DAYTON, Ohio, Sept. 29, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Aflac, the
leading provider of voluntary insurance at the work site in
the United States, today honored
heroes who have left a giant footprint in the fight against
childhood cancer. The event was part of the company's Duckprints
campaign, a national celebration of individuals and groups who
leave their footprints in the fight against childhood cancer.
The honorees were 14-year-old cancer patient Colin Beach and his mother Maureen Beach, who while fighting numerous bouts
with childhood cancer shared their experience to raise money for
other cancer patients; Dayton Children's Hospital pediatric cancer
nurse Robbie Mirisciotti, RN, a
20-year veteran caregiver who is known and loved by thousands of
children and families who have experienced her care; and the
Centerville Noon Optimist Club, a fellowship of people who have
donated nearly $100,000 to Dayton
Children's Hospital for children battling cancer.
"Since beginning the Duckprints program in 2013, Aflac has had
the privilege of honoring people from coast to coast and in middle
America," Aflac Foundation President Kathelen Amos said. "At every stop, we are
amazed by those like Colin, Maureen, Robbie and the Centerville
Noon Optimist Club that focus on others, even when on many days no
one would blame them for thinking of themselves. They are selfless
ambassadors of the Duckprints Award, and we are proud to
acknowledge their courage and grace today in their hometown of
Dayton."
According to the American Cancer Society, the five-year survival
rate for childhood cancer today exceeds 80 percent compared to less
than 60 percent in the mid-1970s. And while cancer remains the most
prevalent cause of death by disease for children, only a small
percentage of government cancer funding goes toward childhood
cancer. Aflac recently celebrated a major milestone, having
contributed more than $100 million to
assist in improving the treatment and research for childhood
cancer. Each month, Aflac's independent sales associates contribute
nearly $500,000 from their commission
checks to this cause.
"Dayton Children's Hospital is proud to have some of the most
valiant warriors in the fight against pediatric cancer be
recognized with Aflac DuckPrints Awards," said Debbie Feldman, president and CEO of Dayton
Children's Hospital. "Each of these honorees puts his or her heart
and soul into providing comfort for sick children; to raising
awareness about the need children's hospitals have for treating
kids with cancer and to fighting this disease day in and day out.
Dayton Children's, like Aflac, is committed to providing
outstanding care for children and families battling pediatric
cancer. These awards are a celebration of those who selflessly work
to make a difference in the lives of children."
In addition to conducting Duckprints celebrations across the
nation, Aflac is calling on unsung heroes across America to become
active in the cause. The company is donating $2 for any Duckprints-related social actions
taken on social media, including:
Twitter - $2 for any tweet
using the hashtag #Duckprints or for retweets of Duckprints-related
tweets.
Facebook - $2 for any share of
specific posts related to Duckprints or using #Duckprints.
YouTube - $2 per view of the Duckprints videos on
YouTube.
Instagram - $2 for every post
using the hashtag #Duckprints.
Aflac also created a website (aflacduckprints.com) that enables
users to nominate unsung heroes in their community who have made a
difference in the lives of children and families facing
cancer. People can follow the Aflac Duck on his journey to
hospitals around the country honoring those who have made a
difference in the fight against childhood cancer. In addition,
merchandise such as plush Aflac ducks and Duckprints-related
T-shirts, slippers and other items will be available for purchase
at aflacduckprints.com, with all of the net proceeds going toward
the treatment and research of childhood cancer.
About Duckprints Award recipients Colin and Maureen Beach
Every mother and
child share a bond, but Colin and his mom Maureen Beach are bonded together not only in
love, but in battle - in a war on cancer. When he was only 5
months old, they discovered Colin had a rare cancer that caused 11
tumors in his eyes. This would leave him blind in his left
eye.
Colin was missing a portion of a chromosome that helped his body
fight cancer, so he developed a second rare cancer, this time in
his soft tissue. With chemotherapy being too tough a treatment
for his body to handle and radiation more likely to trigger other
cancers, Colin's only option was surgery. He has had more
surgeries in his short 14 years than most adults ever have – his
family stopped counting at 30.
Through it all, Maureen has been his shield and his sword, never
giving up. It is the oath she took as a mother holding her child
with cancer – to fight, be his advocate, find the best care, make
every decision with the best possible information and never look
back.
What Colin has lost in sight he has gained in strength of will
and the size of his heart. He became an ambassador for Dayton
Children's Hospital, sharing his story to encourage others in their
fight against cancer. Sharing his story also resulted in a
$5 million donation toward a new
patient tower at Dayton Children's that will house a
state-of-the-art center specially equipped to accommodate the
special needs of children in their crusade against cancer.
