MESA, Ariz., Oct. 13, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Aflac, the
leading provider of voluntary insurance sales at the worksite in
the U.S. and a committed corporate ally in the fight against
childhood cancer, today honored the McKenzie Monks Foundation and
heroes Joel Nava and Scott Starr with Duckprints Awards for leaving
their footprints in the battle against childhood
cancer.
"Aflac's longstanding fight on behalf of children with cancer
and their families has been a source of great pride, motivation and
inspiration for the broad Aflac family for over 20 years," Aflac
Foundation President Kathelen Amos
said. "We are pleased to welcome Cardon Children's Medical Center
to our ongoing Duckprints celebrations and to honor each of these
heroes for their unique contributions in this ongoing effort to
eradicate childhood cancer."
The 2016 Duckprints Awardees are:
- McKenzie Monks Foundation — The foundation was created
in honor of 4-year-old McKenzie
Monks who lost her battle with cancer but leaves her
footprint with each Kenzie Kase that
is given to another child undergoing cancer treatment. The McKenzie
Monks Foundation also created Kenzie
Korner, a special place for young patients to take a break
during treatment, at Cardon Children's Medical Center.
- Joel Nava — A former
patient at Cardon Children's Medical Center and a soon-to-be nurse
at Cardon, Nava has a long history of bringing cheer to the
hospital halls even through his leukemia diagnosis at age 13.
- Scott Starr — A former
Cardon patient whose cancer diagnosis did not slow his dreams of
graduating high school, Scott now gives his time as a mentor to
other pediatric cancer patients and raises awareness for childhood
cancer.
Local entertainer Lucky Romero, a longtime volunteer and now
volunteer coordinator for Banner Desert and Cardon Children's
Medical Center, is host of the event.
Childhood cancer is the No. 1 cause of death by disease for
children under the age of 15, according to the National Cancer
Institute. However, less than 5 percent of federal funding for
cancer research goes to pediatric cancer, according to the
Children's Cancer Fund. Since 1995, Aflac has contributed more than
$110 million to bridge the gap in
funding and help find the cure.
As part of the grassroots Duckprints campaign that began in
2013, Aflac is calling on people across America to become active in
the cause. Aflac is donating $2 to
the fight against children's cancer for each Duckprints-related
social media activity on Facebook,
Twitter, YouTube and/or Instagram, up to $1.5 million. Related social actions include:
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 are available for purchase at
aflacduckprints.com, with all of the net proceeds going toward the
treatment and research of childhood cancer.
About Duckprints Award recipient McKenzie Monks
Foundation
McKenzie Monks was just 3 years old
when those dreaded words were heard: "She has cancer." McKenzie was
diagnosed with bilateral Wilms tumor – cancer in both kidneys. Life
would never be the same for her and those who loved her dearly.
Immediately, McKenzie and her family took action. McKenzie faced
a new life of doctors, needles, 11 months of chemo, 12 surgeries,
50 radiation treatments, intense pain and the brutal process of
undergoing a bone marrow transplant. During her courageous journey,
McKenzie was often seen pulling her Hello Kitty suitcase filled
with some of her favorite things to keep her busy and provide her
comfort during treatment.
After 19 months, McKenzie left the life of pain she had come to
know, but what she left behind continues to be a gift to so many.
McKenzie's family – her mom, Denise
Monks; dad, Richard Monks;
and sisters, Michelle and Mandy
Monks – knew they wanted to keep her spirit alive. Their
footprints began with the creation of the McKenzie Monks
Foundation. The mission of their work is to help children cope with
the long days of battling cancer. Since 2004, nearly 3,000
Kenzie Kases have been given to
children that are fighting cancer. These Kases were inspired after
the Hello Kitty suitcase that brought McKenzie joy and comfort.
Each child receives a Kase with an iPad (or DVD player), blankets,
toys and crafts.
Not only does the McKenzie Monks Foundation provide Kenzie Kases, but it has also created a special
space at Cardon Children's for young patients. Kenzie Korner was built for children to step
away from their treatment for much needed breaks where they can
relax, have fun and just be a kid.
About Aflac Duckprints Award recipient Joel Nava
Joel
Nava was diagnosed at 13 years old with high-risk acute
lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in May
2003, and later it relapsed in his central nervous
system.
