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By: Donnamy Steele

As September rolls in, so does Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. Caleb Davidson, founder of Cancer Freeze, explained that there are many locals who have been diagnosed, motivating him even further to raise awareness.

Cancer Freeze first began as a small event that benefitted two organizations, but it quickly grew into the widely known fundraiser that it is today.

“When Cancer Freeze first started, it was for the Cancer Society and Relay for Life. In year three it changed when we met Julie Layton Bryan. It went from organizations to individuals and she happened to the first one. After that, we decided this has to be for kids,” Davidson said.

Although children are a focus, Cancer Freeze also works with adults, said Davidson.

“Of course we help the adults as well, but the majority would probably be the children,” Davidson said. “I think it’s so important because people look at kids differently. With adults, they think they can deal with it on their own. When you put up pictures or posters of a child and their story, it’s a different ballgame and makes people think of their own children. When you look at it as ‘that could be my child,’ it’s a whole different level. They are looked at as vulnerable and it portrays a different perspective than this is my grandfather or my dad. We don’t do anything specifically for children because it morphed into being for everybody. We have had events, but not specifically for childhood cancer awareness, but some of our recipients and their children are very involved in it because they have lived it. We haven’t, but they know how much funds go into cancer research and it’s not anywhere where it needs to be, I’m sure.”

The loved ones of the children diagnosed are also battling with them, Davidson said. “Obviously the glorious goal would be to not have to deal with cancer, but that’s not in the foreseeable future. It doesn’t matter who, cancer doesn’t discriminate. When your family gets diagnosed it’s a we, not just a you, and it affects everything. It is we because we share the diagnosis. It’s not just one person,” Davidson said. “I feel bad sometimes for the siblings. They are out at the forefront because that’s who needed it the most. They’re struggling with their siblings and it’s a double whammy, and not an enviable position to be in. We just have to do the next right thing and keep fighting as hard as you can.”

Davidson hopes to have their annual fundraiser event this year.

“Cancer Freeze is on the first Saturday in February,” Davidson said. “Last year we were able to have it, and we actually had our first all female recipients this year which has never happened before. As of now we plan to go forward until a road block comes up that we can’t get past, but we don’t plan to cancel. It may look different and I don’t know what it is, but it’s a new normal.”