Sept. across America is recognized as Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. To go along with this, Go Gold, an organization aimed at bringing awareness to this cause, hosts several rock painting nights to help show support for families battling against childhood cancer. These events culminate in a memorial walk on Sat. Sept. 21, in which participants gather together to walk, share memories and experiences, and view a memorial showing the love and support from the community.
Castle Country Radio sat down with Landrie Anderson to talk about the events as well as the impact she sees around the community regarding childhood cancer awareness.
Opening up our conversation, Anderson discussed what the community turnout has been like so far,” It was a great experience, and it’s wonderful to compare it to the last three years because it just keeps getting bigger and better every year. So just from the first half alone, I have about 150 rocks to add to the memorial, so we did great.”
Anderson then talked about the upcoming rock painting nights, which are scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 12, and Friday, Sept. 13 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. and on Saturday, Aug. 14 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. “Expect that everything will be provided. You just have to come up with an idea in mind, and even if you don’t have an idea in mind, I’ll help you come up with one and help you feel inspired. So you show up and everything is out ready for you.” She continued,” We have rocks already painted gold which you paint a design, a name, kind words, dates, memories, anything that you feel would be appropriate and supportive toward childhood cancer awareness goes right on the rocks.”
Anderson also took the time to explain the importance of childhood cancer awareness to both her and the community,” Go Gold Memorial is gold because gold is the most precious metal, and children represent the most precious thing in our lives. So that’s kind of why Go Gold goes with childhood cancer awareness … And it’s important to me because it’s happening all around you, not just Carbon County, not just Price, not just Utah, not just America, it’s everywhere. And it goes far beyond the people you know, but by doing an event like this, you find out how much it’s happening around you.”
We then moved on to the memorial walk, which will take place on Saturday, Sept. 21 starting at the Price River trailhead at 9 a.m. Anderson talked about what participants should expect,” I have a little speech prepared, I let everybody know kind of what this project is all about and how all of their participation has kind of helped with the big picture and how it’s come all together. And then we take the mile-long walk through the Price River Trail and get to the opposite end, where all the rocks are placed around a tree.”
We then asked Anderson what the emotions are like during the walk, and at the end when the memorial is seen,” it’s a very emotional experience. Because every year, you meet new families and even just friends. And they become your friends who have experienced such tragic and horrible things.” Anderson explained,” And you get to know them, you get to hear their stories, and you get to let them know, you’re not alone. And I’m here for you. And you have that whole walk to do that. And then you get to the end and you see it and say, ‘Wow, this is incredible’.”
“Feel free to participate. Everybody is welcome. Even if you feel like it’s not something that you can relate to, I promise that you can.” stated Anderson, closing our conversation.
Go Gold will host rock painting nights on Thursday, Sept. 12, and Friday, Sept. 13 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. and on Saturday, Aug. 14 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; with the memorial walk taking place on Saturday, Sept. 21 starting at the Price River trailhead at 9 a.m. For more information and to stay up to date with Go Gold, you visit the organization’s Facebook page here.