Childhood cancer takes a heavy toll on every person it touches. Patients, parents, siblings, doctors, nurses and social workers all have unique and powerful perspectives to share. The Tom Coughlin Jay Fund is kicking off a year-long campaign of “Dear Cancer” letters to reach beyond the facts and figures and share the honest and emotional voices of those mostly deeply impacted when a child confronts this life-threatening disease.

We want people to speak from the heart and address “Cancer” directly in the form of a letter and the impact it has had on their life. These letters may be raw and difficult to read at times, but they will paint a heartfelt and accurate depiction of the pediatric cancer journey through different viewpoints. We begin this campaign by sharing Lauren’s #DearCancer letter below. Lauren’s son, Joey, was 7 years old when he was diagnosed with leukemia and began his painful and aggressive treatment.

We plan to share these “Dear Cancer” letters throughout the year on our website, social media platforms and email and we welcome your contributions to this campaign. If you would like to share your “Dear Cancer” letter, please forward your submissions (300-600 words in length) to Carolyn Tillo at [email protected]

Watch Lauren's video here: