During a classroom assignment for Mr. Melito’s junior religion class last year, Cameron Washington ‘19 wrote a poem that enlightened people about his journey. The poem’s words highlight a passion for Cameron to raise awareness about pediatric cancer. These words, which hit so close to home, drove Cameron to publicly promote a foundation that would provide support and care for pediatric cancer patients called “Live to See Cancer Cured.”
Live to See Cancer Cured was founded in 2012 by Washington, a native of New Orleans and childhood cancer survivor. Since his diagnosis, he has been an ambassador for pediatric cancer awareness and helped newly diagnosed children adapt to the ‘new normal’ in their life. After his diagnosis of an inoperable tectal glioma, 8-year-old Cameron, with the help of his family, had to reimagine his life of simply being a kid. His inability to do the things he once enjoyed, like playing sports or just sitting in the sunlight, gave him the drive to find things that he was able to do to enjoy his childhood again. Through the Please Foundation, Cameron was the first recipient of the prestigious Joseph McCloskey Schmidt five year high school scholarship. Thanks to local organizations, such as The Please Foundation, Cameron discovered a passion for photography, a new sense of self-love, and most important a desire to help kids adjust to life with and after cancer.
Cameron created the Live to See Cancer Cured Foundation to provide support for champion kids and to inspire them to fight hard. He believes that helping kids find a new perspective is the best way to pull them out of despair and help them become survivors that grow up paying it forward. Cameron has exemplified this throughout his ‘fight’.
Click here to learn more about the Live to See Cancer Cured Foundation and how you can support our Crusader, Cameron Washington, in his compassionate effort to raise awareness for pediatric cancer.
My name is Cameron Washington, founder of Live to See Cancer cured
To understand our purpose, you have to first understand my journey.
The word that has affected my family for nine years,
The word that has put me through pain and made my mom shed a few tears;
The word that has changed my fate and made me lose weight,
The word that almost gave me an expiration date;
The word that made me want to pack my stuff up and flee,
The word that showed a path that God wanted me to see;
The word that made me stand tall and stronger,
The word that made me fight to stay on this Earth a little longer;
The word that made my mom quit nursing school,
The word that had no meaning in 2017 when mom walked across the stage looking cool;
The word that couldn’t stop me from making a 4.0,
The word that couldn’t keep my head low;
The word that has affected people across the nation,
The word that made me start a foundation;
The word that I must fight to cure,
So no one else will have to endure;
Cancer.
