According to the CDC, cancer is the number 3 killer of children in America, while gun violence is the number one. Change the Ref, an organization founded by the father of Joaquin Oliver, tragically killed in the Parkland school shooting, wanted to use their platform to bring these two causes together to combat the most significant dangers to children in America, transcending political boundaries to focus on the shared goal of safeguarding the younger generation.

Our objective is to make a tangible difference in the lives of children in America by driving donations to fund pediatric cancer research and to inspire people to use their voice to drive change and action in the fight against gun violence.

‘American Cancer Story’ is a compelling short film created to tackle the top issues threatening the safety of American children: cancer and gun violence. This groundbreaking initiative marks the first time that these two causes have united to combat significant dangers to children in America.

The film takes the viewer through an emotional story of a young girl’s cancer journey. We follow a gripping montage of her heroic battle, from the devastating news of the diagnosis, to after what seems like an endless cycle of procedures, remission. Her classmates greet her enthusiastically upon her return to school, only tragically to face a second life-threatening situation: a school shooting.

The fact that gun violence is the number 1 killer of American children is starkly delivered through the juxtaposition of the girl's promising prognosis against cancer and the sudden tragedy that unfolds in her school, emphasizing the urgent need for change.

According to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), cancer is the number 3 killer of children in America, while gun violence is the number one. WE'VE TRANSLATED CDC DATA INTO A POWERFUL SHORT FILM TARGETING PRO-GUN POLITICIANS THROUGH INSTAGRAM, X, AND FACEBOOK. This groundbreaking initiative marks the first time that these two causes have united to combat the most significant dangers to children in America, transcending political boundaries to focus on the shared goal of safeguarding the younger generation and using data storytelling in order to create real change.

The casting process for this film involved selecting actors capable of portraying the emotional depth and resilience required for their roles. The lead actress had to embody the vulnerability and strength of the young girl facing cancer, while the actor playing her mother required authenticity, sensitivity, and strength. Supporting actors to portray medical professionals and classmates contributed to the emotional impact.

"American Cancer Story" was a film directed by José Padilha and scored by James Valentine of Maroon 5. It had a broad reach and impact, with CNN calling it a "game changer" and TELEMUNDO describing it as "a very strong story that everyone needs to watch".

The film gained more than 15,000 Instagram followers on @americancancerstory, and was shared by A-list celebrities and influencers, who directed viewers to the website. The website allowed donations to fund pediatric cancer research, while also encouraging people to send the film to pro-gun congress people.

The website also offered a list of top-rated NPCF certified childhood cancer-related institutions. With over 5,000 daily page hits on the donation page, thousands of dollars were raised. Just over two weeks after the film's launch, President Biden announced an expansion of background checks for gun buyers, which finally closed the "gun show loophole".