A Taste of Thankfulness on Your Carolina
Wrapping children with love and hope
For the last 20 years, Children’s Cancer Partners (CCP) has been wrapping children with love and hope in more ways than one. CCP, formerly Children’s Security Blanket, has supported children and their families battling cancer from the time the child is referred to us. Read our story here.
The support mainly comes in the way of financial help so the children can receive the treatment they most desperately need. We also have support is through family gatherings so children and families can connect with others who are on a similar journey. Additionally, support comes in the form of a summer camp, Camp Victory, so children and their families can be “normal” for a weekend and not have to worry about the burdens of childhood cancer.
Support is just one way CCP wraps children in love and hope.
Another is physical, blankets. It is a CCP tradition to wrap a child with a blanket the moment they become one of ours. We have given over a thousand children a blanket. We are thankful for all blanket donations who have made this possible. Our children love receiving their blanket and hold it near to their heart.
We are currently in need of blankets. Please mail to 900 S. Pine Street, Suite F, Spartanburg, SC 29302.
Kate Morrow named Director of Development
Kate, with over a decade of experience in healthcare marketing, non-profit management and philanthropy, joined the CCP team in September 2020. Prior to CCP, Kate served in leadership roles for the South Carolina Medical Association as the director of communications and the Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System Foundation as a director of philanthropy. Kate earned her Bachelor’s in Journalism and Mass Communications from the University of South Carolina and is an avid volunteer in her community, including Junior League of Columbia and Spartanburg, Make-A-Wish, March of Dimes, PRISMA-Midlands and more. Inspired by her own personal experiences of her twin children being born very prematurely and spending 76 days in the neonatal intensive care unit, Kate is a true champion of pediatric healthcare causes and served as an inaugural Gretchen Carlson Fellow for the National March of Dimes in 2018 and the South Carolina Ambassador Family in 2019.
Volunteer Spotlight: Lou and Sue Kinkle
Lou and Sue Kinkle have been volunteering for Children’s Cancer Partners for almost five years. Lou and Sue assist with families in the Myrtle Beach area as volunteer Family Advocates. The couple, with a heart of gold for our families and children, delivers Gift in Kind supplies to families in the Myrtle Beach area and can be seen at almost every CCP event.
Lou and Sue have always had a heart for children with cancer, knowing families in their home state of New Jersey who lost the battle with cancer. Shortly after moving to South Carolina, Lou became a member of the North Myrtle Beach Optimist Club. The club was searching for local childhood cancer organizations to support.
John Grover, member of the Grand Strand Optimist Club shared the vision of Children’s Security Blanket, now Children’s Cancer Partners, with the club. North Myrtle Beach Optimist Club members went to Columbia, SC to meet with Executive Director Laura Allen. In Lou’s words, “the rest is history.”
It’s difficult for Lou and Sue to pick just one favorite event in which they volunteer. “We love every aspect of CCP from Camp Victory (where Sue broke her ankle Zip Lining) to the Christmas parties, to meeting our families while delivering Gifts in Kind supplies,” states Lou.
We’re so grateful for Lou and Sue!! Thank you for all you do for our children! If you’re interested in volunteering for CCP, contact us at [email protected].
Volunteer Spotlight: Debra DiStefano
Debra has been volunteering for CPP for the last 4 years. Debra holds CCP close to her heart. She volunteers for us because of her daughter Rachel, one of our Superhero Angels, whom we lost in 2016. Debra firmly believes in the mission and purpose of CCP. She loves being able to give back to an organization that gave them so much and to help families that are traveling the journey they traveled not too long ago.
Debra’s favorite CCP event to volunteer for is the Cribb’s Kitchen Burger Cook-Off. She loves seeing families together and everyone enjoying themselves.
“Giving back with kindness and from the goodness of her heart is exactly how I would describe Debra DiStefano. She is a true inspiration to everyone in our office. Always arriving to volunteer with that special smile and special way of saying hello. Debra is one of the first people I think of when we need help with an important project because I know everything she touches here, she touches with care. We “love” her!!!!”
-Kim Melick, Director of Operations
Dr. Ki Young Chung Named Chair of Children’s Cancer Partners of the Carolinas Board of Directors
Dr. Chung is a medical oncologist treating adult cancer patients, who joined our CCP Board two years ago. He received his medical degree at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine. He completed his residency at the Johns Hopkins University Program in Internal Medicine in Baltimore, MD and fellowship at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York, NY and joined the faculty at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center and Cornell University Medical School as assistant professor of medicine.
In 2009, Dr. Chung was awarded the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center Fellowship Teacher of the Year. He is board certified in Internal Medicine and Medical Oncology and currently serves multiple positions including Principle Investigator of the Prisma Health NCI Community Oncology Research Program(NCORP), co-Director of the Institute for Translational Oncology Research(ITOR) and Associate Professor of Medicine at the University of South Carolina Greenville School of Medicine, Clemson University of School of Health Research and Medical University of South Carolina-Charleston.
In his spare time, Dr. Chung spends time with his wife Rachel(veterinarian) and children, Hudson(13 y.o.) and Sylvia(8 y.o.) as much as possible. He swims, gardens, and assists with farming and fostering rescue dogs. In accepting his election to chair the CCP Board, Dr. Chung commented “I am honored, but only wish I can fulfill and expand the mission of the Children’s Cancer Partners of the Carolinas. The children and their families need a champion for circumstances that are beyond their control. I will do my best to be this champion to support this critical mission.” Listen to Dr. Chung speak about CCP’s mission here.
