MOMS Club of West Des Moines works hard to keep kids cozy

Oh, how we love the holidays. The generosity and kind-hearted spirits, the smiles and thoughtfulness that people bring into our office is enough cause for holiday cheer.

Last Friday, Julie Petsche of the MOMS Club of West Des Moines, dropped off 30 fleece no-sew tie blankets for Children’s Cancer Connection to give to children recently diagnosed with cancer.

The MOMS Club is a national nonprofit organization comprised of local stay at home mothers and their children who get together and complete service projects, have play dates and hold other fun programs.

Petsche said MOMS Club of West Des Moines meets during the day, a time when moms need the most support. “We offer a variety of activities for moms and children to do, including but not limited to, family parties, guest speakers, monthly meetings, playgroups and family oriented activities,” she said.

The club learned about Children’s Cancer Connection through their past work with Blank Children’s Hospital. “While we do not have the ability to have a personal connection to the children, making no-sew fleece blankets gives us the chance to put a smile on their faces,” Petsche said.

“Once we decided we'd make them, we set a goal of 10-15 blankets. We ended up with 30 blankets!” she said. “Several moms got together one night for a MOMS night in and we tied all the blankets together. It was a great time knowing we were helping the children!”

Mount Ayr Community HS holds "Tackle Cancer" event for community

Last year, David Showalter came across an article about a football team in eastern Iowa that had dedicated one of its games to raising money to fight cancer. David, a senior and quarterback for his football team at Mount Ayr Community High School, saw this as an opportunity for his team to get involved in community, support those fighting cancer and honor those whose lives have been lost to cancer.


David brought his idea to Delwyn Showalter, Mount Ayr’s co-head football coach and David’s father. “We decided this would be a great way for us to involve our football team in the community and promote the idea that there are things in life much more important than football,” Delwyn Showalter said.

The event, “Tackle Cancer” took place this fall at Mount Ayr’s homecoming football game as a way for the school and community to get involved in raising cancer awareness. The football team wore pink from head to toe and the homecoming theme was centered around raising cancer awareness.

After the game the player’s pink jerseys were sold in an auction, which proved to be the most successful part of the Tackle Cancer event, raising $26,000 alone.


“Over 120 businesses, clubs, families and individuals paid a minimum of $45 to be sponsors of the event,” Delwyn Showalter said. “We had an extremely successful event in all respects, and the final tally for our fund raising efforts stands at $31,000.”

After much deliberation and careful research, the football team and coaching staff at Mount Ayr selected two organizations in the state of Iowa that focused on youth and had an impact on families in their area.

“We feel that Children’s Cancer Connection is one of the charities that meets the criteria we set for our donation. We would be pleased to present a donation of $15,500 to help further your mission.”

The impact of one small idea from one young individual is reflected through David’s initiative to create the Tackle Cancer event. At Children’s Cancer Connection we appreciate everyone who helps enhance the quality of life for children and families affected by childhood cancer.

Giving Back All Wrapped Up in a Bow

The holidays are a time of giving and sharing, sometimes in invaluable ways. Many people head to the malls and shop all day, searching for the perfect presents for their family and friends. At the end of the day, they are exhausted, but it’s all worth it because the perfect gift was discovered; but how to get it home without ruining the surprise?

Valley West Mall annually houses a Holiday Gift Wrap Booth in center court for Children’s Cancer Connection. The booth is completely run by Children’s Cancer Connection volunteers who take time from their busy holiday schedules to wrap gifts for holiday shoppers.

Trisha Barton, Director of Marketing for Valley West Mall, said they continue to support Children’s Cancer Connection because it impacts local families right now.

“There are a lot of organizations that deal with cancer research and things that look to the future, hoping to one day cure these terrible diseases,” Barton said. “Children’s Cancer Connection is there now, when the families find out that this is happening to their family.”


Make sure to stop by the Children’s Cancer Connection Holiday Gift Wrap Booth when you are out holiday shopping. Our volunteers would love to help make that perfect present, just a little more special.

Big Wheel Rally: Make A Difference

Getting dressed up in costume and riding a big wheel down the street in the prime of winter may sound outrageous, but it’s one of those things you just have to experience for yourself.

The Big Wheel Rally is a bar crawl and opportunity for adults to express their creativity together by creating costumes and unique big wheels to ride between locations on Ingersoll Ave.


The Big Wheel Rally has supported Children’s Cancer Connection for nine years and continues to increase support dollars every year. “The first year supporting Children’s Cancer Connection in 2002, we raised about $1,300,” Austin Gill, an organizer of the event said. “This year our goal is $20,000.”

