A lot of negativity tends to surround the word "cancer," but National Cancer Survivors Day (NCSD) offers a more positive message. June 5, 2016 is set aside as the day to celebrate survivors, inspire those who were recently diagnosed, support families and bring the community together.

Are you looking for a way to help Make-A-Wish Missouri this summer? If you're a biker or fashion enthusiast, there's a Make-A-Wish Missouri event that's perfect for you. The 8th Annual Ride For Wishes motorcycle ride is taking place June 11-12 and the To The Moon Fashion Show takes place June 23. Both events are fun ways to help raise money so more Missouri kids can have their wishes granted this year! 

During the month of July, it is Bladder and Gastrointestinal Cancer Awareness Month. There are fewer than 200,000 cases of bladder cancer per year in the U.S. Bladder cancer also has a low mortality rate because it is usually caught in the early stages. Gastrointestinal cancer involves many organs within the digestive tract including the esophagus, gallbladder, liver, pancreas stomach, small intestines, bowel (large intestines and rectum) and anus. This cancer involves a large area of the body, making this one of the most common types of cancers. Gastrointestinal Cancer involves many organs making it difficult to detect, and, because of that, it has a high mortality rate.

Memorial Day was once only a day of remembering those who have fallen serving our country. Most people now view this day as a day of hosting the big family/friend BBQ and having fun with loved ones. We must not forget this day was once called Decoration Day. This was the day that people would put flowers on the graves of loved ones. After WWII it was renamed Memorial Day to remember all of the fallen soldiers. Don’t get too busy planning the big get-together that you forget what this day is all about. Here are some fun festive activities you can do before you celebrate with your friends and family.

Now that summer weather is here to stay, it's time to start thinking about more ways to get active. Make-A-Wish Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana has got you covered with 7 different events throughout the summer. If you're in the mood for a charity walk or run, don't miss these great opportunities to get involved with Make-A-Wish Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana. Each event has its own style, so there's something for everyone. 

Come celebrate a night of wishes June 9 that will make you feel like you’re in a real-life fairytale. The New Jersey Gala is being held in the Samuel and Josephine Plumeri Wishing Place, which just so happens to be a castle. 

Moms do so much for their families on a daily basis. From cooking meals to scheduling events and chauffeuring kids, moms wear a lot of hats. It's easy to take these things for granted, but Mother's Day serves as the perfect reminder to say "thank you." Gifts can be thoughtful and heartfelt, but making memories together can often be a lot more meaningful. Even if you are getting your mom a gift, doing a family activity together can make the day even more special. 

May is the peak season for spring allergens, which is why the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) has declared it to be National Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month. More than 26 million Americans suffer from asthma, including 6.3 million children. Not only does spring weather make asthma attacks more common, it's also when pollen and seeds are released, causing spring allergies in millions of people. 

This year is sure to be a very special event for the 20^th Annual Wish Night of Make-A-Wish North Texas, presented by Helzberg Diamonds. Since it began in 1997, Wish Night has raised more than $14 million and granted more than 1,875 wishes. Last year alone, Wish night raised $1.63 million for wishes. This year, the goal is to break this record at $1.7 million raised.

The 3^rd Annual Tech Data Tampa Bay Walk for Wishes presented By Allegiant Air begins on Saturday, April 30. Help Make-A-Wish Central and Northern Florida reach their goal of raising $200,000 by joining in the Walk For Wishes, part of this year’s Riverfest. This is a two-mile, relaxing and beautiful walk along the Hillsbourough River. Participation includes access to family fun, festivities, live entertainment, and food vendors. Come join us! 

April is the awareness month for four types of cancer: head and neck, esophageal, and testicular. It’s an important time to discuss these different diseases because some can be prevented through self-care, while others need to be discovered during examination by a doctor. Many of these cancers are related because of the three ways that the disease spreads throughout the body:

• Tissue. Cancer cells can spread from where they began by developing into nearby regions.
• Lymph system. When cancer gets into the lymph system, it spreads through the lymph vessels to other parts of the body.
• Blood. If cancer gets into the blood, it travels through the blood vessels to other areas.

