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Written by U.S. Insurance News
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Monday, 20 October 2003 |
Children, perhaps once as healthy as you or I, are now burdened with disorders as challenging as neuroblastoma, brain tumors, lymphoma, thalassemia and sickle cell anemia. Buy a duck to help. . .
Meet Ben. And, Amy. Or, Rachel. And, Kaye.
Perhaps once as healthy as you or I, they are now burdened with disorders as challenging as neuroblastoma, brain tumors, lymphoma, thalassemia and sickle cell anemia. Until 2001, Rachel had an advanced vocabulary and wanted to be an actress. When she initially felt fatigued and began to bruise easily, her family was helpless. They were devastated to learn she was suffering from leukemia. Lizzie, a straight A student, was tired, had jaw pain and fainting spells. After anemia was ruled out, she was told she had acute myelogenous leukemia, or AML. Kay was a strong swimmer and tennis player until she became ill with a sore throat, which just wouldn’t go away. Her diagnosis? Myelodysplasia.
And, the “cure” may not be much of an improvement over the disease. Side effects of treatments can include nausea, vomiting and loss of appetite.
All were brought to the AFLAC Cancer Center for treatment and the prognosis of each is guardedly optimistic. To help raise funds, AFLAC regularly sells duck gear, including a 6” talking plush duck, which squawks “AFLAC” through a sound chip. Available through the same source are T-shirts, toddler overalls and a bobble head duck. They also offer holiday card sales.
The AFLAC Cancer Center and Blood Disorders facility has been transformed into one of the most modern of its kind, thanks to an initial $3 million sponsorship of the center by AFLAC. They have since embraced the Cancer Center as the company’s largest community project and additional corporate gifts have been given, exemplified by the $10 million announced in 2001 by the Chairman and CEO of AFLAC Incorporated, Daniel P. Amos. Operated from Georgia, it is located at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, one of the largest pediatric cancer centers in the United States. To learn more about this worthwhile organization, please see their website: www.aflac.com.
AFLAC is a leading provider of insurance sold at the worksite, with assets of over $45 billion and are located in all 50 states and Puerto Rico. They insure one of four households in Japan and are a major presence in the United States, offering accident/disability, short term disability, life, cancer, long term care, dental and hospital intensive care, and confinement indemnity products. They have been an innovator in the guaranteed renewal policies insurance arena, since 1955. AFLAC, an acronym for American Family Life Assurance Company, was founded by the Amos Brothers, John, Paul and Bill.
Now, about that duck….
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