Clips for Cancer and other local events raise $270,000 to support children with cancer

FORT MYERS, Fla. - Oct. 25, 2024 - PRLog -- Clips for Cancer and other local events raised $270,000 during Childhood Cancer Awareness Month in September to support Barbara's Friends – the Golisano Children's Hospital cancer fund.

"The impact of what this means for our kids with cancer is overwhelming. The support of everyone who was involved from the sponsors, to community leaders and first responders who shaved their heads, the families, businesses and everyone who donated made a difference in the life of a child fighting cancer at Golisano Children's Hospital," said Amy Frith, senior director of Barbara's Friends the childhood cancer fund at Golisano Children's Hospital.

At Clips for Cancer held Sept. 21, 23 childhood cancer survivors and three children still in treatment shaved the heads of community supporters, who helped raise money and awareness, showing that being bald is not a sign of weakness but of strength in the long fight through chemotherapy treatment.

Other events raising money for Barbara's Friends also held throughout the month included:

• 3 Pepper Burrito, with eight locations in Southwest Florida, raised $5,250 through the sales of kids' meals all month long.
• Perfect Game, featuring the top 14U baseball players in the country, held fundraising competitions. This year, Perfect Game raised $30,465.
• Palm City Brewing Company raised $438 from the proceeds of their Ocean View Lager and the special release of their "Fighter's Gold," a specially brewed, custom labeled beer.
• Riverdale High School sold T-shirts designed by Marison Bradley, 15, from Naples during homecoming events and the homecoming game raising over $10,000.
• Pure Barre & Cycle Bar offered benefit classes and raised $2,500.

Each year, community support raised for Barbara's Friends helps families with children receiving cancer treatment, such as providing gas cards to make sure kids can get to and from Golisano for daily treatments, paying for medications when insurance will not cover at-home chemo or pain relief drugs, or purchasing meals so parents can stay by their children during treatment. Additionally, Barbara's Friends offers college scholarships, so that survivors can apply for college funds.

Donations also help fund medical advances in technology and care, including the addition of pediatric neurosurgical services at Golisano and the first-ever total immersion chemotherapy room at the Golisano Children's Hospital Naples pediatric hematology and oncology clinic.

This year, funds from Barbara's Friends helped build the first of its kind, sensory-friendly ambulance. Many children with cancer have sensory issues and will benefit from this unique ambulance that will reduce stress and anxiety on the way to the hospital.

Support for Barbara's Friends is needed all year long. To make a donation or learn more, visit BarbarasFriends.org (https://leehealthfoundation.org/helping-kids-with-cancer/).