For the Children
By Gayle Jo Carter
Read MoreAs NPCF Youth Chair, Ireland just kicked off the annual 43 Challenge a virtual fundraising campaign whose goal is to raise national awareness and funds critical for pediatric cancer research between April 3rd, or 4/3 and April 30th, or 4/30 in support of the 43 children diagnosed with pediatric cancer daily. The campaign encourages people to join the fight against pediatric cancer by donating in increments of 43 ($4.30 or $43 or $430). "Every dollar raised makes a difference," says Ireland. "We got to fight this thing and with Covid, precious children and their lives are impacted so much; it just makes it that much more difficult.”
There's also a personal connection for the native Californian. "Tragically I don’t know anybody who’s not been touched by cancer," says Ireland, whose grandmother and great grandmother both survived breast cancer. She also has two close girlfriends who thankfully beat cancer after receiving stage IV breast cancer diagnoses while in their 30s.
It's her commitment to these "bigger than me" issues like the National Pediatric Cancer Foundation and so many others that drive Ireland to continue to work so hard in her for-profit businesses. At 58 and one of the richest self-made women in the world, Ireland is constantly asked why she is still working so hard. Her answer is simple: "There's still a lot of work to be done." Her dedication reaches into the corporate partnerships she makes, with Ireland enlisting future partners to pledge volunteer hours or a financial engagement a diverse choice of causes she supports like NPCF or other diseases; climate; poverty, etc., as paramount to their partnership. "It lets us know that in success we are going to make a difference. "
Those who haven't followed Ireland since her modeling days, when she appeared in 13 consecutive Sports Illustrated swimsuit issues, might wonder how did Kathy Ireland evolve into an empire?
"The modeling career was never part of my plan. It was a surprise, and I looked at it as an opportunity so I could save money for college or to start a business," she explains. "I never made it to college, but I look at failure as educational. So in that respect, I'm very well educated. The reason the modeling career lasted as long as it did was because I tried and failed many businesses before starting our brand in '93 with a single pair of socks."
Ireland credits her Christian faith for carrying her from those early days of modeling to her role as NCPF Youth Ambassador and the continued success stories she has. Of course, yes, she's had her share of #MeToo moments. "I grew up in the '80s modeling where that was very commonplace. There was an incident where I punched a photographer and walked off the job," says Ireland, who goes on to enumerate other jobs she had to leave and "predators" she had to avoid.
Her faith, she says, "gave me the strength to walk away from situations that crossed my boundaries."
Today as Youth Chair for NCPF, she draws on that to give her the strength "at such a delicate time" to sit with pediatric cancer patients. "I pray for wisdom on when to speak, when to be quiet. They don't want pity, they don't want your fear, they don't want to be defined by their condition nor should they be. I just get to know them on a human level." She asks the kids to tell her about themselves; to share what they love; what their favorite thing to do is. "They don’t see themselves as victims. All of us adults have so much to learn from them."
As the world starts to recover from the pandemic, Ireland recognizes the "devastating" loss of life, of health, of jobs due to Covid-19, but she also tries to find some positives we can build on such as people's greater sense of awareness about their health. And she's "grateful" that her 95-year-old Aunty Dorothy just got her second Covid-19 vaccination.
So where is Ireland's social media vaccination selfie?
"I really respect everyone's choice in that, especially people of a certain age group, people with any kind of comorbidity. I like to look at (vaccines) closely and when new ones come, I'm not in a hurry. Most people are having a good response, a good reaction. I'm consistent with every vaccine: I look at the risk versus the benefit for my current health," she explains. "I’m okay waiting it out for a bit." (The Centers for Disease Control recommends you get a COVID-19 vaccine as soon as you are eligible.)
Ireland’s encouraged for the future by the diverse group of people "with different strengths, from every different background" who come together "with a common goal in fighting cancer" for the National Pediatric Cancer Foundation.
"There's so much division in our country, in our world. However, it's very unusual to meet someone who doesn't have a passion for these children and doesn't want to make a difference," says Ireland. "It’s a wonderful way to bring people together."
About Childhood Cancer
The American Cancer Society says that about 10,500 children under the age of 15 will be diagnosed with cancer in 2021. About 1,190 children under the age of 15 are expected to die from cancer in 2021.
Major treatment advances have allowed children with cancer to live longer with the disease. According to the ACS, 84% of children with cancer now survive 5 years or more. This is an increase since the mid-1970s, when the 5-year survival rate was about 58%.
Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.
