Cancer is the second leading cause of death in children ages 1 to 14. Research aimed at preventing and curing the disease has to be funded, and funding grows from awareness. This was the impetus behind, “Realistically Ever After: A Turn It Gold Movement,” co-produced by Dr. Jill Yamasaki, associate professor of health communication in the Jack J. Valenti School of Communication, along with two Emmy-award winning collaborators. The documentary profiles the efforts of a Houston-based nonprofit organization as it partners with schools, athletic teams and community members to communicate the hard facts of childhood cancer and increase funding for research.

The film will be screened for the UH community this September, which is National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.

Photo: Dr. Jill Yamasaki with co-producer Dr. Lynn Harter, professor with the Scripps College of Communication and co-director of the Barbara Geralds Institute for Storytelling and Social Impact at Ohio University.