just because

I want to share a story. 

When I was in 8th grade I was diagnosed with a brain tumor. I had a few extremely awful migraine headaches and an MRI before doctors confirmed that there was a growth the size of a golf ball in my forehead. I won’t elaborate on the details of the operation but long story short, they got that thing out and before I knew it, I was back to being a normal kid; other than the daily trips into the city to receive radiation on the area and losing a little bit of hair, enough that my right side-burn was completely detached from the rest of my hair. I even got a sweet titanium plate put into my forehead! I found out later that the tumor had been cancerous.

I had what the doctors called an anaplastic ganglioglioma. Google it. You’re not going to find much information. That’s because I was the 12th person in the modern world to have contracted it. More incredible still, I was only the third to survive it. 

I was able to basically get right back into my normal routine. I got back to school in less than a week, kept my spot as Conrad Birdie in the school musical, rejoined the crew team, and generally went back to being a normal kid. 

For most child cancer patients, it’s not that easy. They require more extensive treatments, are out for longer periods of time, and have more trouble feeling “normal” again. Every day, 46 children are diagnosed with various forms of cancer. 

The University of Delaware is hosting a fundraiser to help these kids. It’s called UDance and benefits the B+ (Be Positive) foundation for childhood cancer related research. Basically we pledge to stay on our feet dancing for 12 hours straight to show some of the B+ heroes (children currently battling cancer) that we support them and the reality that they can’t rest even for a second in their fight against cancer. Last year, UDance alone raised around $46,000! This is nothing compared to what some fundraisers have done, but we’re doing our part. It would be really awesome, if you’re reading this, for you to give a donation to UDance. Any amount helps and would be hugely appreciated. 

If you would like to donate, I’ve included a link to the donation page of the UDance website. You can donate through me, Nicholas Ippolito, through my group, James Smith 3rd Floor, or through any individual or group. It doesn’t matter who gets the recognition, as long as we can help these kids.

If you would like more information about UDance or the B+ foundations or my story feel free check out the respective websites or to shoot me a message, I’d be happy to help out.

Donation page:https://www.elleevance.com/UDance2013/EventLandingPage.aspx

UDance Website: http://www.udancedelaware.org/

B+ website: http://www.bepositive.org/

Thanks!