This year’s event will take place on December 11 at 11 a.m. will start at Zimm’s Food & Spirits and continue on to GT, Yacht Club, and Carl’s Place. Costumes and big wheels are optional but always encouraged.

Austin Gill decided to get involved in Big Wheel Rally because his mother was diagnosed with cancer around the same time. “After seeing what my mom and our family went through, I couldn’t imagine having to deal with all of that as a kid,” he said.

Molly Gill also helps organize the event as a way to help families of children affected by cancer. “A good friend of mine lost her brother to cancer when we were in high school,” she said. “That made me first aware of the need to help both kids with cancer and their siblings.”

Get together a few friends and come see the fun that’s had at Big Wheel Rally. Long-sleeved t-shirts can be ordered online from http://www.bikeiowa.com/ for just $25 before December 5. Donations can also be made at this site.

Holiday Cards by Kids

Click to Play

Each year Children's Cancer Connection sells Holiday Cards by Kids to benefit their programs and services. The original artwork for each of these holiday card designs were drawn by participants in their Summer Camp programs for children with cancer and their siblings. Watch this episdoe of "Simply Connected" to hear from Brody, a child affected by cancer and one of the 2010 Holiday Cards by Kids artists!

2010 Big Wheel Rally benefiting Children's Cancer Connection

Click to Play

The Big Wheel Rally is an annual bar crawl up Ingersoll Ave. in Des Moines, Iowa, which raises funds for Children's Cancer Connection, a local non-profit focused on enhancing the quality of life for children and families affected by childhood cancer. At Big Wheel Rally adults dress up in costumes, create their own big wheels and ride for a cause! Watch this episode of "Simply Connected" to learn more about the event and to learn why the events organizers have chosen to support Children's Cancer Connection for the past 9 years.

Capture the Holidays, in Picture form!

As you finish off the last of the leftover turkey and stuffing (finally!) and begin to prepare for the December holidays, remember to keep taking creative and exciting photos for the 2010 Photo Connection Photo Contest.

From Jan. 3 through Feb 4, 2011, photos can be submitted via the Children’s Cancer Connection website. Categories include:

• Camp Heart Connection
• Family Outings
• Hospital Based
• Volunteer
• Survivorship
• Individual Child

A more detailed list with suggested photos for each category will appear on our website with the photo entry form during the contest dates.

 

We will select the top three photos in each of the six categories, in addition to the overall grand prize winner, and showcase these photos on our website.

 

Don’t let this busy time of year cause you to forget about capturing family occasions. It’s okay to take 37 pictures of Timmy helping Grandpa carve the turkey, just make sure to send a few our way!

 

Happy Holidays!

 

Bringing Smiles and Holiday Cheer

The holiday season is upon us and many individuals dedicate this season to thinking of others by reaching out to help someone in need of extra cheer in their life.

Families with children who have received a cancer diagnosis within the year are often overwhelmed with the treatment process and the holidays can be an added stress. The Adopt-A-Family program was created by Children’s Cancer Connection for those families to be able to celebrate the holidays, despite the additional financial burden the families are experiencing, due to additional hospital costs.

Local businesses, civic organizations and extended family choose to sponsor a family and receive a list of items they need in addition to holiday gifts the kids would like. Each family also receives gift cards to local grocery stores and gas stations to assist with day-to-day expenses.

The sponsors bring the purchased items to the Children’s Cancer Connection office, so the staff can deliver the gifts one week before Christmas. One staff member shares their past story of a gift delivery:

“One delivery that really touched my heart was to a single mom and her three children; the youngest was a one-year-old with cancer. When we arrived, one of her children hugged my co-worker’s legs the minute we walked into the door. The family lived in a small apartment with a couch, television and kitchen table with one chair. The family had no Christmas tree to put the presents under, so we placed them in a room that had a crib and stroller along with a deflated air mattress the mom was using as her bed.
Knowing that Children’s Cancer Connection’s Adopt-A-Family program helped make this family’s Christmas brighter was a wonderful feeling to have during the holiday season.”

Holiday cheer can be spread in more ways than just this one. How will you reach out to others during this holiday season?

Spring Communication and Copywriting Intern Needed!

Are you looking for an internship experience? Would you like to earn college credit? Take a look below and see what an internship with the Children’s Cancer Connection has to offer!


