Don't duck! The whipped cream pies are still being flung
By Nancy Kriz
MONROE — Those whipped cream pies are still flying.
Even though September is the nationally designated Pediatric Cancer Awareness Month, that hasn't stopped groups from continuing to "cream," "smoosh" or "smash" their friends, acquaintances, teachers or other community members with whipped cream to raise funds for The Truth 365, which seeks to educate people via social networking sites about the need for pediatric cancer research funding and additional awareness.
The most recent group to have a Reddi-Wip encounter was North Main Elementary, where 220 students signed up and stayed after school on Oct. 9 to throw pies at 16 people.
Many paid more than the $5 flinging fee to throw the fluffy cream at their favorite teachers and staff members. All materials were donated to the cause by the Monroe ShopRite and Walmart
"We took time to speak with all students who participated prior to the event about the reason we were even taking part in this challenge - to raise money and awareness for those children and families who are in the midst of struggling with this terrible illness," said Principal Matthew Kravatz, who is also a pediatric cancer survivor.
The influence of social media
Central Valley Elementary School Teacher Nikki Dubner launched the idea in September with a Facebook comment saying she'd be happy to take a pie in the face to increase awareness about pediatric cancer as the ALC Ice Bucket Challenge was in its height of popularity.
Dubner was one of Highland Mills resident Julianna Edel's teachers.
Julianna died of bone cancer in September 2013, only a year after she was diagnosed.
Quickly after Dubner's social media posting, pie challenges were issued around the area and $5 bills began filling collection jars.
Photos of whipped cream drenched people, with ponchos and garbage bags covering clothing, and shower caps and goggles protecting hair and eyes, quickly found their way onto social media sites like Facebook.
Postings noted the good fun being had by participants. But they also noted the important main message of staying aware that cancer is a disease that affects even the youngest people and more money is needed to fund clinical trials to help kids beat the disease.
'My daughter's wish'
"Our community has really embraced childhood cancer awareness in the last two years," said Juliana's mother Tina Edel. "I know that some of this is because of my daughter but it is also because are several other children in the our area who are in remission or currently in treatment for cancer. By doing these fund raisers, our community is fulfilling my daughter’s wishes to spread awareness, which means so much to our family. Monroe-Woodbury is making a difference by helping to fund clinical trials that will help other kids."
Edel felt there is a growing awareness movement about special needs of pediatric cancer patients.
"When Julianna was diagnosed with cancer two years ago, we had no idea that pediatric cancers even had an awareness month or that the color was gold," Edel said. "Nothing. We weren’t aware at all."
The truth
The family learned more about the need for pediatric cancer research as Julianna was in treatment. Julianna decided she wanted to do whatever she could to raise awareness, according to her mother.
"She asked people to wear gold," said Edel. "As she was nearing the end of treatment, we were coming up with ideas of how to support our friends Andrea and Natalie in their efforts to fund raise for The Truth 365 because we knew the money would go, 100 percent, to pediatric research rather than to adult research."
Edel added she understood a "pie" challenge has been issued to Pine Tree Elementary School.