CARIBOU, Maine — September is nationally recognized as Childhood Cancer Awareness month and this year, Cary Medical Center’s Pink Aroostook and Cary Cancer Support Group programs are teaming up with a Caribou mother, who is no stranger to the grief and loss of losing a child to cancer, to bring awareness to Aroostook County communities.
Zachary Gagnon, a brave cancer warrior and resident of Caribou, Maine, was diagnosed with Ewing’s sarcoma, a rare bone cancer, in August of 2013 at the age of 10 years and 8 months. Tragically, Zachary lost his battle with Ewing’s sarcoma on October 22, 2016, just one month shy of his 14th birthday. Zachary’s mother, Peggy Gagnon, promised Zachary before he passed that she would continue to fight for him and other children battling this horrifying disease.
Since losing her son to childhood cancer, Gagnon has facilitated a web site (s.acco.org/superzach) in Zachary’s honor and memory to assist and support other local families who may have to face the hardship of childhood cancer. Additionally, other towns in Maine have adopted the annual tradition of “Going Gold” in September by encouraging residents to install yellow or gold light bulbs in their front porch light fixtures to honor all children who are newly diagnosed, those who are battling, and those who have lost their fight with childhood cancer. Gagnon recently approached the City of Caribou to request that the city join in the awareness crusade.
On September 11, 2017 at 6 p.m., Gagnon and representatives of Cary Medical Center’s Pink Aroostook and Cary Cancer Support Group attended the Caribou City Council meeting where a proclamation acknowledging September as Childhood Cancer Awareness Month was read and signed by City Manager Dennis Marker and Mayor Gary Aiken. The proclamation encourages Caribou residents to “Go Gold” with their porch lights in September. Gagnon is hopeful that other towns in Aroostook County will also join in this awareness campaign.
Anyone interested in joining the movement are encouraged to install a yellow or gold light bulb for the month of September in honor of Childhood Cancer Awareness Month and to donate to help other Aroostook County families in Zachary’s memory through the website s.acco.org/superzach.
