Debating For A Cause: The IPDA Childhood Cancer Initiative
At the 2018 IPDA National Championship Tournament & Convention, the IPDA Executive Committee approved a proposal by the IPDA Governing Board to commit our organization to a worthwhile cause on a nationwide scale. While debaters from all organizations understand and practice advocacy, it all too often begins and ends within the space of a single round. Inspired by the story of one young girl, the IPDA has made a commitment to literally put its money where its mouth is.
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"Just Keep Swimming" In 2016, Emilie Gibson, daughter of IPDA Director of Debate Trey Gibson of LSU-Shreveport, was diagnosed with Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma, a rare form of brain tumor thought to be the worst of this terrible type of disease. Emilie, a talented competitive swimmer, attacked this disease with the same fierce determination that she displayed at swim meets ... Emilie made the choice to "Just Keep Swimming". Emilie was lucky enough to have an amazing family support system, and her entire home town of Bossier City, LA quickly rallied around this special young girl. The IPDA community also mobilized, raising funds for cancer research through a traveling coffee bar called "Emilie's Cafe" at tournaments through 2017/2018. |
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Like so many other children around the nation, Emilie fought this diagnosis with courage and good humor, aided by some of the most innovative medical institutions in the nation: St. Jude's Children's Hospital in Memphis, TN; UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital in San Francisco, CA; University Health in Shreveport, LA, Willis-Knighton Hospital in Shreveport, LA, and Texas Children's Hospital in Houston, TX. Despite the best efforts of all involved, Emilie's fight came to an end on October 31, 2017. But Emilie's legacy is one of inspiration, it is a call to action to help raise funds and awareness for a deadly disease that, despite being well known, is tragically underfunded.
Nationwide, 1 in every 285 children will be diagnosed with childhood cancer and is the leading cause of death among children ... 43 new childhood cases are diagnosed each and every day. Since 1980, hundreds of cancer treatment drugs have been approved for adults, yet only FOUR pharmaceutical treatments have been approved for children. The most recent data shows that, of the total Federal and private research dollars being spent on researching treatments for cancer, a mere 3.94% is spent on children. Something must be done ... and we stand resolved that a child is worth more than 4%. |
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"Debate For Life" The IPDA has undertaken a "Debate for Life" pledge program, where programs and competitors are encouraged to seek community support based on their competitive success in debate competition each year. On a program level, programs are encouraged to accrue total pledges equal to $40.00 per Season-Long Founders' Cup point. Individual competitors are encouraged to set a goal of $6.15 per point, in honor of Emilie's birthday. The recently founded Fight Like Emilie Foundation plans to recognize each program and competitor that meet their respective benchmarks at the end of each season. But the rewards will be more than just plaques or trophies. We encourage programs to pledge these donations to ANY national or regional charity or institution that is fighting against Childhood Cancer. For example, LSU-Shreveport is focusing its philanthropic efforts to the Michael Mosier Defeat DIPG Foundation, while Lee College will be lending it's support to Texas Children's Hospital. For programs without a regional cancer charity or institution, nationally recognized hospitals like St. Jude's Children's Hospital or a host of other charities can be sponsored. If you have a local or regional charitable partner you'd like added to our resource list below, please contact us. We hope that you'll take up this challenge and help take advocacy from the practice room and the competition room and apply that skill and energy to helping fight for those who are fighting for their very lives. With this first step, the IPDA will "Fight Like Emilie" and strive to make a real difference in the lives of others. |
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DOWNLOAD: Debate for Life Pledge Form
Childhood Cancer Charities & Research Hospitals:
Fight Like Emilie Foundation
Michael Mosier Defeat DIPG Foundation
St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital - Memphis, TN
Texas Children's Hospital - Houston, TX
