Why Are We Losing Our Minds Over An Ad, But Silent Over A Childhood Cancer Epidemic?

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Founded by Erin, Fourth & Gold officially became a 5013C non-profit organization in July 2022. Much of the team is lead by healthcare professionals that are on the frontlines of oncological practice, helping children and their families battle cancer everyday.

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I AM MAD. Should I sugarcoat it? Nope. Not happening. Not anymore.

If you own a TV, computer or phone, you’ve seen that Nike has made Colin Kaepernick the face of Nike ads and that some people are losing their minds. While I don’t plan to express my views on the situation, I can’t help but ask WHY. Why during childhood cancer awareness month have I seen more people lose their minds over a Nike ad than the FACT that 45 kids lose their lives to cancer or cancer treatment EVERY SINGLE DAY?! Why are you COMPLACENT with childhood cancer receiving 3.8% of research funding, but PUBLICLY protesting a brand over an ad? Why are we settling for an ad boycott to get hundreds of thousands of likes and shares, but a family who lost their child to cancer is begging for funding and you turn a blind eye? 

September is my favorite month. I, along with thousands of other families are TRYING to get you to see the REALITY of childhood cancer. While we do this every single month, we really push it this month. Why are you more concerned with an ad on a commercial, than the beautiful child at the hospital fighting for their life because they have no research funding to provide better cures?  If you’re really set on boycotting and protesting Nike, let’s take it the next step… that $75 you typically spend on a pair of Nike’s? Donate to childhood cancer research. That will actually DO SOMETHING.

W H A T  I S  S T O P P I N G  Y O U? 

#MoreThan4 #NotRare #GoGold #ChildhoodCancerAwareness

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7 Responses

  1. According to a 2018 study published in Cancer, “For many childhood cancers, survival is lower among non-Hispanic blacks and Hispanics in comparison with non-Hispanic whites, and this may be attributed to underlying socioeconomic factors.” It’s called racial disparities in healthcare. So, thank you for pointing out just how necessary the Nike/Kaepernick ad is to raising our awareness of racial inequalities in this country.

  2. I don’t think anyone is turning a blind eye. Children’s cancer is an ongoing fight. This thing with Nike is in the Now!
    My son is a cancer survivor thanks to St. Judes of Tennessee. I’m well aware and forever supportive of research and the quest for the cure. This post is somewhat ridiculous to even compare to what’s trending.
    I, like millions of others don’t stop supporting a cause such as Cancer awareness to voice our opinions about another topic.
    I can focus on several at once. LIKE MILLIONS DO EVERYDAY!
    So, in closing. Keep up the good work St. Judes and all the other facilities dedicated to finding a cure. May God Bless and guide you until you find it.
    Colon Kaepernick and Nike,
    You both better wise up, put a true hero on that ad. Someone who truly did sacrifice everything for what they believe in. Some made the ultimate sacrifice. Their life, their families and ultimately everyone who knew and loved them.
    A ton of people are going to be out if work because of your poor decision. But hey, at least Kaepernick got his huge check for spewing lies! He never sacrificed crap!

    Have a great day!!

    1. Hi Jerry,
      Thank you for taking the time to post a comment. While I appreciate your input and thoughts, calling the blog “somewhat ridiculous” is a bit offensive.

      First, let me congratulate your son on being a cancer survivor. That is an amazing accomplishment and something that should not be overlooked.

      Second, this blog is not posted for political discussion, but merely to recognize where some (not all, as stated) of the priorities that we seem to have are backwards. As I mentioned, and as I’m sure you know, it is childhood cancer awareness month. A month that is desperately needed to raise awareness for something that is often very over looked. In my time on the internet and conversations I’ve had, I have seen more people concerned about Nike and Colin Kaepernick than actual children dying. Now of course, I can’t speak for everyone, it is merely on my news feed and my contact with people. You mentioned that people can be concerned with both and you’re absolutely right. I would be foolish to think otherwise. I don’t think if you have an opinion with what’s trending that you’re overlooking childhood cancer, BUT I do know that people are offended that their efforts to raise awareness are being (publicly) ignored.

      My intent and purpose of not only this blog, but Fourth and Gold is to get childhood cancer more research funding in some way shape or form. Do you think if all the people who said they’re going to stop buying from Nike donated to childhood cancer research, we could get somewhere? It’s quite possible.

      I hope you have a great day, Jerry. Thank you again for taking the time to leave a comment and start a conversation 🙂

  3. A really important thing to remember is that part of what is missing for Childhood Cancer Research is also part of what is missing in our society or the interface between authorities and people of color: the commitment to improve the situation, the commitment to protect the innocent and then disciplined dedication in bringing to fruition the changes that ill make the current heartbreaking norms a thing of the past.

    Donations are terrific, absolutely wonderful. And necessary for organizations to make any progress at all. But real change has come through government organizations like the NIH and within that the NCI so if we were to see real, long-term major advances we need a commitment from our government to make this a priority. Families have been going to Washington as lobbyists in a Grassroots sort of effort with cure search.org to compel them to write legislation, pass it and fund it so that the United States as a whole will make a commitment to children’s cancer research and so far the results have been disappointing.

    In this disappointment, we have a great deal in common with Nike’s spokesman.

    1. Very well said, Brenda. Very valid points! I appreciate your input. Change starts within us, but action on an individual bases can only go so far. How can we get the government to rally behind our efforts? Probably a million dollar question….

  4. Thank you, Ronda. I am so so sorry to hear about the passing of your daughter. What a wonderful thing you’re doing to honor and cherish her memory. You’re doing her proud. Thinking of you.