KIDS CANCER ALLIANCE INC
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Mission Statement
The mission of Kids Cancer Alliance is to enhance the quality of life for children with cancer and their families through our recreational and support programs.
About This Cause
Kids Cancer Alliance's first program, Indian Summer Camp, was first started in 1981 as a joint effort between a group in the Lake Cumberland area and the Kentucky Cancer Program. Their vision was to provide a “normal” camping experience for children with cancer. This was a very novel idea at the time; since there were only 5 other oncology camps across the country. During the first summer, 20 campers attended camp. These 20 campers were both oncology patients and their siblings. There were 30 volunteer staff including doctors and nurses from the University of Kentucky. Indian Summer Camp continued to grow, and in 1994, it was established as an independent registered 501©3 non-profit organization under the guidance of the Friends of Indian Summer, Inc. Board of Directors. In 2010, 94 children with cancer attended Indian Summer Camp. 2016 marked the 35th anniversary of Indian Summer Camp, with more than 120 children participating. Indian Summer Camp is a very loving place, full of people who care about children with cancer and recognize their unique needs. At Indian Summer Camp, children with cancer are able to take a break from hospital stays, chemotherapy, and long days at the clinic. For this one week, they get to forget that they have cancer and get to just be a kid again. In recent years, we have added new programs to serve our children and families, including in-hospital programs, financial assistance programs (bereavement fund and scholarships), quarterly events for families, Indian Summer Sibling Camp, teen weekender, and more! All of Kids Cancer Alliance's programs are offered to children and families at NO CHARGE, and they are all designed to help children with cancer and their families have enjoyable, positive experiences, create valuable memories, and enhance the quality of life both as individuals and families. Programs include: *Indian Summer Oncology Camp: the longest running program of Friends of Indian Summer, Inc. is the weeklong, overnight camp. Our weeklong summer camp is open to children aged 6-18 who are either currently undergoing treatment for cancer or if they are a survivor of a childhood cancer. Indian Summer Sibling Camp: This special weeklong, overnight camp is provided exclusively for the brothers and sisters of the children with cancer. These siblings have their own unique needs and benefit from meeting and bonding with other kids who have gone through or are going through what they are going through. This weeklong camp is open to children aged 6-18 who are the sibling a child who is either currently undergoing treatment for cancer or who is a survivor of a childhood cancer. *Indian Summer Day Camp: Because we realize that it’s hard for children to leave their parents for an entire week when they are young, we offer a one-day day camp program during our camp week each year. Children aged 4-6 are able to spend a day at our camp and enjoy all the activities during day. These children are able to make friends with other campers who know what they are going through and are introduced to the camp experience. Many children have said this helps them feel more comfortable when they are old enough to come to camp for the full week. *Teen Weekender: Each fall, campers aged 13-18 are eligible to attend a Friday-Sunday camp to reunite with their camp friends and counselors. Adolescences is a time for people to gain independence and they learn a lot about themselves and the world during this time. Peer relationships are especially important during this age and can be highly affected by a cancer diagnosis. Teens often feel left out and self-conscious about the side effects of cancer treatments, such as losing their hair. For all of these reasons, we recognized that our teen campers needed more support and that’s why the Teen Weekender was created. During the Teen Weekender, campers spend time catching up with the friends, doing craft projects, hiking in the woods, playing in the creek, and telling stories around the campfire. The Teen Weekender has been held at Camp Horsin’ Around in Perryville, KY since 2009. *Quarterly Events: To mark our 30th anniversary in 2011, we are starting to host “Quarterly Events” for our campers and their families. Many of our campers say they wish camp was all year long and by holding various recreational events throughout the year, it sort of is. Because we recognize how important the friendships made at our camp are, we want to offer activities throughout the year for campers to participate in together. In addition, we want to be able to offer programs for their siblings and parents and our quarterly events will be a great way to do this. *Family Retreat Weekend: This weekend retreat is for the entire family of children with cancer. It allows them to getaway and be around other families who understand what they are going through. There are activities planned throughout the weekend, and all meals and accommodations are arranged in advance so the families can simply enjoy their time together. *Transportation Assistance Program: supplies gas cards to qualifying camper families to attend one of our camp programs. The Transportation Assistance Program began as a way to assist families with transportation costs to and from our programs. We would not want a camper or family to miss out on memories and friendships because of financial strain. *Bereavement Fund: assists the families of any child who passes away from cancer (must have attended Indian Summer Camp) with the costs of a funeral and/or burial. Families who have lost a child are in their greatest time of need emotionally, psychologically, and financially; we seek to help relieve some of their stress by helping with part of the financial strain so they can focus on supporting one another in this horrific time for their family. *Direct Financial Assistance: assists families with various expenses not necessarily associated with treatment (i.e. their mortgage payment if they have fallen behind due to rising medical expenses they must pay for in order for their child to continue receiving treatment). Applications are reviewed monthly by a committee of volunteers and staff who award funding based on need relative to funds available. *Survivor Scholarship Program: The survivor scholarship program is designed to ease the financial burden of receiving a higher education from an accredited university, community college, vocational or technical school for survivors of any form of pediatric cancer (those who have participated in at least one of Kids Cancer Alliance’s other programs). The program has a direct impact on the education our campers are able to obtain, and we are hopeful this will set them up for future success in their chosen field. *Meals and More: provide warm, family-style meals and “goodie bags” to children with cancer and their families in-patient at both of Kentucky’s pediatric hospitals each month throughout the year. With a child in the hospital, many families get tired of hospital food and miss out on eating dinner together as a family. The goal of the Meals and More Program is to give them back that opportunity, and a little more. The Meals and More Program provides quality meals to families with children undergoing oncology treatment in the hospital on a quarterly basis. We bring the meals directly to the hospital setting, along with decorations and goodie bags. The goodie bags include fun items to keep the children in the hospital busy and entertained such as projects, science kits, arts and crafts and more. These themed dinners offer a chance for families of a child with cancer in the hospital a chance to come together, share a meal, and reconnect. *Camp-In Program: we bring fun, camp activities to children with cancer and their families who are in-patient at both of Kentucky’s pediatric hospitals three times a year. The goal of the Camp-In Program is to bring the fun and enjoyment of camp directly to the inpatient setting. During Camp-In’s, typical activities include making s’mores, playing games, participating in arts and crafts, and singing camp songs. *Flashes of Hope Photography Sessions: each month at both of Kentucky’s pediatric hospitals, we host a special “Flashes of Hope” photography session which allows each child to have their picture taken and be the center of attention. Even if they are actively on treatment, this special opportunity is one that lets them forget “reality” for just a bit. The families then each receive all the printed, black & white images from their child’s session, which become lifelong keepsakes that preserve those precious memories. With a cancer diagnosis, trips to the hospital and doctor become the new routine. Isolated from school, siblings and friends, it can be a challenge to find reasons to smile. Yet, children with cancer find a way. Flashes of Hope was created to capture those smiles and forever preserve images of courage, beauty and dignity. By focusing on the child, we put cancer in the background. As a non-profit organization, Kids Cancer Alliance relies entirely on donations and volunteers to keep our programs completely free for every kid, sibling, and family. All of our programs are designed to help children with cancer and their families have enjoyable, positive experiences, create valuable memories and enhance their quality of life both as individuals and families. Kids Cancer Alliance aims to remind kids fighting cancer that they are not alone!