getinvovled

Get Involved

There are many ways to get involved with Break the Grey. Below is a list of ways to get involved and do something. You can also check out the menu to the left and click on a tab to learn more about specific involvement. If you can think of other ways to donate to, support, or get involved with Break the Grey, feel free to contact us by clicking on the tab to the left and let us know!

** If you would like to make a financial donation to Break the Grey, please contact us and let us know. We'll work with you from there to make sure that your gift is used in the most effective way possible. **

You can do something about childhood cancer. Raise awareness, make a difference.

Read the following list. Watch the clips. Look at the pictures. Pick one – and do something.

1. Collect spare change.

We believe that by collecting spare change, we can change the way a family views a diagnosis of childhood cancer or other life-altering illnesses. Collect and donate your spare change to our Hope Changes Things campaign. Learn more about it in the menu to the left.

2. Accessorize.

Gold is “the color” for childhood cancer awareness. (And each specific cancer has its own color as well. For instance, leukemia is orange, lymphoma is green, etc.) Wear a gold ribbon (or orange or green). When people ask, speak up. Make them aware of the reality of childhood cancer.

3. Walk.

Break the Grey has participated in the Leukemia/Lymphoma Society’s Light the Night Walk for the past two years. You can make plans now to walk with us in upcoming walks. Click on "Light the Night" in the menu to the left to read about our team and sign up.

4. Run.

If you are a little more ambitious and competitive, there are several marathons that raise money for childhood cancer. The Leukemia/Lymphoma Society partners with Nike and holds athletic competitions all over the country to conquer cancer. Similarily, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, TN hosts an annual marathon.

5. Drink lemonade.

If running isn’t really your thing, you can always drink lemonade. Alex’s Lemonade Stand was started by Alex Scott, a 4-year-old with a particularly deadly form of childhood cancer. While undergoing treatment, she started a lemonade stand to raise money for “her hospital,” specifically for children undergoing cancer treatment there. Sadly, Alex passed away in 2004, but her lemonade stand continues. Each year, thousands of lemonade stands are held across the nation, “curing childhood cancer one cup at a time.” For more information visit www.alexslemonade.org

6. Eat.

Every year, Chili’s launches their “Create a Pepper” campaign to cure childhood cancer. You can donate to their campaign and will be given a pepper to color that will be displayed in their restaurant. The money raised in past years went to open the new Chili’s Care Center at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Additionally, for one night each September, Chili's donates 100% of their profits to childhood cancer. This applies to carry out as well. Eat good food, help kids with cancer. Win-win situation.

7. Shave your head.

The stereotypical image of a child with cancer is one without hair. The St. Baldrick’s Foundation decided to utilize this image to the kids’ advantage. Now, every March, St. Baldrick’s events are held nation-wide. During these events, people form teams and have people sponsor them to shave their heads. St. Baldrick’s is one of the leading fund-raisers for childhood cancer research. Not only does the money go to a good cause, but it lets the kids know in a tangible way that we are supporting them.

8. Get a haircut.

If you’re not brave enough to completely shave your head, just go for a haircut. Donate it to Locks of Love.

9. Donate blood.

Most chemotherapy drugs completely destroy kids’ bone marrow, leaving them dependent on blood and platelet transfusions. Your gift really does keep them alive. And before you say, “I’m scared of needles,” stop and think about the kids we’re discussing. Think about everything that they endure on a daily basis. (If you need a little help, go to YouTube and type in “childhood cancer.”) Don’t you think you could endure one poke to save one child, especially considering the horror they are living?

10. Watch a movie...

...specifically “My Sister’s Keeper.” It depicts very well what the life of a family facing childhood cancer is like. Watch the trailer:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EdZZLdjBfCI

11. Pray.

Pray for these kids. Pray for their families. Pray for hope and joy and courage and peace and endurance and perseverance and comfort. Pray for the message of the cross to meet them where they are – and for the hope of Christ to come flooding in. More specific requests can be found at the "Prayer" tab in the menu to the left.

12. Speak up.

If you won’t do any of the other things in this list, then please just pass it on. Copy and paste it. Pass on one of the links above. Talk about this. Write about it. Use your words. Use your influence. Don’t avoid the elephant in the room any longer.

There is hope. There is rescue. Speak out. Raise awareness. Do something. Keep fighting for the cure. And never, ever give up hope.