February 2023 Newsletter
C.U.R.E. is here.
From the day of diagnosis, throughout treatment and beyond:
The support doesn’t stop when the treatment stops.
And we are so thankful for our Friends who make our support possible.
Spotlight on: Landan
Meet our friend, Landan.
Hey All, My Name is Landan! I'm 12 years old. My journey started rather quickly. What started with a cough, some sniffles, being tired...you know, the normal symptoms that we all feel yearly. I ended up with MONO......which after further review, lead us to Golisano Children’s Hospital for further testing. In a matter of a few days, I was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma stage 2. Although this news was devastating at first, we are super confident in our Oncology Team. Prior to being diagnosed, most of my nights and weekends were filled with Hockey practices and games with my EC IceWings Teammates. I also have a big German Shepherd named Brock and a cat who we call "Miss Hiss". She is really nice though. If I could pass on one thing to my fellow friends dealing with Cancer, it would be to know that you are STRONGER than you think you are. I hope we can all ring the bell one day!
January Parents’ Night Out
January Parents’ Night Out was a smashing success at iSMASH. A fun evening with a smashingly great group of C.U.R.E. Parents! We smashed bottles, porcelain items and electronics and a car windshield. Everyone had a great time! C.U.R.E. Parents and Caregivers please sign up and join us for February’s Parents’ Night Out.
February Parents' Night Out!
Watch for Program emails and the Facebook Parent Group to sign up for the Comedy Jam at Comedy @ the Carlson on Friday, February 10th at 8 p.m.
"Every comedian wants to be a rockstar and every rockstar want to be a comedian."
Buffalo Comedian, Jacob Morrison brings his band traveling troubadours, The Gerk'n Jerks for a night of jokes, jams and Rock-'n'-roll!!! Each comedian has picked a song to use as the premise of their set, afterwards they will perform said song backed by a live band!!!!!
Special Show Ages 21 and Over
C.U.R.E. will be purchasing non-refundable tickets, please confirm your availability in advance of sign up.
SAVE THE DATE!!
C.U.R.E. Childhood Cancer Association’s Survivor’s Day Picnic will be held on Saturday, June 3, 2023 this year.
Mark your calendar!
Resources:
Childhood Cancer Survivor Scholarship and Employment Resources:
Children's Cancer Cause is assisting childhood cancer patients, survivors and families by centralizing most national resources that provide scholarships for survivors of childhood cancer or those with particular effects. The site also has resources and advice relating to employment and applying for these scholarships.
Some opportunities require commitment to a childhood cancer advocacy project while in college, while others make you eligible for you just being you. But you do need to apply! Be sure to read the instructions and qualifications very carefully. Apply in plenty of time to get feedback from family, guidance counselors and others. Board Member, Jacob Adams, would be happy to help if given at least two weeks’ notice. Please contact the office for his e-mail address.
Catching Dreams
Catching Dreams Charters, Inc. hosts private fishing charters near Buffalo on Lake Erie or the Niagara River for pediatric oncology or hematology children.
We have connected with Captain Ned, the Founder of this organization, and would love to connect our C.U.R.E. Kids to Ned and schedule some fishing charters! Charters are scheduled for during the week from mid-May through Labor Day and leave from the Buffalo Harbor or near the Niagara River.
Please reach out to Carol Austin if you are interested in a private fishing charter.
Any Teens with Sickle Cell Interested…
Dr. Noronha is trying to gauge interest from local teens with Sickle Cell Disease around having Zoom Meet Ups this summer. If you (or your child) is 13 years old - 17 years old and interested, please contact Dr. Noronha.
Donate Blood or Platelets!
Many of our children depend on blood transfusions and blood products in the course of their treatment. Our children are in need of blood products and you can help! Please consider donating blood if you are well enough to.
YOU can help C.U.R.E. for FREE
Follow us on social media:
Facebook: facebook.com/curekidscancerrochester
Instagram: @curekidscancer
Twitter: @curekidscancer_Write a review about C.U.R.E. on our Facebook Page or on Google.
Write a blog that can be shared on our website.
Contact our Parent Advocate Michelle about doing a Facebook Live or Instagram Takeover.
“Like”, Share or Comment on our social media posts.
