LIVESTRONG and vote

For children facing cancer, undergoing treatment and dealing with a scary diagnosis is bad enough. Having to move away for two to three months to undergo treatment, leaving behind friends and family members, can make it that much more difficult.

About 80 percent of patients who come to the University of Florida Proton Therapy Center for treatment must travel to do so, coming from other states and countries in some cases. To help ease the stress families and children face being away from home, the UF Proton Therapy Institute is hoping to establish an artists-in-residence program.

The UF PTI is in the running to receive a grant from the LIVESTRONG Community Impact Project to establish the program, which leaders say will help patients and families communicate, express themselves and feel more in control.

Want to help? All you need to do is vote online by Oct. 29. The program that receives the most votes will receive the funds for their programs. Visit http://vote.livestrong.org/applicants/81-university-of-florida-proton-therapy-institute/ to learn more about the project and vote.