Dallas, 03/23/2016 /SubmitPressRelease123/
Every day in the United States, 46 children are diagnosed with cancer – resulting in hospital stays that last up to 12 days and cost more than $40,000. This is in addition to out-of-pocket expenses like food, travel and accommodations. To offset the expenses that come with a cancer diagnosis, Heroes for Children awards grants within one week that average $750.
Over the past nine years, Heroes for Children has awarded $700,046 to families with children being treated at Cook Children’s Medical Center in Fort Worth, providing assistance to more 962 applicants. Among them is Linda Ahern’s 6-year-old son Micah, who was diagnosed with Neuroblastoma when he was only 15 months old and has been fighting ever since. Micah, his three siblings and parents were first introduced to Heroes for Children when they participated in the Holiday Heroes program the Christmas after Micah relapsed in 2013.
“Heroes for Children helped us when there were no other resources. They threw a huge party at TCU and bought gifts specific for each of our kids, not just Micah. It was the most special Christmas we’ve ever had. We felt so loved and cared for,” says Micah’s mom, Linda Ahern. “And now here we are two and a half years after his relapse, and Heroes for Children is still helping out our family through financial support. At this point, all of Micah’s treatment is to prolong his life and not for a cure. But we know that no matter what we are going through, there is someone there that will help us. It makes our journey lighter and easier to bear.”
Too many families cope with a cancer diagnosis without a strong network of support. They struggle to pay their rent or mortgage, utility bills and day-to-day expenses such as groceries and gas and, sadly, in some cases require assistance with funeral costs. To ensure families are not fighting alone, Heroes for Children provides moments of normalcy and respite for the entire family through social assistance programs such as Movie Day, Holiday Heroes, Valentine’s Day dinner, Night at the Museum, Laptops for Love and much more.
“I love meeting families like the Aherns, who despite fighting this battle for more than five years, continue to find hope,” says Larissa Linton, co-founder and executive director of Heroes for Children. “After watching our daughters battle cancer, Jenny Dowen and I understand how isolating a cancer diagnosis is. That’s why we co-founded Heroes for Children – to make sure children battling cancer and their families never fight alone.”
The Ahern family is just one of 4,500 families Heroes for Children has assisted since its inception in 2005. Heroes for Children has awarded more than $5.5 million dollars to families across the state of Texas who have children battling cancer.
About Heroes for Children
Heroes for Children is a unique nonprofit organization that provides social and financial assistance to families with a child battling cancer. Since 2005, Heroes for Children has helped alleviate families’ worries, giving them comfort and a brief respite from the everyday challenges of fighting cancer and care giving. Since its inception, more than $5.5 million has been given to 4,200 families in need. To learn more about Heroes for Children, please visit http://www.heroesforchildren.org.
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