Conquer Cancer in Kids:
make childhood cancer research a priority:
UPDATE: THE PETITION IS JUST SHY OF BEING ONE OF THE MOST SIGNED PETITIONS ON CHANGE.ORG. THE GOAL IS 15,000 SIGNATURES AND AS OF 1/3/2023, THERE ARE 14,862 SIGNATURES!
We invite our families and supporters to join CNN’s Rene Marsh as she advocates to make childhood cancer research a priority! Sadly, Rene lost her two year old son, Blake, to brain cancer in April 2021. She is now working with CNN and childhood cancer awareness advocates to make a difference!
To review and sign the petition, click the button below.
Petition to the Biden Administration to increase funding for childhood cancer research. This effort was started through awareness from The Ellen Show.
79,799 signatures of 150,000 wanted (as of 1/3/2023)
GRYT Health connects patients and caregivers to others with shared experience and to information relevant to their journey.
Through the GRYT app, we’ve created a platform for people affected by cancer to connect to others with similar experiences, and to tailored information that helps our users become more aware of options specific to their needs or diagnosis – empowering them to make choices that are right for them.
Our community of patients, survivors, medical professionals, researchers and advocates across all 50 states in the U.S. and in more than 100 countries worldwide have participated in almost 1,000,000 interactions to date, inspiring people to live according to their own standards.
Trust from our community is paramount to our success and something we take very seriously. We never share any of our users’ information without their explicit permission. Unlike other apps, GRYT is the first social community that is funded, built, and run by patients and caregivers where users communicate anonymously in real-time and each person is 100% in charge of what happens with their data.
Learn more about Bill A6430B
Creates the Sickle Cell Disease detection and education program
Sponsored by Hyndman
We are so grateful to all of YOU who think of US on your special day! Thank you to everyone who created a Facebook Fundraiser during the 4th Quarter of 2022.
Keep Shining Bright, RDI!
Our hearts are exploding with gratitude for our Friends at RDI Diamonds. Their employees continue to work so hard to advocate for our Families and raise funds for us to provide support. Thank you for believing in us and the work we do. We appreciate you so much!
Happy Heavenly Birthday, Aurora!
In honor of her 5th Birthday, Aurora’s Family requested donations be made to C.U.R.E. Aurora’s Family shared our Amazon Wish List with Friends & Family who have showered us with gifts and toys for our C.U.R.E. kids. Thank you for thinking of our Families. Your kindness makes a difference and has truly warmed our hearts. We are humbled you included us in her celebrating her BIG 5th birthday. Sending love and gratitude to Aurora’s Family.
Thank you, Rite Aid Healthy Futures!
C.U.R.E. was the gracious recipient of a $10,000 grant from the Rite Aid Healthy Futures fund this holiday season. This makes such a tremendous impact to our Families and we couldn’t be more grateful. The Fund distributed $4 million in Neighborhood Grants! The grants are funded through the KidCents customer fundraising program, which allows Rite Aid customers to round up their purchases in-store and online to support children’s health and wellness.
When customers shop at Rite Aid, their change changes lives. By donating their nickels, dimes and quarters, millions of Rite Aid customers are helping nonprofit organizations throughout the country fight childhood cancer, prevent child abuse, put healthy food on the dinner table and more. Launched in 2013, the KidCents round-up program raises more than $12 million each year to support children’s health and wellness.
Thank you, Michelle Lebel Agency!
A BIG thank you to our Friends at the Michelle LeBel Agency, who in partnership with Erie Insurance Company, made a $500 donation to our organization! Michelle and her Team have been thoughtful partners with C.U.R.E. for several years and we are so gracious for their kindness! Thank you for thinking of our Families always!
WOW!
Our Friends at MAC Lights and Victor Hills are spectacular! The Holiday Light Show at Victor Hills delivered festive fun AND donations to C.U.R.E. this holiday season! The combination of the donation from the group for every car that drove through and through the kindness of additional donations from guests generated a WHOPPING $11,180 donation! We are thrilled and humbled by this support! In addition to this generous monetary donation, they also donated tickets so our C.U.R.E. Families could enjoy the show. Thank you for allowing us to be part of your Holiday Tradition.