Cancer awareness months are not meant to cause worry or hypochondria. The purpose of this month is to spread awareness about these diseases, many of which are preventable through lifestyle choices and are also highly treatable. 

Back by popular demand is the 4th Annual A Millions Dreams Masquerade Ball, benefiting Make-A-Wish Illinois. A Millions Dreams is a non-profit organization founded by Yvonne McMillion. When her son Zachary was 8, he battled the rare cancer Epithelia Sarcoma. Make-A-Wish Illinois granted him a wish and brought a smile back to his face. Now, Zachary is nine years cancer-free. Yvonne began A Million Dreams to give back to the Make-A-Wish foundation. She hosts great fundraising events to help grant more wishes.

The Masquerade Ball will feature a cocktail party, fun actives, silent auctions, and a cash bar. Come join A Million Dreams on April 23 for an adult night out that will surely bring more smiles to the faces of kids with critical illnesses. 

Residents in the Portland area have a fun way to help Make-A-Wish Oregon grant more wishes this spring. The annual Walk For Wishes takes place Saturday, April 16. Be a hero for Wish Kids and help Make-A-Wish Oregon reach their fundraising goal of $150,000 at this year's walk. Just think of all the wishes that amount can grant!

If you live in one of Florida’s 54 counties served by Make-A-Wish Central and Northern Florida, then you have two great opportunities to support your local chapter on April 9^th. The 22nd Annual Hamlin and Associates Wishmaker’s Ball and the 7^th Annual Tampa Wishmaker’s Ball are both being held on Saturday. You have the option of attending either of these of these elegant black tie galas to experience the power in granting wishes to the children with critical illnesses.

Residents of the Boston area won't want to miss out on the 2016 Make-A-Wish Gala taking place April 9. The Gala will be held at the glamorous InterContinental Boston hotel overlooking the city's waterfront. Attending is a great way to help Make-A-Wish Massachusetts and Rhode Island grant more wishes in 2016. Over the past 28 years, the chapter has granted more than 7,000 wishes. The Gala alone aims to raise funds for at least 100 more wishes. 

Spring is in the air in much of the country, and kids who have spent months bundled up during the winter are ready to get outside and play. For many kids, that means riding their bikes, scooters, or skateboards with friends through the neighborhood.

March is Brain Injury Awareness Month, and helping keep children safe from head injuries is very important. A traumatic brain injury (TBI) occurs when someone's head is hit by something or shaken violently. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 1.7 million people receive TBIs each year. Of children up to 19 years old, TBI results in 631,146 trips to the emergency room each year.

Brain injuries, including concussions, can occur to kids while biking, during sports games or even on a playground if they were to fall while playing and hit their head. As a parent, before you let your kids go out biking, you need make sure that their helmet from last season still fits properly. If you have to buy a new helmet, make sure it fits snug. Buying a larger size that they can grow into can lead to disastrous consequences if they fall and hit their head. If the helmet doesn't fit properly, it won't protect as it should in the event of a fall.

What Symptoms Should Parents Look For?

According to Parent Center Hub, the term traumatic brain injury is used to describe trauma to the head that can cause permanent changes to areas of their mental cognition such as:

• Thinking and reasoning
• Understanding certain words or parts of language.
•  Short-term memory loss
• Paying attention
• Problem-solving
• Thinking abstractly
•  Speech and other communication skills
• Behavioral patterns
• Walking or other physical activities
• The ability to learn new things, especially if a skill was never introduced to the child before trauma.

According to the Brain Injury Association of America, there are some essential ways to protect your children’s safety and significantly reduces the risk of brain injury. make sure your children (and you), stay safe from brain injuries:

• Wear a seat belt every time riding in a motor vehicle.
• Buckle children in the car using a child safety seat, booster seat, or seat belt according to the child’s height, weight and age. Children should start using a booster seat when they outgrow their child safety seats. Children should continue to ride in a booster seat until the lap/shoulder belts in the car fit properly, typically when they are approximately 4-foot-9 tall. Local police or fire departments often have clinics for parents to help make sure child safety seats are properly installed.
• Wear a helmet and make sure children wear helmets that are fitted properly. Specialty bike shops generally have staff member who are great at fitting helmets. The right helmets can reduce the risk of severe brain injuries by 88 percent, according to SafeKids.org.
• Make sure playground surfaces are made of shock-absorbing materials, such as hardwood mulch or sand, and are maintained to an appropriate depth.
• Use the right protective equipment and make sure it is maintained properly.

