CHILDHOOD CANCER SUPPORT for those living in The United States
A KID AGAIN
A Kid Again is a national non-profit organization dedicated to fostering hope, happiness and healing for the families of children under 20 years old who have been diagnosed with life-threatening conditions.
They run free events all year round, giving sick children the opportunity to feel like a kid again and their families a chance to make happy memories.
AEROANGEL
AeroAngel is a national non-profit organization helping children diagnosed with critical medical conditions travel great distances to receive life-saving medical care, at no cost to their families.
To be eligible, patients must not have another means of safe transportation to receive treatment and must also meet the physical requirements. Applications can be made directly to AeroAngel and they service the entire continental states.
AIR CHARITY NETWORK
Air Charity Network is a national charitable organization that supports people in need by providing free air transportation for specialised medical treatment, or to distant locations due to family, community or national crisis.
They coordinate flights for a number of humanitarian reasons including: organ transplants, participation in clinical trials, treatment for cancer such as chemotherapy, inclusion in special summer camp programs for disabled and sick children, and more!
Requests for transport can be made directly to the chapter servicing your local area.
ALEX’S LEMONADE STAND FOUNDATION
Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation (ALSF), is a non-profit organization dedicated to changing the lives of children with cancer by funding meaningful research, raising awareness, empowering the community to help find a cure for childhood cancer, and through direct support to families.
ALSF directly support the families of children with cancer, through a number of programs including Travel for Care, which provides financial assistance for travel expenses including gas, lodging and airfares, to eligible families, so that children facing childhood cancer can access treatments not currently available at their local hospital. They also run a program to support and empower the siblings of children with cancer, called SuperSibs, and provide resources such as treatment journals, clinical trial navigation support and more!
ALONG COMES HOPE
Along Comes Hope is a charitable organization dedicated to bringing hope to families facing childhood cancer. They provide support in the form of financial assistance for travel to/from treatment, which may include airfares, lodging, gas and grocery gift cards; as well as facilitating emotional support programs.
Families can also access a number of resources online to support them on their cancer journey.
AMERICAN CHILDHOOD CANCER ORGANIZATION
Childhood Cancer Association is a national organization dedicated to enriching the lives of those facing childhood cancer and its long-term impacts, by offering advice, support and practical assistance to families while they navigate this challenging journey.
Childhood Cancer Association provide a number of free online and physical resources to order such as books, Medical Play Kits, Comfort Kits, colouring sheets, journals and DVDs. They also run a peer support program and educatonal webinars.
BAKING MEMORIES 4 KIDS
Baking Memories 4 Kids is a non-profit organization serving families in the contiguous US who have children with life threatening illnesses.
Through various fundraising efforts, Baking Memories 4 Kids provides families with an all-expense paid vacation to Orlando, Florida.
Each family is assessed on a case by case basis and the experience is currently available to families who have a child aged 3 – 18 years old, diagnosed with a life threatening illness, who have not received or are in the process of receiving a wish from another organization.
B+FOUNDATION
The B+ (Be Positive) Foundation is dedicated to helping kids fight cancer, through the provision of financial and emotional support to the families of children with cancer, and by funding critical, cutting-edge childhood cancer research.
Families who are experiencing financial hardship as a result of their child’s cancer diagnosis, can apply directly to the B+ Foundation for financial assistance in the form of bill payment, which may include: prescription medications that insurance will not cover, travel costs for medical treatment, mortgage/rent payments and more.
BEADS OF COURAGE
Beads of Courage, Inc. is a non-profit organization that is dedicated to improving the quality of life for children and teens coping with serious illness, their families, and the clinicians who care for them through our Arts-in-Medicine Programs.
Beads of Courage® programs are open to patients and their families facing any serious illness, and integrates the use of beads, the earliest art form known to humans, as visible, tangible symbols of human experiences that need and deserve to be expressed. Every time a bead is given courage is honored, suffering is alleviated, resilience is strengthened, and the experience of human caring is affirmed.
CAMP CAREFREE
Camp Carefree in Stokesdale, North Carolina, is committed to enriching the lives of children impacted by cancer and other chronic illnesses. This includes children who have been diagnosed with a chronic illness, their siblings, and the children of chronically ill parents.
They provide eligible children aged 6 to 16 years with a one-week specialised camping experience at no cost to the family, allowing them to participate in activities that bring joy and excitement, making new and happy memories.
CAMP CASEY
Camp Casey is a non-profit organization located in Michigan, that provides horseback riding programs to children with cancer, rare blood disorders, and other life-threatening illnesses. They also provide Horsey House Calls for children too ill to attend camp, weekend getaways for the whole family at a ranches and rental properties, and family outings throughout the year.
The child who has been diagnosed with a critical medical condition must be under the age of 18, and have been diagnosed with or treated for their illness within the last 24 months, in addition to complying with Camp Casey’s policies.
CAMP QUALITY USA
Camp Quality is a non-profit network of camps offering children with cancer and their families year-round programs, experiences, and companionship at no cost. Camp Quality promotes hope and inspiration while helping children foster life skills and develop their full potential. Camp Quality USA operates 17 summer camps in 11 states. Each location hosts a week-long residential camp for children in the summer and a reunion in the fall.
Year-round activities include family weekend, holiday parties, day trips, winter weekends and many other events providing fun and friendship.
CHILDREN’S FLIGHT OF HOPE
Children’s Flight of Hope, supports children living with serious illnesses to access specialised medical care, by providing free air transportation for them and a parent/guardian, usually on a commercial airline.
