Cops, firefighters, teachers, school administrators … all sorts of community leaders, and even kids and parents … They all gathered on Saturday at Middletown Fire Department’s Community Fire Company in the Leonardo section of the township to get a head shave as a way of showing their participation in the fight against childhood cancer. Participants’ heads were shaved by kids with cancer.
He’s a Fair Haven police officer. He’s a Middletown firefighter. He’s a husband. He’s a dad. And he’s a fighter for what he feels is the right thing to do. But, John Waltz will tell you that the latest volunteer project he was involved in was not about him or his fight at all. It was about kids all over the country and the fight to find a cure for childhood cancer. He just played a small part in the much bigger scheme of the cause and its hopeful end. Now he, and the others involved, are asking for your one-two punch in the fight as well.
In August, Waltz, along with fellow firefighters and a host of children with cancer, adults and others, fought their part of the good fight by participating in a music video aptly dubbed Fight and sponsored by Infinite Love for Kids Fighting Cancer filmed at Middletown Fire Department’s Fire Company 1, Station 8.
The video, released today, features the song written by singer/songwriter Taylor Tote and filmed by Right Stuff Studios. Its message is a simple, poignant one of the day-to-day fight.
“I have to say it was truly moving to be a part of it,” Waltz said in August after filming. “I couldn’t believe the suffering of these poor children and seeing how hopeful they are. Seeing the pain they are in made me very sad. But they are such heroes.”
Tote, after being chosen as the band for the next Infinite Love fundraiser, forged a friendship with non-profit founder Andrea Gorsegner’s children Natalie Grace and Hannah Rose Gorsegner.
Natalie Grace was the inspiration behind Infinite Love. Now 6 and in complete remission since 2014, she was diagnosed in August of 2012 with high-risk acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). The family launched into an effort to fund childhood cancer research and raise awareness of the disease.
“About two months into Natalie’s fight, the Gorsegners quickly started discovering the ugly truths behind childhood cancer, like for one that it’s the number one disease killer of our children in this country,” an excerpt from the Infinite Love website says. “As one shocking stat after another began to unfold they knew that they had to do everything that they could to raise both awareness and funding for research, and so they began campaigning via Natalie’s Facebook page asking that everyone send them just a single dollar to go towards childhood cancer research. In just three short years the family has raised nearly half a million dollars with every penny having gone towards fulfilling research grants!”
Funds have been raised and donations made to the cause in every way from personal family contributions, such as time and talent, to a $1 drive for the cause to bake sales and even firefighters just passing hats.
Mom Andrea “was the driving force for this project. She was determined to raise awareness and funds for childhood cancer research,” Waltz said. A photographer, Andrea, for instance, has offered free photo sessions for cancer patients and families. There have been classic galas and more. Anything and everything for the cause, the kids, the research, the cure.
Now, the latest effort is the video.
“I was absolutely honored to be a part of this and I really didnt know on such a large scale that children were so affected and I took a stance and a promise to Andrea that if she needs anything or I can help in any way with future anything she does or needs I am in the game 110 percent,” Waltz said. “I was truly touched, saddned and honestly honored to be part of a collaboration that hopefully raises tons of money and the video goes viral.”
And that’s the goal.
The challenge is to make spread the word, purchase it from iTunes and spread the word. All proceeds from the iTunes purchases benefit the cause. So, getting it to go viral is the goal. To care, all you need to do is share … the video, Waltz said.
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