Colin has also furthered cancer research by letting doctors and
residents study the progression of his disease in hopes of helping
other children survive. He is passionate about working to make life
more comfortable for children all over the world and has inspired
others to do the same: from those on his swim team to those he led
as student council president.
While this will be a lifelong battle for Colin and his mom, they
face it with determination and dedication to each other. They are
lighting the way on the path of battling cancer, hoping to make the
journey easier for any child who must follow in their
footsteps.
About Duckprints Award recipient Robbie Mirisciotti, RN
Don't be afraid to
give your heart. As a pediatric cancer nurse at Dayton Children's
Hospital, registered nurse Robbie
Mirisciotti lives those words of advice. She remembers
almost every child she's ever helped through the difficult
diagnosis of cancer. She can recall their family's names and
the quirky little details that make every child unique – such as
which stuffed animal a boy liked to hold during chemo or how a
little girl would go "grocery shopping" for the medications she
needed. Thousands of children have met and loved Robbie in her
20 years in the department, and each one holds a special place in
her memory – and in her heart.
This is Robbie's calling – to walk with a family through their
crisis. It is an intense relationship and not one that can be
done in half measures. She connects with the child to offer
the individualized care that will make all the difference. She
is honored by the trust they place in her and is always up for the
challenge of guiding them on their path.
With constant research, Robbie knows there is always hope that
around the corner or with the next trial, a major breakthrough
could help her kids. Her competitive spirit encourages her
kids and their families to face their challenges head-on. Her
reserve of strength allows a family to make the right choices for
them and their child. By welcoming every child and family with an
open heart, it grows stronger and better able to support the next
child and family who may need her resilience, compassion and
love.
About Aflac Duckprints Award recipient the Centerville Noon
Optimist Club
Fighting cancer is a journey, not an event.
It's a trial that tests your endurance, commitment and
determination to defeat this disease. There are days that you feel
your spirit lagging and your strength waning. It is on those days
you need the spark of a smile, the gift of a grin. You need an
optimist to renew your resolution.
The Centerville Noon Optimist Club is a fellowship of people who
embrace an optimistic mindset to set an example for the community.
As a friend of youth, the Optimist Club's mission is to provide
positive programs and activities to benefit young people.
That's why they are the perfect people to revive that sparkle in
kids fighting cancer. Members host a Build-A-Bear event for cancer
patients and their siblings twice a year. They also offer children
a fun summer activity and invite them to the annual golf outing for
a chip, putt and drive event. Annually, the club honors a caregiver
at a breakfast celebration. These moments remind kids life isn't
only about fighting cancer.
The Optimist Club is also there to support treatment. They have
donated nearly $100,000 to Dayton
Children's Hospital. Each year, proceeds from the Tom Frazier
Tee-Off For Youth Golf Outing benefit programs like the
hematology/oncology needy patient fund, the Treatment Away Fund for
children needing to travel to other hospitals and the
hematology/oncology outpatient clinic. Most recently, the Club made
a $25,000 pledge for the Reaching New
Heights campaign, a historic hospital campus renewal project. This
gift will support the Outpatient Access Triage room in the new
cancer center.
About Aflac
When a policyholder gets sick or hurt,
Aflac pays cash benefits fast. For nearly six decades, Aflac
insurance policies have given policyholders the opportunity to
focus on recovery, not financial stress. In the United States, Aflac is the leading
provider of voluntary insurance at the work site. Through its
trailblazing One Day PaySM initiative, Aflac U.S. can
receive, process, approve and disburse payment for eligible claims
in one business day. In Japan,
Aflac is a leading provider of medical and cancer insurance and
insures 1 in 4 households. Aflac individual and group insurance
products help provide protection to more than 50 million people
worldwide. For nine consecutive years, Aflac has been recognized by
Ethisphere magazine as one of the World's Most Ethical Companies.
In 2015, Fortune magazine recognized Aflac as one of the 100 Best
Companies to Work For in America for the 17th consecutive year.
Also, in 2015, Fortune magazine included Aflac on its list of Most
Admired Companies for the 14th time, ranking the company No. 1 in
innovation for the insurance, life and health category. Aflac
Incorporated is a Fortune 500 company listed on the New York Stock
Exchange under the symbol AFL. To find out more about Aflac and One
Day PaySM, visit aflac.com or espanol.aflac.com.
Aflac herein means American Family Life Assurance Company of
Columbus and American Family Life
Assurance Company of New York.
Media contacts – Jon Sullivan,
706.763.4813 or jsullivan@aflac.com
Analyst and investor contact – Robin Y.
Wilkey, 706.596.3264 or 800.235.2667, FAX: 706.324.6330, or
rwilkey@aflac.com
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SOURCE Aflac