For a Day’s first visit to MD Anderson!
Family Day Wrap-up and Thank You's!
Nov 5 - Baptist Children’s Hospital
September 6 - Randall Children’s Hospital
One 7 year old girl came in with her mom and requested she have both a pink superhero cape and a crown, so that she could be a “super queen.” She jokingly told her mom that since she was now royalty her mom would have to listen to her. Her mom laughed and said “good luck.” Everyone was laughing and filled with joy by the positive and contagious attitude that radiated from this young girl.
Lila's Spa Day & Shopping Spree
The ten year old’s story was so incredible – she not only survived the treatments and cancer battle, but grew and found many talents in the isolated room, and was one of the most positive kids ever, according to her mom. She even passed fourth grade on the A honor roll in the middle of it all. I found out in person just how incredible she is.
August 30 - Monroe Carrell Jr Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt
Queen & Hero for a Day - Ronald McDonald Houses of Atlanta
October 4 - Texas Children's Cancer Center
CureFest 2018!
Although interacting with the kids was a highlight of the event, the most awe-inspiring moments came from conversing with family members of cancer patients. Did you know that only 4% of federal government cancer research funding goes to study pediatric cancer? One family from Oklahoma stopped by the booth and spoke to us about the loss of one of their young family members earlier that year and how her life and her struggle were worth more than just 4%. Despite this somber conversation, it reiterated that there is so much more work to be done to find a cure for pediatric cancer and how important it is to continuously enrich the lives of pediatric cancer patients all over the nation.
August 5 - Mayo Clinic NICU Family Reunion
What an honor to have one of our facilities reach out to us for a change. The event is an annual event for the neonatal unit in Rochester, for all patients and families from the previous five years. The weather looked like it would be full of rain for days leading up to the event, but not a drop came and the sky was full of sun!
August 21 - Hassenfeld Children's Hospital at NYU Langone
A Welcome Message from the Los Angeles Chapter Director
As a storyteller myself, I believe deeply in the magical and transformative power of the imagination. With the help of your generous contribution we will be able to create magic where our little queens and heroes can experience a dream coming true. As an advocate for this foundation, I am committed to nurturing hope and inspiring them to always persevere. After all, we are the guardians of our children's galaxy.
Thank you for aligning your resources with your heart to support the launch of the Los Angeles Chapter. Every gift counts!
In love and service,
Tony Nevada
June 9 - Bradley Arnold Family Event with Geneva Cancer Run
Our family event with the Arnold family was a powerful experience. Little Bradley, age 5 (now age 6), was diagnosed with kidney cancer on November 14th, 2017. He had major surgery to remove a 3+ pound tumor & his left kidney, followed by a lung biopsy. Bradley underwent a 19-week chemotherapy plan. He had a clean bill of health, until weeks ago, when a new spot was found. More treatment is in the future.
As for the event, we partnered with the Geneva Cancer Run, a local 501c3 that raises money for families dealing with cancer. The run is an annual event, and it happened to land on the same day as Bradley’s benefit – seriously! The Geneva Cancer Run decided to make their first stop at the Arnold farm for lunch. The site and sound of 150+ bikes coming down the road and into the driveway is unlike any experience I’ve ever had. Bradley waited in awe and watched as the bikes rode by him one by one, waving and honking. The bikes parked and headed for cover from the incoming rain in the shed, where lunch was served. After everyone was served, the GCR folks, in partnership with another biker group, ABATE (American Bikers for Awareness, Training, and Education), presented Bradley with some Harley Davidson gear. Then, they presented a three-wheel motorized Harley Davidson tricycle. The Geneva Cancer run donated just shy of $1,000 to the family. Upon returning to Geneva for the cancer auction, the auctioneer placed a plate on his head and took in more donations as he walked around, adding another $300 in cash, all given to the family.
As for our foundation, we followed the presentation with our own. We presented the boy with a gift bag from the Mall of America, including stuffed animals, cards, drinking cups, books, and many coupons for free entry into the different amusement zones at MOA. We also presented the family with a gas card, an MOA shopping card, and a two night stay at the Radisson Blu, connected to the MOA. The mother was crying through most of both presentations, and was extremely kind, grateful, and appreciative of all our efforts. This will go down as an experience none of us in attendance will ever forget, and hopefully will lead to an experience the boy and his family will never forget!
July 27 - Hero for a Day - Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh
Donate to our Launch Fund!
I'm raising $1500 to host our first hospital party in Denver before the end of the year! It's a big task, and you can play a generous part in getting us there. I'm about $400 into this goal already. A huge thank you to our first donors! Donate to our chapter using the green donate button on our webpage and we'll be that much closer to getting what we need to host an unforgettable experience for the kids!