Help Local Children’s Charities

Each year, many children are affected by serious or chronic (?) medical condition. Vehicle donations help to provide these children with better lives. Donate a car, truck, motorcycle, boat, or camper and let Wheels For Wishes turn your vehicle into hope and encouragement for a child in your community.

When you donate a vehicle to Wheels For Wishes, your donation will go towards supporting the children’s charities in your area. See which charity your donation will benefit by checking out our Chapter Locator. When you donate a car, truck, boat, or motorcycle to Wheels For Wishes, you will receive free pick up or towing of your vehicle. To make a car donation, simply call [chapter_phone] or make your donation online.

Help to support children’s charities by donating your vehicle to Wheels For Wishes.

Spring is in the air in much of the country, and kids who have spent months bundled up during the winter are ready to get outside and play. For many kids, that means riding their bikes, scooters, or skateboards with friends through the neighborhood.

March is Brain Injury Awareness Month, and helping keep children safe from head injuries is very important. A traumatic brain injury (TBI) occurs when someone's head is hit by something or shaken violently. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 1.7 million people receive TBIs each year. Of children up to 19 years old, TBI results in 631,146 trips to the emergency room each year.

Brain injuries, including concussions, can occur to kids while biking, during sports games or even on a playground if they were to fall while playing and hit their head. As a parent, before you let your kids go out biking, you need make sure that their helmet from last season still fits properly. If you have to buy a new helmet, make sure it fits snug. Buying a larger size that they can grow into can lead to disastrous consequences if they fall and hit their head. If the helmet doesn't fit properly, it won't protect as it should in the event of a fall.

What Symptoms Should Parents Look For?

According to Parent Center Hub, the term traumatic brain injury is used to describe trauma to the head that can cause permanent changes to areas of their mental cognition such as:

• Thinking and reasoning
• Understanding certain words or parts of language.
•  Short-term memory loss
• Paying attention
• Problem-solving
• Thinking abstractly
•  Speech and other communication skills
• Behavioral patterns
• Walking or other physical activities
• The ability to learn new things, especially if a skill was never introduced to the child before trauma.

According to the Brain Injury Association of America, there are some essential ways to protect your children’s safety and significantly reduces the risk of brain injury. make sure your children (and you), stay safe from brain injuries:

• Wear a seat belt every time riding in a motor vehicle.
• Buckle children in the car using a child safety seat, booster seat, or seat belt according to the child’s height, weight and age. Children should start using a booster seat when they outgrow their child safety seats. Children should continue to ride in a booster seat until the lap/shoulder belts in the car fit properly, typically when they are approximately 4-foot-9 tall. Local police or fire departments often have clinics for parents to help make sure child safety seats are properly installed.
• Wear a helmet and make sure children wear helmets that are fitted properly. Specialty bike shops generally have staff member who are great at fitting helmets. The right helmets can reduce the risk of severe brain injuries by 88 percent, according to SafeKids.org.
• Make sure playground surfaces are made of shock-absorbing materials, such as hardwood mulch or sand, and are maintained to an appropriate depth.
• Use the right protective equipment and make sure it is maintained properly.

Help Local Children’s Charities

Each year, many children are affected by serious or chronic (?) medical condition. Vehicle donations help to provide these children with better lives. Donate a car, truck, motorcycle, boat, or camper and let Wheels For Wishes turn your vehicle into hope and encouragement for a child in your community.

When you donate a vehicle to Wheels For Wishes, your donation will go towards supporting the children’s charities in your area. See which charity your donation will benefit by checking out our Chapter Locator. When you donate a car, truck, boat, or motorcycle to Wheels For Wishes, you will receive free pick up or towing of your vehicle. To make a car donation, simply call [chapter_phone] or make your donation online.

