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CURE Childhood Cancer to Feature Snellville's Alan Sims

"Kids Conquer Cancer" helps bring awareness to childhood cancer this month

September is National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, and CURE Childhood Cancer is highlighting more than 50 childhood cancer patients as part of their “Kids Conquer Cancer” initiative.

On September 18 they will be featuring Snellville’s own Alan Sims.

Alan is a fifth grader at and a 57-month cancer survivor.

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When Alan was in kindergarten they discovered he had extremely high cholesterol and began working to keep it down. In September 2006, he started having very bad nose bleeds and headaches. The nose bleeds began to become more frequent.

“His kindergarten teacher and I started doing a calendar,” says Alida Sims, Alan’s mother.  “They thought it was sinuses or infections. They finally sent us to Children’s Medicine in Lawrenceville, Ga., and the doctor told us to get over to Scottish Rite because his blood count levels were extremely low. “

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That was on a Wednesday in November 2006. By Thursday night, he was prepped and ready for surgery. He was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

“It was just like that,” Sims said.

For all boys the treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukemia is 36 months. Alan finished his last treatment in July 2010 and continues with check-ups every three months as part of the maintenance phase. In July of 2012, he will go into the survivor program.

Programs like CURE help bring awareness, funding and support to situations like the one Alan has had to face.

According to their website, CURE was founded in 1975 by Dr. Abdel Ragab, the first pediatric oncologist at Emory University. Since then CURE has raised millions of dollars to fund cutting-edge research, education and support of patients and their families.

Their vision is that childhood cancers can be cured in our lifetime.

Kristin Conner is the executive director of CURE. She says that the “Kids Conquer Cancer” program is a way to empower families who have or are dealing with this terrible disease to fight back.

“Nothing inspires people to get involved more than the real stories of real children in our community,” Conner said.

She states another goal of this program is to raise much needed funds to support research of better therapies and cures for cancers affecting children.

“Cancer continues to be the leading cause of death due to disease in children today," she said. "The cancers which affect children are very different than those affecting adults, which is why childhood cancer needs its own, focused research."

Family and friends have committed to raise more than $1,000 in their child’s memory or honor. Combined they have raised more than $350,000 in the past two years.

“CURE has been a big help because they do provide awareness,” Sims said. “They also do things like come to the hospitals and bring dinner for the families that are in the hospital with their kids.

"They really try to be that comfort, and I think that’s important because its unchartered territory, you really don’t know. It’s good to have a good supporting team around you, it helps a lot. “

Today Alan spends his spare time playing sports and dreams of being a football or basketball player one day. He also likes to draw a little bit. When asked what kinds of things he likes to draw, he said “anything I can think of.”

His favorite subject in school is music. He plays the flute and sings in the chorus.

He also has two older brothers who have been an encouragement and support to him during this process.

“Be aware of cancer,” Sims said. “Because that is the last thing you are thinking about. It’s something that happens more regularly than we’d expect or think, but there is not a lot of money or funding."

The public, she added, may not be aware that there is a gold ribbon dedicated to children. Gold ribbons -- a global symbol for childhood cancer -- helps bring awareness to the cause. It is hope transcending simple black and white.

“There needs to be more awareness to raise that money to get the research," Sims said. "It’s just getting answers."

To read Alan’s profile and/or make a donation, visit: www.curechildhoodcancer.org

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