Some time ago I had the honor of spending a weekend with a group of delightful kids who are suffering from childhood cancer. (See above) It was one of the most memorable weekends I have ever experienced.

The strength, faith, hope and love flowing from the families of these children is unbelievable. I honestly don't know if I could ever handle what these families are going through myself. Their steadfast hope and resolve is unbelievable.

I was with these families to take photographs for a book and a television piece we (the Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Foundation) were doing to gather national and international support for children in treatment, survivors and the families of those who have passed away from cancer.

During the weekend I spent most of my time on the floor of the National Children's Hospital doing my job as the Doctor of Mischief. My task was to make the kids feel at ease so we could capture their personalities on film. I wrestled on the floor with little kids with cue ball heads. I joked and shared incredible stories with an amazing teenager from Bulgaria. I made an idiot of myself trying to distract kids from the camera and that awful cancer shadow that stalks them twenty-four hours a day.

My friend Jed Share (a world class photographer) Ruth Hoffman (Executive Director of the Candlelighters) and myself (world class buffoon) cried and laughed the whole weekend. I cannot tell you how full my heart feels after celebrating life with these kids and capturing their courage and hope on film.

Jed Share is a much sought after photographer and has shot pictures in 80 different countries. Some of his work has appeared in the National Geographic.

I drove Jed nuts every five minutes asking him for photographs of me with the children. I wanted pictures because I never want to forget my time with these great little people.

We spent three days taking hundreds and hundreds of pictures and then on Saturday night we all joined together in the old Post Office in Washington D.C. to light the incredible Candlelighters Christmas Tree. The tree was adorned with thousands of gold ribbons to support kids in treatment, honor those who are no longer with us and celebrate the precious lives of those who have survived childhood cancer.

After the tree lighting I had a real hard time saying goodbye to my new friends, especially to a little four year-old chap named Alex. We really bonded and I had a huge lump in my throat when I saw Alex's bald little head hang in sadness when he said goodbye to me.

"Can you be my friend for always?" he said when I hugged him goodbye.

"Yes, Alex," I whispered in his ear. "For always."