A mother uncovers the toxic truth behind childhood cancer
After her daughter's rare cancer diagnosis, Melissa discovered what she believed was responsible: an environmental crisis near her home at the Santa Susana Field Laboratory, a toxic waste site. After connecting with other local families whose children had similar forms of cancer at unusually high rates, she launched a grassroots campaign to call for the clean-up of the laboratory.
“If I didn't try to do something, kids were going to keep getting cancer. And I had to try.”
Melissa Bumstead, petition starterHer efforts led to a powerful documentary on national TV and the support of the Kardashian Family, who invited her onto their show to shine a spotlight on the crisis. Transforming a local concern into a nationwide dialogue on environmental health, Melissa founded the organization Parents Against Santa Susana Field Lab and says she refuses to give up.
Check out the petition to see how it became so successful.