Recognized nationally every September, Childhood Cancer Awareness Month is a campaign organized to increase awareness of pediatric cancer and raise funds for research into its cause, prevention, diagnosis, treatment and cure.
Almost every day in Kansas City a child is diagnosed with cancer. In 2018 alone, there were more that 16,000 children and adolescents diagnosed and nearly 1,200 children who lost their battle to cancer. With no current cure, it is still the largest killer of children in the United States.
Children undergoing cancer treatments spend an average of 120 days in the hospital. These children can often become depressed, isolated and fearful. Thankfully, a local nonprofit foundation held near and dear to the hearts of everyone here at Brookside Real Estate Company is doing something about this.
Bags of Fun KC/the Gabby Krause Foundation delivers the power of play to children fighting cancer and other long term, life threatening illnesses. Director, Louisa Weinrich explained, “A bag of fun is a backpack filled to the brim with 12-15 items picked specifically for each child’s needs, interests and treatment plan. Each bag of fun is filled with hours of distraction, educational items, as well as items that encourage socialization and items that bring comfort. Not only do bags of fun give the children something to focus on during their treatments, but they also give the families of these children the sense that someone else cares.”
We at Brookside Real Estate have proudly been a local partner of Bags of Fun KC/the Gabby Krause Foundation since their inception in 2011 and have had the pleasure of providing over 200 bags of fun to sick Kansas City children and their families. “All of us here are extremely passionate about helping bring a smile to the faces of these KC children who are being treated for long term, life threatening illnesses,” said Brookside Real Estate Owner and Broker, Jim Kraus, “The opportunity for Brookside Real Estate Company to partner with this organization means a lot to all of us, and we enjoy the opportunity to help spread the word throughout Kansas City and beyond about the fine work this organization does for young cancer patients and their families.”
If you would like to find out how you can help Bags of Fun KC/the Gabby Krause Foundation or sponsor a bag of fun for a child, you can do so by going to their website: www.bagsoffunkansascity.org