Friends of Karen and Supporting Businesses #GoGOLD for Childhood Cancer Awareness Month in September
This is a guest post from Judith Factor, Executive Director of nonprofit Friends of Karen.
September is often an exciting time for families who are preparing for the new school year, but for the families of critically ill children, this time of year brings with it added stress and financial burden. Parents must pick and choose where to spend their money, and their ill child’s medical bills often win out over new school supplies and clothing for their healthy children.
In addition to back-to-school season, September is also Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. Friends of Karen, a non-profit that supports the families of critically ill children living in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut, is all too aware of the impossible choices parents face during this time and is alleviating some back-to-school costs for the Tri-State area families they serve.
A recent study from The National Children’s Cancer Society, “The Economic Impact of Childhood Cancer,” confirms the devastating consequences that even the indirect costs of a child’s cancer diagnosis can have on a family. This hardship, so prevalent that it’s been termed Cancer-Related Financial Toxicity (CRFT), encompasses expenses such as travel, co-payments and childcare. The study also reveals the average total cost to support one child with cancer amounts to almost one million dollars, a staggering figure that can completely turn a family ecosystem upside-down. One in four families report losing more than 40 percent of their annual household income due to the demands of treatment disrupting their work schedules.
In 2018, Friends of Karen worked to lessen the financial burden for 631 families (representing 1,500 children), covering $1.2 million indirect expenses. Over half of these dollars were dedicated to paying housing and utilities bills, while the remainder went toward everyday costs such as food, travel expenses to-and-from the hospital, co-pays and medication.
In honor of Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, Friends of Karen will help families ensure their children are adequately prepared for the upcoming school year. The organization’s Back to School Program collects donations for school supplies and gift cards, with the goal of fulfilling the back-to-school needs of close to 800 children. They assure that hundreds of children will be able to start the school year prepared with fresh school supplies and a gift card to purchase new shoes or clothing. Friends of Karen gives parents peace of mind knowing one large – and critical – expense has been crossed off their lists. For more information on Friends of Karen’s Back to School Program and how to get involved, see the official video here.
Businesses across New York will support Friends of Karen throughout Childhood Cancer Awareness Month: select Café Metro and fresh & co locations will match customer donations at the register, while companies such as Orange theory Fitness, Brooks Brothers and California Pizza Kitchen will hold on-site events in the Tri-State area to generate funds and raise awareness. Friends of Karen will host its 15th Annual Journey of the Heart Bike Tour through the Connecticut countryside on September 21-22 as well as field a team for the Hamptons Marathon on September 28, with funds raised at both events benefiting critically ill children and their families. And watch the Manhattan skyline in September when The Durst Organization will light up its iconic skyscrapers in gold to honor Friends of Karen and Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. See here for a full-list of events hosted by the organization.
While September represents a time to shine a light on children living with cancer and their families, the fight against childhood cancer is a year-round endeavor. Friends of Karen offers emotional support, financial assistance and advocacy services to help families maintain a degree of normalcy in their lives and uplift them throughout their illness journeys– 365 days a year. The non-profit will continue their work to support these families until the day there is a cure for pediatric cancers and their help is no longer needed.
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