Scholarships For Cancer Survivors

(NAPSI)-Ashley Dobbs of Gallatin, Tenn., is among the more than a quarter of a million survivors of childhood cancer in the United States. She knows all too well the devastating emotional, physical and financial toll the disease can take.

Dobbs, 20, was stricken with leukemia just before her senior year of high school. Her cancer diagnosis changed her life forever, as well as that of her mother. "My mom, a single parent, stopped working in order to give me the 24-hour care I needed," said Dobbs. "My medical bills depleted her savings and the idea of paying for college seemed impossible."

Then Dobbs reached out to The National Children's Cancer Society (N.C.C.S.) and its Beyond the Cure (BTC) College Scholarship Program. The N.C.C.S. awards college scholarships to childhood cancer survivors in the U.S.

"The Beyond the Cure Scholarship Program gave me back the hope I lost," said Dobbs. She is currently studying nursing at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville.

"Not being able to afford and pursue a college education should never be an aftereffect of childhood cancer," said Mark Stolze, president and chief executive officer of the N.C.C.S. "These outstanding young men and women are pillars of strength and hope. Their experiences with cancer have taught them many life lessons and they have demonstrated their ability to overcome significant challenges. The scholarships we award allow them to pursue their educational dreams and to achieve their career aspirations."

With a GPA of 3.8, Dobbs is now focused on a bright future that includes giving back to fellow cancer survivors. "I never take life for granted," said Dobbs. "Most of all, I see the suffering of others and I want to share my experiences to help them through their difficulties." She currently serves as a volunteer on the N.C.C.S.'s "Care to Share" Message Board, an online resource for survivors and parents of children with cancer.

The N.C.C.S. awards scholarships to college-bound or enrolled childhood cancer survivors who demonstrate the ability to overcome cancer with determination and courage. Interested individuals must complete an application that includes a 1,000-word essay on how cancer has affected their life and future goals.

For more information about the Scholarship Program, please contact The National Children's Cancer Society at 1-800-5-FAMILY or log on to the N.C.C.S. Web site at www.children-cancer.org.