Applications can be made directly through their website.
KIDS & ART FOUNDATION
Kids & Art Foundation is a national organization committed to supporting the families of children with cancer and other critical medical conditions through the provision of free, ongoing art experiences that help ease the stress, anxiety and trauma that children undergoing treatment can endure, while also allowing for them to experience joy, creativity and self-expression.
KidsArt provides ArtKits to Care Centres, ArtKits at Home (launched in July 2022), Monthly Zoom Workshops lead by one of their lead artists, Weekly Art Drop Ins on Zoom and more!
MAKE-A-WISH AMERICA
Make-A-Wish is a national organization dedicated to instilling strength and hope in children aged 2 ½ to 17 years old, who have been diagnosed with a critical illness, ,by granting them life-changing wishes.
Referrals can be made directly by family members or through a medical care provider/social worker.
My Child’s Cancer
My Child’s Cancer (MCC) is a non-profit organization, dedicated to supporting families all over the world who are fighting childhood cancer. They believe that no child should perish because they did not have access to life-saving information or treatments, and while they do not provide medical advice or treatment-recommendations directly, they do support parents in finding the best treatment for their child, and advocating to make it accessible if it isn’t.
MCC undertakes personalised research to connect parents with leading oncologists around the world, makes referrals to novel therapies and/or clinical trials, in addition to providing mentorship to parents and advocating on behalf of the patient to make beneficial treatments available.
They have also developed a comprehensive childhood cancer resource called WikiCancer, where parents can access specialised and practical information on their child’s cancer such as possible treatments, critical medical information and much more.
THE CONFETTI FOUNDATION
The Confetti Foundation is invested in bringing joy to children who are required to spend their birthday in a hospital, pediatric oncology clinic or hospice facility.
The foundation supplies the child with a “Birthday Box” full of themed decorations to make their birthday special, no matter where they are.
Families can request a box for their child directly or coordinate with their Child Life Specialist.
ICING SMILES
Icing Smiles is a non-profit organization serving families all over the United States by providing custom celebration cakes and other treats to families impacted by the critical illness of a child. They understand that often the simple things, like a birthday cake, are luxuries to a family battling illness and aim to provide a temporary escape from worry, while also creating positive memories during a difficult time.
Children aged 1-18 years old who are within 2 years of their latest treatment or who are the sibling of a critically ill child may be eligible for a custom cake in line with the organizations guidelines, and parents can apply directly to Icing Smiles to arrange a cake for their child.
KIDS WISH NETWORK
Kids Wish Network is committed to changing the lives of critically ill children in the United States, by granting them with a wish. Children aged 3 – 18 years old who have been diagnosed with a life-threatening illness such as cancer are eligIble for wish granting and wishes may include theme park trips, celebrity meet-and-greets, professional sporting events, shopping sprees and much more!
In the case of bereavement, they also offer funeral assistance up to the age of 25 for the child, as well as HERO of the month for any surviving siblings between the ages of 3-18.
Lighthouse Family Retreat
Lighthouse Family Retreat exists to strengthen families living through childhood cancer by offering restorative retreats and helpful resources. They are a faith-based nonprofit that hosts overnight retreats with activities that spread restoration, joy, and hope to the entire family - children, parents, and siblings. To attend a retreat, the child must be under the age of 18 and currently on treatment, or no more than one year post treatment.
Retreats are a respite for families living through childhood cancer, who they call their Retreat Families. They serve them by organizing volunteers to provide a week of deep rest, relational connection, great laughter, and palpable kindness. You can learn more about their Weeklong and Regional Retreats on their website.
They also offer a variety of helpful resources for families on treatment and their support system, including The Lighthouse Podcast. On this podcast, you will hear stories from families walking this journey, as well as practical guidance from those who support and care for them. From podcasts to blog posts to activity books and devotionals, they are creating resources that they hope will encourage your family during this journey.
NOAH’S BANDAGE PROJECT
Noah’s Bandage Project provides cancer families, groups, organizations and hospitals with colorful bandages to inspire courage and joy, and to provide these brave children fighting cancer an opportunity for self-expression.
They operate both nationally and internationally, and families can contact Noah’s Bandage Project directly to arrange for a shipment of bandages for their child.
ROC SOLID FOUNDATION
The Roc Solid Foundation is dedicated to building hope for children and families fighting pediatric cancer.
The foundation partners with hospitals all over the country to provide families with a Ready Bag at diagnosis, which includes a range of practical items that parents might need during an unexpected hospital stay.
They also surprise children aged 1 – 9 years old with backyard playsets, to provide them with a safe and germ-free place to play during treatment. Applications can be completed by families directly, or by close family and friend; and are available for those on contiguous states of the U.S.
SOPHIA’S HOPE
Sofia’s Hope is dedicated to the over 17,000 children diagnosed each year with cancer! They recognize that in the fight against childhood cancer there must be two simultaneous approaches: research funding which will have a long-term impact, and the development of patient and family programs that support those going through the journey today.
For families facing a childhood cancer diagnosis in South Florida, they offer a variety of fun programs including art therapy, horse camps, Newly Diagnosed Family Kits, Adopt-An-Animal crates and much more. Virtual art therapy sessions, tutoring and visits to the Zoo are available to patients and their siblings from all around the country.
They also offer a college scholarship program to childhood cancer survivors and their siblings, and through their Treasured Moments program they provide families facing financial hardship with gift cards for groceries, gas, Uber, Target, Amazon and more.