The Power of Young People

Over the past couple of months, I have been truly amazed by the support, generosity, dedication and hard work of so many young people across Upstate New York. Hundreds of high school and college students have recently spent countless hours and given so very much of themselves, all in an effort to help create some good days and special times for the many children and families who are a part of Camp Good Days. The Teddi Committee at St. John Fisher College held their 29th Annual Teddi Dance for Love, a 24-hour dance marathon held each February on the St. John Fisher College campus. The Dance for Love has been a part of the Camp Good Days’ history since almost the very beginning and remains one of the most special events held each year. New this year, a student committee at Ithaca College planned and held the Inaugural Dance for Courage on the Ithaca College campus. Then we have the unbelievable students at Fayetteville-Manlius High School, who have been hosting their Dance Marathon for many years and this year, reached the $1 Million mark of funds generated to support the children and families at Camp Good Days! In addition to many hours and many students dancing, a group of young people in the Rochester area planned and implemented the third annual HOPE JAM, a fun-filled day on the slopes for skiers and snowboarders of various ages and abilities, as well as a snowboarding and twin tip ski competition. A very heartfelt THANK YOU goes out to all the students and young people who have gone above and beyond to make a real difference in the lives of our campers here at Camp Good Days. It is because of these events and the students who coordinate them and participate in them that we know the real power of young people and the impact they can have on our community and our world, now and in the future. I am calling on all young people to help us in our newest endeavor, CANCER MISSION 2020…THE END OF CANCER BY THE END OF THE DECADE. Many are on board, but we need many, many more to reach our goal of having a comprehensive, cohesive, collaborative way in which we will finally find the answers that have been eluding us in the war on cancer. CANCER MISSION 2020 is seeking college students to serve as CANCER MISSION 2020 College Campus Advocates. To date, advocates from the following colleges and universities are already on board: St. John Fisher College, University of Rochester, John Carroll University, University at Buffalo, Hilbert College, Finger Lakes Community College, Utah Valley University, Keuka College, Niagara University and SUNY Oswego. I AM ASKING EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU TO DO ME A FAVOR…PLEASE JOIN CANCER MISSION 2020 TODAY! Visit www.cancermission2020.com and sign the CANCER MISSION 2020 PETITION and learn more about how to join the CANCER MISSION 2020 effort as a CANCER MISSION 2020 College Campus Advocate.