More than just football…
Our Friends at The Raider Nation Rochester have shown us that the NFL and watching games is more than just football: it’s community-building. Throughout the season, they created various ways to make contributions to their community whether it was raising money for C.U.R.E., collecting toys for the Pirate Toy Fund, or collecting canned food for the Open Door Mission - they just want to make a difference (and watch football). Thank you for letting us be a part of your weekly game watching, but more importantly, community building.
Summerville Presbyterian Church
Thank you for the invitation to speak with your group in the late Fall. We appreciate the opportunity to share our organization and mission with our Community. We were blown away by a $500 donation we received this winter from your group. Thank you for thinking of our Families! We appreciate your kindness!
Thank you, Ahrens Benefits Co.
…for nominating C.U.R.E. for the Insurance Industry Charitable Foundation Grant! We were the humbled recipients of a $2,500 Insurance Industry Charitable Foundation grant to further our mission of supporting local Families. We are so grateful for your thoughtfulness. Thank you for thinking of us and the work we do. To the IICF: Thank you for believing in and advocating for our Mission!
Join our Board of Directors!
We have some Board positions opening in the very near future! Interested in applying?
The Board meets monthly for 1.5 - 2 hours (Currently the third Wednesday evening of the month from 5:30 - 7:30)
Board members must attend two of the three main fundraisers (5k & Fun Walk, Golf Tournament, Brunch)
Board members are on at least one sub-committee
Board members make a monetary donation for the Board sponsored Live Auction package for the Brunch
Applications can be emailed to:
cureboardapplications@gmail.com
We want to connect!
If you served on the Board of Directors for C.U.R.E. Childhood Cancer Association, we would love to stay connected! Please email Holly Dutcher to connect!
holly.dutcher@curekidscancer.com
Super Bowl Squares
We are again offering Super Bowl Squares for C.U.R.E. in 2023! Squares will cost $25 each. Once you make your donation, you will be assigned a random square. Once the board of 100 is full, we will use a random number generator to assign numbers to rows and columns.
The winner is decided by looking at the last number in each teams' score and then matching those digits on the grid to see where the squares intersect.
Payout will be as follows:
Winner of the 1st Quarter: $150
Winner at Halftime: $250
Winner of the 3rd Quarter: $150
Final Score Winner: $300
Winners will be notified after the game.
Valentine’s Day is Coming!
Our exclusive C.U.R.E. bracelets make great gifts! With three different options available, there’s something for everyone.
Give the gift that supports local Families facing the unimaginable.
Support Local. Shop our Exclusive Collection.
Dawgapalooza!
We are thrilled to be a part of Dawgapalooza on February 17th at Buntsy’s Neighborhood Food & Drink! C’mon down Friday, Feb 17th for a night of great music and awesome cocktails … all to benefit Julianne’s Journey and C.U.R.E. Childhood Cancer Association. The night gets kicked off with the amazing Bryan Price from 5-8pm. Also performing will be Steve Bartolotta AND Shari Marie and Friends (featuring Shari Miller, The Sideburns and The Morgan Twins). Jam packed with music and other shenanigans all to support the fight against Childhood Cancer…. Not sure you could need another reason to stop down!
Don’t forget the JOE!
Don’t forget to check out our Friends at Awareness Coffee Co.! They have many different coffee options AND you can support a cause you’re passionate about (we’re partial to the Pediatric Cancer Blend). A portion of the sale of the coffee will be donated to the charities listed under each cause.
We have a limited amount of FREE tickets for our Families. Stay tuned to the closed Parent to Parent Facebook Group and your email to learn how to claim yours.
Become a C.U.R.E. Ambassador!
The Support Doesn’t Stop When Treatment Stops…
Because of YOU and your kindness.
Support our mission year-round by becoming a C.U.R.E. Ambassador! A C.U.R.E. Ambassador is a donor who commits to our mission through a monthly donation of his/her choosing. Whatever level you are comfortable with makes a difference!
Click here to learn more.
Every Penny Matters.
Do you want to join forces with C.U.R.E. and participate in our Annual Penny Drive? We make it easy! We can decorate and deliver jugs for your to facilitate your collections. We will also pick up your donations. No change rolling or counting required! Contact our office if your school or business would like to participate!
