The search for inspirational stories about lives touched by cancer has come to Vaughan.

Willow Breast Cancer Support Canada’s annual My Hero essay contest wants children 8 to 12 to share stories about a family member affected by breast cancer.

“It is truly inspiring to share in the experiences of Canada’s real heroes, as seen through the eyes of our children,” Willow Breast Cancer Support Canada says executive director S. Elaine Brown said. “The journey with breast cancer can be a very challenging time for any family, especially those with young children. The My Hero contest gives those children a unique opportunity to share their feelings, and provides us all with a positive perspective in dealing with the disease.”

By submitting a short essay, you have the chance to win a national prize of $3,000 or four prizes of $1,500 across Canada by region, to go toward post-secondary education.

The contest is sponsored by Abraxis BioScience, Canada Inc.

Children can submit entries by mail or online through BreastCancerHeroes.ca Mail-in entry forms can also be found on the website.

The deadline for submissions is Aug. 1. Winners are to be announced in late September.