Title: Communications/Copywriting Intern (8 - 10 hours per week)

Reports to: Director of Marketing and Communication

Duration: Part-time, Spring, Summer or Fall

Organization: Children’s Cancer Connection - 1221 Center Street, Des Moines, IA 50309-1014
Children’s Cancer Connection, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, has provided support services and programs for children with cancer and their families since 1988. The organization sponsors two week-long summer camps for children with cancer and their siblings, provides support groups, family outings, weekend retreats, hospital-based programs and a survivorship program.

Organizations Mission Statement: We enhance the quality of life for children and families affected by childhood cancer by providing programs for education, recreation and support.

Qualifications:
• Academic major in Communications, Journalism or Graphic Design
• Proficiency in MS Word, Outlook and Excel
• Ability to multi-task and work well on a team
• Strong organizational skills, time management skills and attention to detail
• Knowledge of layout design; Working knowledge of Adobe products including InDesign, Illustrator, and Photoshop a plus
• Copywriting and editing skills
• Knowledge of social media networking tools

Position Summary:
This un-paid position will, under the direction of the Management Team, assist in the design of semi-annual newsletters, regular e-newsletters, weekly press releases, copy write and edit print pieces, and assist in the development of brochures and other print materials for program and fundraising activities. Also, this position will assist in maintaining the organizations website and Social Media Networking tools- Facebook, Twitter, Blog, ect.

This internship will provide a student the ability to increase their portfolio with press releases, marketing pieces and website development. Because of the part-time nature of this opportunity, a student could potentially hold another job/internship. We offer flexible scheduling and a fun, fast-paced environment where students can directly impact the lives of children dealing with cancer.

Responsibilities:
• Design and develop organizational newsletters
• Create brochures as needed
• Develop e-newsletter artilces and spotlights
• Research articles and conduct interviews as needed
• Seek opportunities for and write weekly press releases
• Calendar Updates, Event Photo’s, etc.
• Develop opportunities for use of social network tools (i.e. Facebook, Twitter, Blog etc.)
• General administrative support

Contact Information:
Children’s Cancer Connection
Emily Beckmann- Director of Marketing and Communication
1221 Center Street, Suite 12
Des Moines, IA 50309-1014
515-243-6239 ext. 1102
Emily@ChildrensCancerConnection.com

All interested students – freshmen through seniors – are encouraged to apply. Submit cover letter and resume to the address or email address above.

For more information about Children’s Cancer Connection, please visit our website at: http://www.childrenscancerconnection.org/

AIB student Megan Calmer exceeds service requirements with Children's Cancer Connection




Megan Calmer, a student at AIB College of Business in Des Moines, started volunteering with Children’s Cancer Connection to fulfill service requirements for the college. After her time requirement had been met, she continued to come back and make a difference in whatever way she could.
“Every time I see a smile on one of the kid’s faces, I feel like I am making a difference,” Calmer said. “I see how appreciative all the families are that they have Children’s Cancer Connection, where their kids can be kids and get the support they need.”

Calmer is inspired by the lively spirits of the children who have been touched by cancer. “Every time I am around the children, I realize that it is all the little things in life that make is so wonderful,” she said.

Following her college graduation, Calmer would like to enter the non-profit sector to continue making a difference in the lives of others.

“The first time I volunteered [at Children’s Cancer Connection] was during my second term at college and I didn't really know what I wanted to do with my life,” Calmer said. “Volunteering at Children's Cancer Connection has inspired me to go into non-profit after college.”

ABC5 joins in to promote Holiday Cards by Kids

After the children designed the cards in the summer, they were printed and packed in the fall, just in time to be sold in the winter. With all the hard work that goes into the creation of Holiday Cards by Kids, how does Children’s Cancer Connection spread the word?

Eight years ago, the local television station ABC5 stepped in to help Children’s Cancer Connection tell the community about Holiday Cards by Kids.

Doug Sawyer, promotion manager and public service director at ABC5, said it was something they agreed to “in a heartbeat.”

“Our News Department had done a few stories on [Camp Heart Connection] so we were familiar with the camp and knew how many people and families it helped,” Sawyer said.

The station helps promote the cards by airing a thirty-second public service announcement that describes the cards as well as the kids who created them.

“We try to show the holiday cards, take [viewers] along for a quick visit to camp and show some of the great kids and families that they can help,” Sawyer said.

“I think we also have helped raise awareness for the Children's Cancer Connection, so that when families need help, they know [Children’s Cancer Connection is] out there for them,” he said.

This year marks the 60th year that WOI-TV has been on air, and they have been helping local charities from the beginning. “We know there are many local businesses that believe in investing in the community like we do,” Sawyer said. “And we’re always looking for a way to build a better community.”

