Kick-It is a great organization that strives to end cancer for children. I am kicking it for my Aunt Marlene who beat breast cancer, and my grandfather Steve Mullinger who won the fight against leukemia. I am kicking it to end cancer for children and people of all ages because no one should have to suffer as much as cancer patients and hopefully we can help kick cancer out of everyone's lives.

I was in the first grade when my best friend's older sister lost her battle to cancer. At the age of nine, Beck Dasch had spent the better part of her life in and out of hospitals suffering from liver and lung cancer. The pain that I saw her endure was shared by her family, as well as mine. Being there to experience Becky's every day struggle created a special place in my heart to help those in similar situations. I found myself helpless, a feeling I truly loathe having. I was never given an opportunity to release my feelings about Becky until my senior year. My senior year my high school began planning a Kick-It for Cancer kick-ball Game. The school had set a goal of raising $10,000 dollars. Immediately I pledged to raise at least half of that myself. I felt driven in a way that I had never experienced before. The passion for my goal also led to me also promising to shave my head if my goal was reached. I started that night by typing up a letter and hand delivering it to all of the businesses in my hometown. I went door-to-door asking for donations, had an announcement read at half time of my lacrosse games, and made countless phone calls asking for help. In all honesty, I put school and sports aside for one week because I knew I was doing something important that could really make a difference. In that week I had raised over $6,000. More than not only I thought, but my whole town had thought to be impossible. As a school we raised a total of $24,000, which was well above what we had set as a goal. The following Monday after the fundraiser had ended, we had an assembly so the whole school could watch me follow through with my promise and shave my head. A news crews came to cover the event several mothers, who were at the time watching their children go through the same fight Becky did, were in the front row. When my hair began to fall to the floor, I watched all of them start to cry. To this day, this has been the most humbling experience I have ever had. In that moment I realized what I am meant to do. I am here to help those who need it the most.

I Kick-It for kids like Quinn, a Triton Tumor survivor, Reagyn, who has a brain stem glioma, catagory 1, and Grant, a local OSU fan who named his brain tumor "Michigan" because OSU always beats Michigan. I Kick-It for my advisor's childhood friend Jennifer, who lost her battle to cancer at the age of 13. I Kick-It for my other advisor's adolescent cousin who currently has prostate cancer. I Kick-It for all kids with cancer.

Childhood cancers are the number one disease killers of children. No new drug has been developed for pediatric cancer in 20 years. I want each child to have the opportunity to grow up and achieve their dreams. No child should lose their life at such a young age.

Kick-It at OSU is a new and growing student organization on campus. The Kick-It at OSU Planning Team is a group of college students that have come together to raise money for pediatric cancer research and to plan the best event possible each September, National Cancer Awareness Month. Every member has seen what cancer has done to the lives of many children and families. It is absolutely heartbreaking to see what the ugly disease can do to a child's life. Kick-It at OSU works diligently to raise the most money possible. It's an amazing group of students that I am proud to say I am a part of and helped begin on Ohio State's campus.

Kick-It with me to join the fight against childhood cancer and help kids like Quinn, Reagyn, and Grant. Help us unite the OSU Community to end childhood cancer.

CURE CHILDREN'S CANCER. BUCKEYE STYLE.