The month of September is dedicated to Ending Childhood Cancer, which covers a range from birth to age 20 at diagnosis. If you are anything like me, you wouldn't have known how important the month of September is, unless you were told. Children's of Alabama, located in Birmingham, Alabama, has more information on their site, which tells us, "Each year, about 150 Alabama children are diagnosed with cancer. The diagnosis include leukemia, lymphoma, brain and spinal cord tumors, solid tumors of muscle and bone, kidney and liver tumors, and rare childhood cancers."

To raise awareness for childhood cancer, here are some things that you can do:

1. Wear GOLD.

Just like other cancers, childhood cancer has its own color. So to show support and awareness, wear gold throughout the month of September.

2. Collect a water bottle of money for 100ways100days, then donate the money to the Open Hands Open Hearts foundation.

All of the proceeds goes for childhood cancer research.

3. Go to Saint Jude's website and click "Get Involved."

This will show you all the many different ways you can get involved; it will even show you events going on in or near your own community!

4. Get involved in your local Greek life's philanthropies.

Many Greek organizations help raise awareness or spirits of those affected by childhood cancer. For a few examples, Tri Delt raised money to go to Saint Jude's Research, and Chi Omega raises money for the Make a Wish Foundation, which helps those affected by diseases like childhood cancer.

Many children and families have been affected by cancer across America and many more will, unfortunately, join their ranks. Nineteen-year-old Sarah Morris, a survivor of acute Myeloid Leukemia, was diagnosed a few months after graduating High School.

"I mean when I got diagnosed I really didn't grasp it until the doctor mentioned the C word. I told my parents to go home and I decided to call my best friend Bry, and I started to ball my eyes out. Don't get me wrong, I knew I needed to stay strong but that kind of helped me build tough skin....The First Round they said it's like the worst flu you'll ever get, considering I've never gotten sick, it was an understatement! "
~Sarah Morris, 19, Childhood Cancer Survivor

Since being diagnosed, Sarah has gone through three rounds of treatment and is in remission. Many pediatric patients like Sarah have to stay in the hospital during their treatments due to the severity of their chemo dosages, which can cause horrible sicknesses that make it difficult to deal with especially while being so young. Money raised towards research for childhood cancer goes towards finding medicines that will lessen the severity of the sickness as well as the long-term side effects that most medicines today cause.

So in honor of raising awareness, this article is dedicated to all who have been affected by childhood cancer, like Sarah and her family. My challenge to you: participate in raising awareness and money to go toward childhood cancer so that we can find a cure! No child should have to endure this frightening disease!