Student-led campaign seeks to inspire youth, raise awareness about lack of childhood cancer funding

Ohio University students posed an interesting question when they kicked off the local “With Purpose” campaign by painting the graffiti wall on Richland Avenue on Feb. 15. The non-profit’s campaign, “With Purpose Comes Joy,” will be asking students, “What is Your Purpose?”

The prompt is just a small question that will hopefully lead to some introspective consideration moving forward in the campaign.

“With Purpose” is a non-profit organization that strives to inspire the community by highlighting the effectiveness of youth-led movements in our community while helping them to understand the problems regarding the gap in childhood cancer funding. Only 4 percent of federal government cancer research funding goes to study pediatric cancer, a shocking fact when noting that approximately 15,780 children are expected to be diagnosed with cancer this year.

Throughout the “With Purpose Comes Joy” campaign, Ohio University students will get a chance to ponder what their purpose could be as they learn about the lack of childhood cancer funding and research through various on-campus events, including: 

• “Week With Purpose” at noon Sunday, Feb. 25, through Saturday, March 3, outside the fourth-floor entrance of Baker University Center – All are invited to stop by the “With Purpose Comes Joy” table to learn about what the campaign is doing to raise awareness regarding the lack of childhood cancer funding.
• “Pancakes With Purpose” at noon Wednesday, Feb. 28, in the Bobcat Student Lounge on the first floor of Baker University Center – This free event, hosted in collaboration with University Program Council’s “Flavor of the Week,” will feature a pancake with a selection of toppings as well as an opportunity to learn more and talk about the lack of childhood cancer treatment and all the ways, big or small, that one can make a difference.
• “Paint Your Purpose” at 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 6, on the third floor of Baker University Center – “With Purpose Comes Joy,” in collaboration with OHIO’s “How To Series,” will offer an opportunity to let those creative juices flow while imagining a better future. Participants will learn how to make puffy paint and experiment with it while engaging in conversation regarding the lack of childhood cancer treatment and all the ways, big or small, that allow us to make a difference.
• Happy Athens from 3:30 to 5 p.m. Thursday, March 8, at the Athens Community Center – “With Purpose Comes Joy” will engage children in the community in a fun-filled afternoon of games and talking about happiness and having purpose, and how the two ideas are related. Children in attendance will have the opportunity to participate in the creation of an art installation. More information will be forthcoming and will be available on OHIO’s Calendar of University Events.  

For more information, visit https://ouwithpurpose.wixsite.com/withpurposecomesjoy and follow OHIO’s “With Purpose Comes Joy” campaign, @ou_withpurpose.