February 2nd is Neuroblastoma Awareness Day
Neuroblastoma is a type of cancer that develops around a group of nerve cells. Neuroblastoma is typically arises in and around the adrenal glands (Mayo Clinic, n.d.). Neuroblastoma can develop in other others of the abdomen, chest, neck, and near the spine. This type of cancer commonly affects children under the age of 5, but can rarely affect older children. Because of this #2little is used to bring awareness to Neuroblastoma and our 263 children battling Neuroblastoma throughout the Carolinas. This year, we challenged our social media followers to share a picture of them or a family member as a toddler using #2little as a reminder of the childhood cancer that often affects young children
Children’s Cancer Partners of the Carolinas looks for more help during the pandemic
The pandemic has impacted all our lives. Now, the Children’s Cancer Partners of the Carolinas is asking for your help as they look to get more funding.
Author: WFMY News 2
December 2, 2020
Wilmington family battling childhood cancer in midst of COVID-19, nonprofits give support despite fundraising challenges
By Kendall McGee| November 12, 2020 at 8:33 PM EST – Updated November 24 at 4:50 PM
WILMINGTON, N.C. (WECT) – About 20 children in the Cape Fear region will be diagnosed with cancer this year, according to a local nonprofit.
A pandemic doesn’t stop families like the McCallums from getting that news either.
Graclyn was diagnosed at two and a half years old with leukemia. The now 3-year-old likes playing with her mother’s makeup, playing on her scooter and laughing with her older brother. Her infectious smile makes you forget that under her sweet play clothes, there’s a 3/4 inch needle inside of her for doctors to connect her chemo drugs into.
Cancer is something already incredibly difficult on its own, but things have been even harder fighting during a pandemic.
The news came when Lauren McCallum and her husband’s small business, Flip N Fly, had to be closed during the pandemic. At the time, they were also pregnant with their third child.
Once Graclyns treatments began, Lauren and her five day old baby were the only ones who could be at the hospital.
The family has been traveling between Wilmington and UNC hospital each week ever since, and like other childhood cancer families, the pandemic has added more burdens to their plate.
“You just never think your kids gonna have cancer and then they do and it’s a nightmare and so there’s no profit organizations just helping with gas and hotel stays groceries toys they really do help us and they make this a little bit easier,” said Graclyn’s mother, Lauren McCallum.
Right now, things are more difficult for families fighting cancer. Ronald McDonald houses are closed because of the virus. Hospitals are asking that they check in two days before treatment for a COVID test. With only six cities offering treatment for kids with cancer in the state, most families in North Carolina are forced to drive long distances for care.
“It’s a nightmare that I wish no parent to ever go through, but the kids are strong and they’re resilient and honestly I feel blessed to even go through it now because I’ve learned so much and I’ve become so much more appreciative of organizations like Strut for Kids or Children’s Cancer Partners of the Carolina’s or even St Jude’s — the commercials that you see on TV all the time. I mean the only reason Graclyn has a chance at life is because of Saint Jude and the discoveries they’ve made over the years,” said Lauren McCallum.
Charities are lending a hand with their meals, hotels and transportation, but even the nonprofits are struggling.
“Childhood cancer doesn’t stop for a pandemic. Kids are still getting diagnosed,” said Amy Bedingfield, president of board of directors for Strut for Kids.
Strut for Kids helps families in the New Hanover, Brunswick and Pender county area walk through their journey fighting childhood cancer.
The Children’s Cancer Partners of the Carolinas is another group that assists families in their battle with cancer.
Both non-profits assist patients with transportation, food, lodging, financial help and emotional support for as long as they need.
“COVID has just decimated so many organizations and we’re not spared from that either,” said Laura Allen, the executive director of Children’s Cancer Partners of the Carolinas. “Funding is drying up and I think it’s become more and more crisis for our families and it’s not just children’s cancer partner families it’s families of many organizations.”
Cancer charities are unable to spend quality time with families in person like they normally would. Gifts and toys aren’t dropped off in person anymore, but mailed to their recipients. Camps for children battling cancer have been cancelled.
The fundraisers that pay for resources for families in treatment were either cancelled or switched to a virtual fundraiser this year. Allen estimates their group lost as much as $400,000 due to the cancellation of major fundraising events including their annual Burger Cook-Off, the Docs Who Rock concert and in-school Kidz in Lids events.
However, no matter the obstacles in their path, both nonprofits have still been able to come up with creative solutions to still help their patients.
“We had built up reserves for a rainy day and let me tell you what that rainy days,” said Allen.
The one thing about rainy days is sometimes they provide a rainbow of hope.https://8dd2e483b89b6e021f9db41aec05e891.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-37/html/container.html
“Hope is never needed when things are good hope is needed when things are dark and that’s why we’re here,” said Bedingfield.
How you can help:
-Register with Be the Match
The cure for blood cancer is in the hands of ordinary people. Learn more here.
-Donate Blood
-Donate to a childhood cancer charity.
You can give monetary donations to Children’s Cancer Partners of the Carolina’s online here. You can donate to Strut for Kids here.
-Volunteer your time
Strut for Kids is looking for new board members to join the team. Find out how to get involved here.
Children’s Cancer Partners Presents ‘Taste of Thankfulness’, A Virtual Culinary Event
Children’s Cancer Partners of the Carolinas is hosting a virtual culinary event called ‘Taste of Thankfulness’
November 12, 2020 Jason Marcus
Click here to watch the story.
CHARLOTTE, NC–Children’s Cancer Partners of the Carolinas is hosting a virtual culinary event next week, and you can take part. Derek spoke with the organizations Executive Director and chef Jamie Cribbs to learn more about their Taste of Thankfulness event.