It makes cents.
Unfortunately, we have been notified that the Amazon Smile Program will be ending in February 2023. We are so grateful to all of our Friends who have chosen to support C.U.R.E. through the Amazon Smile program throughout the years. When you shopped, our Families would benefit. Each year, we received between $1,500 - 2,000 from this program. We are blown away by the kindness of all of you (and really impressed by how much you all shop ;) haha). Thank you for thinking of our Families and keeping them on your minds even while you shopped. We appreciate you and will certainly miss this program.
Round Up for C.U.R.E.!
We are thrilled to share that we are now part of the Walmart Spark Good program! You can select “C.U.R.E. Childhood Cancer Association” as your charity of choice and round up your purchases! The rounded up change will be donated to C.U.R.E.!
STEP 1: Visit walmart.com/sparkgood and sign in to your Walmart.com account.
STEP 2: Search for a favorite charity.
STEP 3: Once you choose a charity, go to the Round Up box and click "Select this Charity"
STEP 4: Review the FAQs and the Terms of Use.
C.U.R.E. Partners:
You can now return your cans and bottles to Alpco Recycling and Bottle & Can Retrieval Centers! Let them know you’d like to support “C.U.R.E. Childhood Cancer Association” and a donation will be made to us!
Alpco Recycling is located at:
846 Macedon Center Road, Macedon, NY 14502
Bottle & Can Retrieval Centers located at:
509 Spencerport Rd, Rochester
2199 East Henrietta Rd, Rochester
2374 Chili Ave, Rochester
More ways to help:
Winter is HERE…
Get a-HEAD of the season and order your Love Your Melon + C.U.R.E. Beanie today! It’ll be winter before we know it.
These make great Holiday gifts, as the quality of Love Your Melon Hats is second to none. Wash and dry your hat as needed.
The best part? For every beanie purchased from Love Your Melon, they GIVE one to a child battling cancer!
C.U.R.E. has joined the PayPal Giving Fund. Please consider adding us to your account to Shop, Donate and Raise Awareness for our families.
PayPal Giving Fund expands our fundraising reach through direct integration with PayPal, eBay and GoFundMe.
Bereavement Group
Bereavement Group occurs on the first Wednesday of every month.
We will be hosting the Bereavement Meeting at the C.U.R.E. office at 7 PM on February 1st, 2023.
For more information, please reach out to Michelle Magin.
michelle.magin@curekidscancer.com
Did you know? For children who have experienced the death of a sibling from childhood cancer, SuperSibs offers additional mailings through the Grief and Loss Mailing Program.
This program includes...
💛 Grief support and resources specifically for parents
💛 4 mailings per year for two years with activities designed to help SuperSibs to cope with their grief and feelings
💛 A special remembrance on the anniversary of their sibling’s passing
Learn more about this free program for siblings:
Click Here To Check it Out
We are so grateful to the community for all of the wonderful donations we receive throughout the year. We could not service all the families we do without this generous support. If you or a community group you belong to is looking for something to do for a charity, please consider donating items from C.U.R.E.’s wish list so that we can continue to provide for our families:
A cure for childhood cancer, blood diseases and brain tumors!
- Buffalo Bills items (hats, gloves, socks, etc.) for teen gifts
- Colored pencils/art pencils
- Universal phone chargers with long cords
- Gift cards for Wegmans, Tops, Wal-Mart, Target and gas cards
- Gift cards for GrubHub, McDonalds, Wendy’s, Burger King, Moe’s, Chipotle, Dunkin Donuts and Starbucks
- Crafts for young adults and children
- Items for teens or young adults
- Toys (Please look at our Amazon Wish Lists:
Under $20: https://a.co/hlW4hCO
$20 - 50: https://a.co/eHiQcV2
$50+: https://a.co/bVDujCy)
We ask that all items be new and recently purchased. Thank you!
Get your C.U.R.E. Gear
Rock C.U.R.E. Elite Sport Socks!
These super comfortable and supportive sport socks are HERE! What a great way to show support for C.U.R.E. and small businesses, they are made in the USA! Rock them while you are working from home or out exercising. Sandal season is over, rock these cozy socks today!