It appears as though all their generosity and airtime has helped the cards get noticed and purchased by members of the community. “I've heard more than a few stories from viewers that have purchased the cards because they saw the public service announcement on ABC5,” Sawyer said. “That's always gratifying.”

Coconut Castaways bring sunshine to Maddy's Classic

There’s nothing like a little sunshine to brighten up the day, which is why the Coconut Castaways of Des Moines love to volunteer in a tropical style. The Coconut Castaways have collaborated with Children’s Cancer Connection for three years of sand and sun.


Tammy Hollander, former cruise director of Coconut Castaways said the group initially began working with Children’s Cancer Connection at Maddy Cunningham’s Classic Volleyball Tournament. “We were looking for volunteer opportunities and helping at a sand volleyball tournament sounded like a lot of fun,” she said.

Helping at the first tournament hit close to home for many of the Coconut Castaways when a fellow members child was diagnosed with cancer.

“Kory Ellerbeck was one of our original volunteers and his son Derek, then 3, was diagnosed with the exact same type of cancer as Maddy,” Hollander said. “That is one of the things that keeps us coming back and working hard for the cause.”

Last year was the third year of Maddy’s Classic and the collaborative effort with the Coconut Castaways. “We expanded into a silent auction and that, combined with the large number of teams, helped raise more money than the first two years combined. That's a great feeling,” Hollander said.
“[Children’s Cancer Connection] is a great organization that helps a lot of families when they need it most,” Hollander said. “We'll continue to do what we can to support them.”

Annual Golf Outing honors one, benefits many

For the past 16 years, City Carton Recycling and the Ockenfels Family Foundation have held a golf outing in tribute to a family member who died of childhood cancer.

Kathy Ockenfels, affectionately referred to as Kathy O, was the co-chair of the golf outing in 2010. “Our golf outing is in tribute to Debbie Ockenfels, a member of the Ockenfels family, who died of cancer at the age of 17,” she said.

The outing sells out every year, in both the number of people participating and the vendors present.

“I think everybody that comes [to the golf outing] has had some experience with cancer. The disease itself it a horrifying thing that we have to figure out how to cure,” Kathy O said.

In addition to honoring Debbie’s memory, the Ockenfels Family Foundation donates all of the proceeds from the annual event to the American Cancer Society and Children’s Cancer Connection.

“Because [these organizations] directly affect children within our regional area, it becomes very important to us,” Kathy O said. “City Carton Recycling and the Ockenfels Family Foundation are very committed to helping local charities.”

Director of Donor Relations at Children’s Cancer Connection, Tiffany Spinner is honored to partner with the Ockenfels Family Foundation. “They run one of the best golf outings in the state and they have made such an impact on our organization,” Tiffany said.

After the 2009 outing, the Ockenfels Family Foundation donated over $47,000 to Children’s Cancer Connection. The long-time partnership has allowed the Ockenfels to give close to $150,000 to help children and families affected by childhood cancer.
Kathy O believes that donating to Children’s Cancer Connection is a way her family can directly help those suffering from cancer. “Children’s Cancer Connection, being in Des Moines and serving children within Iowa, is just a perfect fit.”

Falcons Fighting Cancer

The girls’ basketball team at Louisa-Muscatine High School kept busy last season. On top of keeping a winning record, they chose to hold a fundraiser to benefit Children’s Cancer Connection.

On Dec. 18, 2009, the girls’ team competed against Columbus Junction in a basketball game, but the real event was “Falcons Fighting Cancer.” They sold over 300 t-shirts prior to the game, totaling over $2,600, which was donated to Children’s Cancer Connection.

Head Coach Nate Sanderson said the girls’ collectively chose Children’s Cancer Connection because it benefits those with cancer from across the state of Iowa.

The event was organized by the 2009-10 girls’ basketball team with the support of Tanya Fordyce, Louisa-Muscatine Booster Club Treasurer.

Get ready for the 2010 Photo Connection Photo Contest

Loden Maxon's photo won the
2009 Photo Connection Contest

Children’s Cancer Connection is proud to present the 2nd annual Photo Connection Photo Contest! We encourage all Children’s Cancer Connection families and volunteers to begin gathering photos for submission that tell the story of Children’s Cancer Connection.



Photos may be submitted via our website from Jan. 3—Feb. 4, 2011 and all photos must be from the 2010 calendar year to be considered.



This year there are six categories: Camp Heart Connection, Family Outings, Hospital Based, Volunteer, Survivorship and Individual Child. A more detailed list will appear on our website and the photo entry form, which will be available on our website in January.

