my bus into Houston from the suburbs this morning I passed a young guy wearing a political t-shirt that said “COMMIT” in red white and blue.  The shirt is very relevant here in the States
right now, as a record number of Americans remain undecided about who they will choose to lead our country, just weeks from what could be the most important presidential election in history.

What a good word.

COMMIT.

At no point in history, has anything monumental or important ever been accomplished by people who couldn’t make up their minds.  World War 2 wasn’t won because people finally got ambivalent enough to stop the Nazis.  NASA didn’t put men on the moon accidentally.  Michael Phelps didn’t win a gold medal because he hung out near pools.

These and many other human achievements throughout history were accomplished because someone became so convicted about accomplishing something, that they made a commitment to succeed, and never quit.

The war against cancer is no different.  If you do not commit yourself in some way to the eradication of this scourge, it WILL kill someone you love in your lifetime.  The statistics aren’t even close to
debatable.

Pediatric cancer is the most insidious and disgusting category of cancer, not because just because the stakes are so much higher, but because it is so ridiculously unfair.  As an adult, I’ve had the opportunity to do things to benefit my health.  I had the option of not smoking.  I could eat better.  I could exercise regularly.  I know better than to do a lot of things, and while being diagnosed with
cancer would shock me to the core, there is a certain degree of responsibility for the situation that could arguably be assigned to my lifestyle choices.

But children with cancer aren’t doing anything wrong.  They don’t get it because they smoked cigarettes, or because they didn’t take care of themselves.  They just get it.

Here’s a little person who’s day should revolve around a couple good episodes of Barney, who are suddenly faced with having a central line or port installed in their chest so that the hundreds of doses of chemotherapy medications can be properly administered.  These are 6-year-olds who know about blood counts and bone marrow transplants, and who can SPELL Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia.

I propose that Webster’s dictionary should replace it’s current definition of “unfair” with the picture of a child facing cancer.

Here in the United States, in Australia, the UK and nearly every European, Asian, and South American country, cancer is STILL the number one cause of non-accidental death in children.

Yet pediatric cancer’s share of needed funding is a pittance compared to what is spent collectively by our governments on Egret Migration studies, useless bridges, and programs to support people too lazy to get off their asses and work.

It’s disgusting.

But rather than sit back and shake our heads and feel sorry for these kids and say “oh what a shame”, we have the option as intelligent, capable people to stand up and do something about it.

That’s what Extra Life is.

This is about life.  It’s about empathy.  It’s about doing something about a horrible situation.

I believe that while we certainly shouldn’t expect that the money and awareness we raise through Extra Life are going to bring about an overnight eradication of the disease, we as human beings are helping to push the people on the front lines in this heroic battle that much closer to another cure.

25 years ago, a child diagnosed with leukemia stood about a 10% chance of survival.  Thanks to the COMMITMENT of people who came before us lending their voices and resources to the cause, some forms of Leukemia are cured in 80% of cases.  That is AMAZING progress.  But it’s little consolation to the other 2 out of 10 parents who will have to do the unthinkable, and bury their precious child.

We’re not buying a cure, we’re buying time.

I have no doubt that a cure for cancer will eventually be found.  How long are  you willing to wait for it?  By contributing to this cause, we’re giving the people on the front lines of this war more tools and weapons, in hopes of helping them reach that outcome sooner rather than later.

Parents of children afflicted with cancer will tell you, that there is not a commodity more precious than time.  There is so little of it for so many.

While a staggering number of you have signed up for Extra Life and have made some amazing things happen here, there are still many for whom there seems to be some hesitation to get involved.  As humans, one of our worst attributes is our ability to rationalize almost anything.  We’re able to excuse ourselves from just about any cause with all manner of internal arguments, most of which are symptomatic of a deeper fear.  A fear of commitment.

Commit.

If not for this cause, for something.

Stop being a spectator of your own life, and learn what it feels like to have an effect on the people you share this world with.  Find SOMETHING you are passionate about making a change in, and resolve to do something about it.

I did not truly begin to live until I began to do so for others.

I KNOW that you will feel the same way.

For the heroes already involved with Extra Life, don’t let this video game marathon be the extent of your commitment.

It takes exactly 9 minutes to set an appointment to become a volunteer at Texas Children’s.  I dare say your local children’s hospital is probably about the same.

Get involved.

Meet. The. Kids.

Most of you probably think you’re too busy for something like this.

Do it once.

It will change your life.

You will FIND the time.

Commit.

Please.  If you can…

Donate to Extra Life Now.

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