Childhood Cancer Awareness Month (CCAM) is recognized every September by childhood cancer organizations around the world. With a goal to increase awareness and raise funds for those affected by childhood cancer. In Pensacola, we are fortunate to have the Rally Gulf Coast office, an extension city of Rally Foundation for Childhood Cancer Research.
Rally Gulf Coast was established organically with Rally’s signature question: “What can I do to help?”. Director Cindi Bonner started her Rally journey when her 4-year-old neighbor was diagnosed with Ewing sarcoma. She knew she needed to help!
Cindi’s neighbors were overwhelmed with questions and concerns, but needed to focus on their daughter. She jumped right in to support them by building a website and Facebook page to keep their family and friends informed. During this process, she educated herself on the terrifying statistics of childhood cancer. From learning about the severe funding gap to making connections with other childhood cancer families around the country, Cindi knew that more could be done to help others along the Gulf Coast.
After meeting Rally’s leadership team and learning more about the organization, Cindi knew she wanted to raise funds and awareness that support Rally’s mission. In 2015, Rally Pensacola was born! Since then, Rally Pensacola has rebranded to Rally Gulf Coast and raised more than $4.2 million, developed strong community partnerships, and provided resources for pediatric oncology families along the Florida panhandle and South Alabama regions.
Today, Rally Gulf Coast is located inside Studer Family Children’s Hospital at Ascension Sacred Heart, which serves families across the Florida panhandle, southern Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana. Rally Gulf Coast furthers Rally’s mission through donors, community partners, special events and school partnerships. They also provide support to families with kids fighting cancer through the Rally Gulf Coast Family Emergency Fund, the Rally Good Meal program, and additional events that help introduce these families to each other and to Rally Foundation.
So what can you do to help Rally Gulf Coast during Childhood Cancer Prevention Month? A lot! Here is a list of events happening this month that you can participate in including Coffee with a Cop with the Pensacola Police Department on September 6th and a Candlelight Vigil on September 9th.
In addition to the above, you can find a full list of Rally’s events below:
All Through September:
- Downtown Pensacola #GOLDSTRONG—we will be transforming Palafox St #goldstrong by adding gold ribbon on all the trees lining the main street!
- Rally Fit Campaign: Dedicate 47 days of fitness—lifting, jogging, running, walking, yoga, jumping jacks, basketball, swimming, you name it—in honor of the 47 children diagnosed with cancer every day.
September 6 *Multiple Events*
- 5 a.m. Graffiti Bridge Painting, N. 17th Avenue, Pensacola Join us in painting the graffiti bridge goldstrong! Please avoid bringing kids for this as it is a high traffic area.
- 7-9 a.m. Coffee with a Cop with Pensacola Police Department Turtle & Starfish Conference Rooms 1st floor of the children’s hospital. Stop by and chat with our local officers, meet some of the k-9’s, and enjoy coffee and donuts!!
- 2-4 p.m. Rally Kid Toni’s Lemonade Stand & Hyundai Hope On Wheels handprint ceremony, Allen Turner Hyundai Dealership 6501 Pensacola Blvd, Pensacola, FL 32505; Rally Kid Toni’s famous lemonade stand! Handprint ceremony info: “capturing the handprint, Hyundai Hope On Wheels shares the stories, journeys and hopes of in the fight against the disease. Whether it’s completing a round of chemo, celebrating a beautiful new head of hair or receiving a clean bill of health, one child’s milestone can be another’s symbol of hope. And these handprints serve as our symbol”
September 7
- Rally and Ride w/ American Legion Post 378
- Motorcycle arrival at Ascension Sacred Heart, Greenhut Auditorium, 12:30 p.m.
- Post hospital event, 2:00 p.m. American Legion Post 2712 Gulf Breeze Pkwy, Gulf Breeze, FL 32563
September 9
- Candlelight Vigil 6:30 p.m. Front entrance of the children’s hospital, we ask that you and guests park on the 4th floor of the parking garage if possible. Facebook event with details below: https://www.facebook.com/share/ayLEXorren13X4xn/. Please feel free to share the facebook event, as this event is open to the public.
September 23
- Yoga 4A Cure, 6:30 p.m., 17 Via De Luna Dr., Pensacola Beach you do not need prior yoga experience to participate!! Rally Gulf Coast is the beneficiary of this yoga event.
September 28
- Glow Yoga event for Rally Kids w/ Rally Mom Yoga Ro, time and place TBD you do not need prior yoga experience to participate!!
