HOW THE MONEY HELPS
Enhancing the lives of pediatric cancer patients & their families
Important programs funded by the Kid's Cancer Buzz-Off include:
Back to School Program - Prepares children diagnosed with cancer to return to school; assists the family in supporting the child’s transition, fosters open communication, and prepares classmates and staff in welcoming students back.
B.E.A.D.S. (Beading Each A Different Story) - Oncology patients receive a specific bead to represent an important procedure or event in their treatment. The children string their beads together to give them a sense of achievement and help them to cope with the numerous procedures and treatments they must endure as they fight to get better. Recognizing that the brothers and sisters of patients also endure hardships during their sibling’s illness, we recently expanded BEADS to include them. BEADS for Sibs gives brothers and sisters of Hematology/Oncology patients rewards for their experiences while their sibling is in treatment.
Family/Social Initiatives - Offers monthly caregiver nights to our patient families to give them some much-needed respite from the daily toll of hospitalization. Parents also receive a parent bag and can also select from a library of educational materials including dozens of Family Education Sheets that explain everything from managing medications and medical equipment to choosing the right car seat. Special occasion dinner and lunches are also served regularly to patients and families.
Just for Sibs - An in-patient support program designed to help siblings of pediatric cancer patients.
Just for Teens - Provides teenage cancer patients with much needed relief from the burden of their disease by involving them in fun activities such as arts and crafts, movie nights, dinners, cooking classes, and other fun activities.
Just for Tweens - Provides adolescent patients, ages 8-12, with special activities specifically designed for this age group such as scrap booking, jewelry making, art, etc that encourage peer socialization and support.
Mini-Refrigerators - On average, pediatric cancer patients and their parents spend a minimum of 45 days and some up to two years living at the hospital. To make things more comfortable, convenient and cost effective for families; One Mission has donated a mini-refrigerator to each patient who is living on the Pediatric Oncology Floor at Boston Children’s Hospital.
Parking Assistance - Expensive parking in hospital garages can add immense financial burden to families. Each year, the Parking Assistance Program distributes parking vouchers to over 250 new families.
Jimmy Fund Clinic Summer Festival - The Pediatric Activities program offers our youngest patients the opportunity to focus on reducing anxiety and stress through creative expression and communication activities which are vital as they bravely battle their disease. The festival includes swimming, police car rides, rock climbing, moon walking, bumper cars, and much more. Children leave having experienced a day of pure joy and laughter, and having been given a much needed break from their daily lives as children battling cancer.
Child Life Specialist - The Child Life Specialists use play as a way to help patients express fears or concerns, and understand the hospital environment. They provide activities and entertainment, and arrange tutors for children who miss school.
Financial Assistance - Did you know it is estimated that as many as 50% of families with children battling cancer will be forced to file bankruptcy. One Mission has partnered with the Family Reach Foundation to provide financial relief to families who have a child battling cancer and are struggling to make ends meet. Through our grant to Family Reach, we were able to help families cover everyday home bills that accumulate due to lost wages (mortgage, utilities, insurance), child care and palliative care just to name a few. We are very proud to say that funds raised by the Kid’s Cancer Buzz-Off were able to bring relief to 32 families who are coping with the financial challenges of cancer.
Each family had its own personal story of hope and challenge, and each felt the generosity and kindness afforded by this gift. Read the stories of the families we helped.
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THE KID'S CANCER BUZZ-OFF