After my diagnosis of Brain Cancer in 2002 (photo was taken December 2002), I became very concerned about the environmental factors that might be contributing to the increasing prevalence of childhood cancer. Hearing the words ” You have cancer” is just about the worst thing you can hear as a young child, unfortunately it is heard much to often. There are many lasting side effects of cancer treatment that are virtually unheard of by anyone who has not been touched by cancer personally in some way. I am passionate about raising awareness of childhood cancer because I have, and still am experiencing what can happen when people do not have the proper knowledge of this vicious disease. I can take a perfect example of this from my own life. When I was told that I had cancer the first word that came to my mind was “death”. I think the only time I had ever heard the word was on the news when some well-known celebrity died of cancer. I was completely! Unaware that cancer can strike anyone at any age, at anytime. It was not until I started going tough my cancer treatments and getting check-ups at St. Lukes Mountain States Tumor Institute in Boise, Idaho that I became aware of all the young children with cancer that I realized something was wrong. It was like the childhood cancer ward was a hidden room with no apparent knowledge from the outside world. Well it is time to pull the cloak off of the childhood cancer ward and reveal to everyone what has been happening to our children. Children are the future; cancer can destroy that.
Trevor Schaefer – Nov, 2007
Sometimes the greatest distance traveled is accomplished in just a few steps. After Trevor Schaefer’s(formerly Smith) surgery for brain cancer in November, 2002, at the age of thirteen he couldn’t even get out of bed. When he finally took his first steps, it was with someone holding onto him. During his chemotherapy and radiation treatments he became too weak to stand up. When he took his first steps again, his balance was impaired and he had a limp (A side effect of chemotherapy). Facing a change to a new school during his treatments, he was told not to do it; the kids would laugh at him because he “walked funny”. But he went to the new school anyway, deciding that if he could face up to cancer, he could face up to a few kids who might make fun of him. In September of 2007 Trevor organized the first childhood cancer awareness walk in Idaho. Since that first walk Trevor’s Trek Foundation, a 501c3 nonprofit organization was formed.
Trevor’s Trek Mission Statement
“The overall rate of cancer among children is rising dramatically. There is mounting evidence that toxic pollutants play a pivotal role in causing this dreaded disease. Our goal is to build more awareness of childhood cancer and support research into causation, prevention, and cures.”