The new year brings new hope!
With exciting things happening in 2021, we wanted to share the hopes we have for this year.
Increase AWARENESS…Did you know that in the U.S. there are about 200 hospitals that treat childhood cancer compared to the 1500 centers for adults. Did you know that because of the limited number of pediatric oncology treatment facilities about 30% of children diagnosed with cancer will have to travel at least 60 miles to get treatment? Did you know some children travel hundreds of miles, especially when the cancer diagnosis is rare and treatment is even further away? We know travel is a major need and challenge for children and families affected by childhood cancer across the U.S. but it is not a topic of conversation. So our first goal is to continue to spread awareness of this need and challenge and how you are making an impact for families in need.
Instill HOPE.. Hope is a feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen. When parents hear that their child has cancer, the immediate hope they hold in their hearts is their child’s survival beyond this disease. But as they navigate further into this disease, that hope doesn’t go away, it just gets buried under, I hope this medicine doesn’t make my child sick. I hope this medical procedure doesn’t create pain. I hope we don’t have to spend her birthday in the hospital… Far too many families see financial challenges arise as they are fighting and hoping for a cure for their children. One of them stems from paying for the travel to the hospital. It may seem very simple, and very minor, but without the funds to put gas in the car, all of those other hopes drift away. So our goal is to focus on this critical need for families, allowing them to continue holding on to the feeling of expectation and desires they hold in their heart for their very sick children.
Provide HELP… How hard is it for you to ask for help? Even if I am moving something heavy out of my car, I have a hard time running inside to ask someone from my family to help me lift it. Now imagine how difficult it is for families to acknowledge publicly that they are facing financial difficulties that have stemmed from their child’s cancer treatment. The thought of saying out loud to someone else- I cannot afford this or I cannot do this on my own- is something that makes even the strongest person shutter. But we know this is a challenge even families, who were financially stable before their child’s diagnosis, can face. So with respect and dignity, our goal is to continue to expand our reach to provide help to 400 children and families as they continue on their journeys toward a cancer cure. (More to come on how we plan to increase our annual support from 150 to 400 children in one year…..)
Show GRATITUDE… The Compass to Care mission is NOT possible without you. These families would NOT have a place to turn without your kindness and generosity. So as we move through the truly special year ahead, our goal is to find new ways to show our gratitude, to engage you in our mission, and to remind you that you matter to the children and families who are bravely fighting cancer.
To help a child get to treatment, click HERE to donate a trip.