Help to support children’s charities by donating your vehicle to Wheels For Wishes.

This April, there are three opportunities to make wishes come true for children in Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky when you attend a BIG Wish Gala. Make-A-Wish Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky helps kids throughout these states who suffer from critical illnesses. You can help grant wishes to children in Akron, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Columbus, Toledo,  Indianapolis, Fort Wayne, Evansville, Louisville, Lexington and more when you attend either of the Make-A-Wish Ohio, Kentucky & Indiana BIG Wish Galas in Columbus, Indianapolis or Cleveland.

Columbus BIG Wish Gala, April 9

If you live in the Columbus area, the Columbus BIG Wish Gala is the perfect opportunity for you. Enjoy an evening out at the Hilton Columbus Downtown (401 N. High Street), while also helping to grant the wishes for kids in Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana. The event will feature a sit down dinner, a live and silent auction, and inspirational wish stories from children and families who have benefited from Make-A-Wish. The event begins at 6 p.m.

Individual tickets sell for $300 each and sponsorship opportunities start at $3,000. To purchase tickets, please contact John Hykes at johnh@makeawishohio.org.

Learn more about the Columbus BIG Wish Gala here.

Indianapolis BIG Wish Gala, April 22

The Indianapolis BIG Wish Gala takes place at the JW Marriott Indianapolis (10 S. West Street), starting at 6 p.m. Individual tickets are $400 each and sponsorships are available from $4,000 to $25,000. If you are interested in becoming a sponsor of our 2016 event, or to RSVP, please contact Kelsey Leichtnam at 317-522-4082.

Cleveland BIG Wish Gala, April 28

The Cleveland BIG Wish Gala at the Westin Cleveland Downtown (777 St. Clair Ave. NE) will provide guests with the opportunity to experience the Make-A-Wish mission firsthand. The evening starts at 6 p.m. and includes dinner, a live and silent auction and a few more surprises. Guests will also have the opportunity to hear stories of inspiration from children and families whose lives have been forever changed by a granted wish.

You can attend the event by purchasing tickets or tables. Individual tickets are $300. RSVP today to Michele DeScioli at 216-367-5655. Sponsorships are also available, and range between $3,000 and $15,000.

Can’t Attend But Still Want To Make Wishes Come True?

If you are unable to attend either of these fantastic events, you can still help Make-A-Wish Ohio, Kentucky, & Indiana by donating your car, truck, boat, motorcycle, or camper to Wheels For Wishes. Wheels For Wishes is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that benefits Make-A-Wish through our  car donation program. Donate your unwanted vehicle and it will be recycled or auctioned off to grant more wishes for  local children.

To donate a vehicle, please call [chapter_phone] or fill out our online car donation form. Vehicle donations are tax-deductible and include free pick-up and towing of your vehicle, anywhere in your area. Call us today to donate your vehicle! 

Make-A-Wish Alaska and Washington’s annual Wish Night Gala & Auction: Flights of Fancy will be an especially magical event this year. Make-A-Wish Alaska and Washington is celebrating its 30th anniversary of granting the wishes of local children, but the real magic of the 2016 Wish Night is its focus on raising funds to grant 400 wishes this year. You can help the Wish Night Gala & Auction achieve its goal through contributions and donations to the event. With your support, Make-A-Wish Alaska and Washington can provide more life-changing experiences to children battling life-threating medical conditions and their families.

If you live in Iowa, you have four opportunities to support Make-A-Wish Iowa at an upcoming gala. This spring, you can attend a gala in Dubuque March 19, Des Moines April 2, Clinton April 9, or Cedar Rapids April 22. Each gala will have its own flair, but all of them help Make-A-Wish Iowa keep doing wonderful work for kids in your state. 

Feb. 14 is known for Valentine’s Day, but it’s actually so much more than that. Not only is it a day to shower your sweetie with candy hearts and chocolates, but it’s also a great time to raise awareness for Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Day and National Donor Day. Plus, Valentine’s Day falls right in the middle of Random Acts of Kindness Week (RAK Week). This Valentine’s Day, have a heart and combine all four of these great events into one day, or share the love all week long!