Dear Family and Friends -
Its' that time again - time for the annual Candlelighters Fun Walk! Please mark your calendars to come out and walk with us on Saturday, September 12th to help raise money for children with cancer and their families. This is a very important walk for us this year.
This year, with Covid19, we have struggled more than you can imagine. say it was a difficult year for Candlelighters is an understatement.
Candlelighters is an organization that provides daily services for childhood cancer families and the Fun Walk raises money for those services and programs which are offered FREE to children with cancer and their families. This has obviously changed quite a bit since COVID-19 hit, and I'm happy to be able to provide real-time results of how Candlelighters has adapted their processes to continue their mission throughout this trying time.
I cannot believe that it has been sixteen years since I joined Candlelighters! As you all know, I have the great privilege of working with families that are facing or have faced childhood cancer. I love my job and one of the very best aspects of my job is the chance to meet all the families and become friends with them. This is very near and dear to my heart.
Here's what Fun Walk donations will be used toward this year:
1. Hospital Parking Assistance - we've still been able to provide hospital parking financial assistance to families digitally
2. Emotional Support - families more than ever before are nervous to leave their homes, feeling isolated, being torn apart (thanks to hospital visitor restrictions) and we've been ramping up all our peer-to-peer support efforts. Our weekly support group meetings have grown, and our Parent Consultants are working around the clock to touch base and check-in with our families and their needs.
3. Gas Cards & Grocery Cards - these have probably been our top request throughout the COVID-19 crisis as families more than ever are strapped for basic needs thanks to furloughs and layoffs.
4. Memorial Funds - cancer hasn't quit unfortunately. Children are still being diagnosed and earning their angel wings. Candlelighters provides financial assistance for families to hold memorial services for their children.
In addition to Candlelighters daily efforts, they're staying on top of the CDC and American Oncology Camping Association message boards to make the best decision for their weekend family camp, Camp CLIFF. The Fun Walk usually completely funds this weekend getaway for Candlelighters families – a getaway that is much needed from the daily grind of a childhood cancer diagnosis. Should camp be unable to happen this fall, it is Candlelighters goal to be able to provide a virtual camping experience and activities for families instead of a physical weekend getaway.
Thank you for supporting my efforts for this amazing organization. Whatever you can give, thank you for helping all the children with cancer and their families that Candlelighters serves!
This year, the Wheelers – John, Tyler, Morgan and I – are forming a walk team. We are going to walk for kids like Caroline and for all the other kids facing childhood cancer. We are going to walk for all the moms and dads who face childhood cancer. Please take a few minutes to watch this video and learn more!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TLKNHvVc-tw
The Fun Walk is Saturday, September 12, 2020 at Terry Hershey Park and begins at 9 a.m. Thank you so much to all my awesome friends who have walked or supported us in the past. We love you all!
