Kirstin Hodges, a tenth-grader at Berlin Middle-High School, has a chapter written about her battle with cancer and how she gives back in the book What Makes Them Amazing: Inspiring Stories of Young Adults Fighting Cancer. Author Janine Cammarata of Rexford, after losing a son to cancer, interviewed and wrote the stories of nine local area teens that have battled different forms of cancer and what it means to pay it forward.
“It’s different for teens,” Cammarata said as she addressed the crowd of over 150 at the book signing Sunday at the Clifton Park-Halfmoon Public Library. “People mean well, but they don’t know what’s on a teenager’s mind.” Cammarata’s son, Nick, lost a valiant battle with cancer four years ago. The book, along with a non-profit foundation, “Nick’s Fight to Be Healed” are her personal and familiar ways to deal with their loss.
Kirstin was on hand to autograph books as well as read to the audience a piece from the chapter that she wrote. Her mom, Ariel, was also at the book signing with other friends and relatives. Kirstin, along with her family and friends, actively raise money year round for The Melodies Center at AMC. She will be part of the “Melodies Kids” singing at the “Melodies of Christmas” at Proctor’s later this month.
Proceeds from the book and donations to Nick’s Fight to be Healed Foundation directly benefit The Melodies Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Disorders at Albany Medical Center.
If you would like more information about the foundation, its work, and/or the book, go to www.fighttobehealed.org.