9-15-2024 12:49am

Brave Barbie Delivers Strength And Fun

Beth Callahan Editor

Photo contributed by Starlight

WARREN COUNTY, OH -- For many, September means heading back to school and planning for all the fun fall activities like hay rides, pumpkin patches and corn mazes. But, in 2010, President Obama added more meaning to the month ... he declared September Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.

According to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital Childhood cancer remains the leading cause of death by disease for children under the age of 14. And according to American Childhood Cancer Organization approximately 1 in 285 children in the U.S. will be diagnosed with cancer before their 20th birthday

While the overall cancer death rates have been declining significantly over time, recent studies from the American Cancer Society and the National Cancer Institute indicate that childhood cancer rates have been on the rise over the past few decades. The nonprofit Starlight Children’s Foundation is observing Childhood Cancer Awareness Month (CCAM) throughout September to raise awareness of its work to support pediatric cancer patients across the country.

CCAM holds a deep significance for Starlight’s CEO Adam Garone, whose 8-year-old niece is a childhood cancer survivor. Through Garone's leadship, the nonprofit helps to support many families navigating cancer treatment, like Warren County, Ohio's Ashton Hawkins.

When Ashton was diagnosed with Medulloblastoma, her and her family’s worlds turned upside down. She started receiving treatment at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital where she spent long hours going through difficult treatments. That’s when Starlight came in.

Starlight delivered to Ashton a Brave Barbie, a doll designed to remind every child fighting cancer that they are “brave, strong, and beautiful.” The Barbie has no hair and comes with multiple wigs for kids to customize their own doll. It’s all part of Mattel Children’s Foundation’s continued Play it Forward initiative. The donation-only doll is the first of its kind.

Ashton’s mom expressed just how much the gift means to her. “Ashton loved her so much and it meant so much that the Barbie had no hair like her. She loved putting the different types of hair on too.”

Starlight’s vital programs bring the power of play and its healing impact right to a child’s bedside. This helps to reduce stress and anxiety associated with hospitalization and it improves their emotional well-being noted Viktoria de Jong, certified child life specialist at Starlight.

De Jong added that by providing opportunities for play, imagination, and fun, Starlight’s programs can help empower kids and boost their self-esteem to foster a sense of control over their hospital experience and improve treatment compliance.

To learn more about the Starlight Children's Foundation or to donate visit  www.starlight.org.