He was a quiet, caring and polite young teen who was very bright
and had plans for high academic achievement. The two things that
Nava loved most were his family and school. His biggest worry at
diagnosis was that he was just about to start at Brophy College
Preparatory school and missed the entire first year. Because of his
love of academics, it took a lot to keep him busy and not bored on
long hospital stays – especially when he had shingles and had to
stay in his room.
In fact, he decided to write a hospital newsletter and posted it
in the staff bathroom for all to know the happenings and gossip of
the unit. The newsletter frequently had doctor and
nursing tidbits in it regarding life events such as who was in
school, who was getting married and who was pregnant. The nurses
still talk about Nava's newsletter. Nava also made a paper snowman
once and would change the theme of the snowman on the unit wall
when he came in for admissions to correspond with the holiday or
someone's birthday. He loved to teach the nurses Spanish and would
laugh when he would make them say crazy things.
As a young adult, Nava took a trip to Japan in a World Study Abroad Program. While
there he decided he wanted to pursue a career in nursing. Nava went
on to ASU Nursing School and graduated with a Bachelor of Science
degree in nursing and health innovation. He credits his
pediatric oncology nurses as his mentors, saying, "My nurses were
there for me," and they "epitomize the idea of compassion and
empathy."
Nava is joining the team at Cardon Children's Medical Center as
a pediatric oncology nurse.
About Aflac Duckprints Award recipient Scott Starr
Scott
Starr left his footprints at Cardon Children's Medical
Center from the beginning of his battle with Burkitt's lymphoma at
the end of his junior year of high school in May 2015.
The diagnosis came right as Starr was beginning his lifelong
dream of entering the Marines. Starr soon learned that because of
his diagnosis, he would not be able to meet the Marine health
requirements. However, this did not stop him from moving forward to
plan B, which included finishing high school.
Starr's cancer treatment included several severe surgeries,
planned and unplanned, along with chemotherapy. Not only did he
endure this difficult treatment, but he spent weeks on a ventilator
in the pediatric ICU. Yet Starr never let himself be defined by his
cancer.
Starr never lost his smile, positive attitude and sense of
humor. He remained who he was, passionate about the military, his
family, his friends, and his will to overcome each and every
obstacle. Following Starr's last surgery, doctors informed his
family it would be several days and maybe even weeks before he
would be up and moving again. Starr was up and out of his bed
within 24 hours of his final surgery.
Due to all the challenges he faced during treatment, it was
unclear whether Starr would be able to meet the requirements to
graduate from high school. As graduation approached, Starr worked
hard on completing his school work and was able to fulfill his
dream of graduating.
Starr is now cancer free and has since been considering becoming
an EMT or a firefighter. Though he has completed all his
treatments, he continues to leave his footprints on Cardon
Children's Hospital through his involvement in community programs
to help raise awareness as well as through mentoring of several
other patients who are battling cancer.
About Lucky Romero
Banner associate Lucky Romero has been involved with Banner Health
since 2001, when he became a volunteer at Banner Desert Medical
Center.
In 2003, Romero was hired as a Banner associate at the hospital
he volunteered with for nearly 300 hours of service. Since then,
Romero has been an advocate for giving back to the community and
has helped with many campaigns, events and councils as the host,
coordinator or chair.
It is only fitting that Romero is one of the volunteer
coordinators today for Banner Desert and Cardon Children's Medical
Center. This truly is a role he enjoys because he gets to work with
compassionate people on a daily basis who aspire to give back to
their community by becoming a volunteer in a medical facility.
About Aflac
When a policyholder gets sick or hurt,
Aflac pays cash benefits fast. For 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 sales at the worksite. 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 the
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 10
consecutive years, Aflac has been recognized by Ethisphere as one
of the World's Most Ethical Companies. In 2016, Fortune magazine
recognized Aflac as one of the 100 Best Companies to Work for in
America for the 18th consecutive year and included Aflac on its
list of Most Admired Companies for the 15th time, ranking the
company No. 1 in innovation for the insurance, life and health
category for the second consecutive year. In 2015, Aflac's contact
centers were recognized by J.D. Power by providing "An Outstanding
Customer Service Experience" for the Live Phone Channel. 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. Aflac Group herein means Continental
American Insurance Company and/or Continental American Life
Insurance Company.
Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20161013/428675
Logo -
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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