“Never underestimate an old man on a gravel bike.” – Nurse Kevin
As the world argues the facts and fictions of COVID-19, the American Cancer Society estimates that over 11,000 children in the United States will be diagnosed with cancer in 2020. I venture to say there will be LESS. Less? Why less? Read on…
We’re Riding to Help Fight Childhood Cancer
As the world argues the facts and fictions of COVID-19, the American Cancer Society estimates that over 11,000 children in the United States will be diagnosed with cancer in 2020. I venture to say there will be LESS. Nope, I have no link or fact to share with you to support my theory that fewer children than 11,000 will be diagnosed with cancer this year. It’s a hypothesis of mine. Paradoxically speaking, I DO NOT want to be right. My guess is that many children are actually developing cancers…but…are not being diagnosed. This, in turn, has me doubting that the statistical guess of the American Cancer Society that “1,190 children under the age of 15 are expected to die from cancer in 2020” will not be mirrored in 2021 or in 2022. My guess is that diagnosis will be down in 2020 and during the first parts of 2021 but will begin to rise before the end of this school year. Unfortunately, this may result in a higher-than-expected death rate of these children who were not diagnosed earlier. No, I am not blaming COVID-19; I am blaming the fear of COVID-19 (Nurse Kevin discusses this more in the last article).
When I wrote my last Go See The Nurse article and realized that people are “deferring medical care” during the pandemic, it brought the realization to mind that there will actually be indirect deaths “caused” by COVID-19 that will not be considered a COVID-19 death. And, during this epiphany, the Children’s Cancer Research Fund invited me to join the Great Cycle Challenge and ride “to fight kids’ cancer.” Just so happens…I ride a bicycle.
So, Here’s the Scoop
This September, I am taking part in the Great Cycle Challenge to fight kids’ cancer!
Because right now, cancer is the biggest killer of children from disease in the United States. Kids should be living life, not fighting for it. So I am raising funds through my challenge to help these kids and support Children’s Cancer Research Fund to allow them to continue their work to develop lifesaving treatments and find a cure for childhood cancer.
I’m not riding for “awareness.” You are school nurses…y’all are well aware of childhood cancers. I am riding for contributions…pure and simple. What I need from you is very simple: a dollar! There are over 750 email subscribers to the Go See The Nurse email list (thank you so much for subscribing to Nurse Kevin’s non-spammy newsletter). And, there are over 4000 people that follow Go See The Nurse on the Facebook (I still can’t believe there are that many people who care about what I have to say).
The “official” start date is on September 1st. I have a goal of 500 miles…on a bicycle during the month of September and to raise $500. I have waited until TODAY (Wednesday, September 9, 2020) to post this article for the fact that today (and today only) your contribution will be doubled up to $1,200,000.
If you’d like to contribute, follow this link (or an easy to remember link is http://www.nursekevin.com (will redirect to the link below):
https://greatcyclechallenge.com/Riders/KevinWalker1
Next week I will be looking at writing an article about infection control in the schoolhouse and will be giving away a FREE PowerPoint presentation that you can download and modify to fit your school’s policies and procedures. But I am still trying to come up with topics. Do you have something that you’d like to read more about? Let me know…
Also, many of you school nurses have had children in your buildings for the past 2-3 weeks either on a modified schedule or a full-on 5-day-a-week schedule. What have you experienced? Your thoughts (no matter how “left” or “right” they may be construed) would be very much appreciated).
Sign up for Nurse Kevin’s non-spammy newsletter. I don’t usually send a message out unless I have a new article or something important to say. And, as far as your privacy…I have a rock-solid privacy policy.
Your information is kept private! Here’s my Privacy Statement.
The past few weeks have been unlike any other in my school nursing career. It has been stressful and exhausting. All the symptoms of COVID can be attributed to other illnesses making it that much more difficult. I am thankful for an algorithm to help me decide when to send kids home due to symptoms. Without that, I would be confused and frustrated. With it, I just follow what it says and let the cards fall where they may. Good luck on your bike goal!
I am very proud of you I give monthly to St. Jude’s. I hope and pray you reach your goal!