The top three photos in each category and the overall grand prize winner will be showcased on our website and blog and mentioned in our E-Newsletter.

More information will be available as the submission dates come closer. For now, search for your favorite pictures to submit and look at our website to see last year’s winners.

For additional questions please contact Emily at: Emily@ChildrensCancerConnection.com or by phone at (515) 243-6239 ext. 1102.

5th Annual Brant's Race to benefit Children's Cancer Connection

Click to Play

Learn more about the 5th Annual Brant's Race, a race in member of Brant Hamilton, which takes place each year in Earlham. This fall-themed race is a great event for families and runners alike and it also supports the programs and services of Children's Cancer Connection.

Grief support for families dealing with a loss

Click to Play

This episode features guests from Children's Cancer Connection and Amanda the Panda and discusses the topics of grief and support as they relate to childhood cancer.

Penny-wars raise money for Coins for Campers

Coins for Campers is a program schools participate in by raising funds in their own way for Children’s Cancer Connection. This year, Walnut School was the first school to hold a drive and donated $1147.75 after a week-long penny war between all classes.

Nicole Cunningham, pre-school para at Walnut, organized the event to celebrate Alec Mertz, a former student and Children’s Cancer Connection program participant, whose life was taken by cancer five years ago when he was in 4th grade.

Cunningham, who is a friend of the Mertz family, wanted to do something to honor Alec’s memory. “My initial idea was to have a jeans day for the teachers,” said Cunningham. “After looking around online I thought a penny war seemed like a great idea that would get the kids involved during Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.”

Cunningham was unsure of where to donate the money after it was raised, so she turned to Michelle Mertz, Alec’s mother. “She suggested donating to Children’s Cancer Connection or Make A Wish Foundation,” said Cunningham. After looking at our website and our mission, Cunningham decided on Children’s Cancer Connection.

Cunningham motivated the students to participate by creating a flyer with Alec’s picture and the Children’s Cancer Connection mission. The results she saw were surprising.

Walnut has students from Pre-K to grade 12, and the $1,147.75 total was raised by only 179 students. Alec’s younger brother, Michael, a freshman at Walnut, and his class raised the most money in the penny war. “A few classes stepped up to the plate and brought in a lot more that we expected, which helped us reach such a high total,” said Cunningham.

"Pepper in Some Hope" with Chili's and St. Jude!

Chili’s entered a commitment with St. Jude to donate $50 million dollars over a ten year period. Since 2006 when the commitment began, Chili’s Create-A-Pepper campaign has raised $30 million dollars for St. Jude.

Visit their website to create your own custom pepper or head to Chili’s on The Big Day, Sept. 27, when 100% of the profits from every meal will go to St. Jude.

Funds raised in the initial year of the Create-A-Pepper campaign helped to open the Chili’s Care Center. It holds the radiological sciences department, bone marrow transplant unit and multiple research labs. Click here to read more.

"All of my sales go to my friend with cancer"

Garage sales are common among many neighborhoods during the summer months, but something rare is a garage sale, put together by children to raise money for a friend with childhood cancer.

Avery Merkley, a third grader, organized a two day garage sale in August to raise money for her friend, Will Krueger, a child who is affected by cancer and who is also one of Children’s Cancer Connection’s program participants. Avery did everything to prepare for the sale from making signs, pricing items and setting up the inventory.

One bright red sign read, “All of my sales go to my friend with cancer.” At the end of the sale, Avery gave the money to Will, who decided to donate it to Children’s Cancer Connection.

How Sweet It Is...

Pilled high with rich frosting and covered with bright sprinkles can make it hard to resist a cupcake—especially when they are being sold for CancerCare for Kids program.

Because September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, CancerCare for Kids created the national, annual event Cupcakes for a Cause to benefit their service which provides free support services to children and their families affected by childhood cancer.

Anyone can support this program—even if you don’t want to eat or bake. The Cupcakes for a Cause website offers the opportunity to create an e-cupcake and send it to your friends and family! The service is free but the official sponsor, got2b, is donating $1 for every e-cupcake sold, up to $10,000. To date, only 1,080 have been sent so jump over to their website to help them reach their goal.

For those interested in some finger-licking fun, across the nation, businesses, families and friends get together to bake cupcakes and donate the proceeds to Cupcakes for a Cause. Get a team together and start baking!

Grocery stores and bakeries are celebrating Cupcakes for a Cause Week, September 20-26 by selling specially decorated cupcakes and donating back a portion of the proceeds.

What a “sweet way to help children and families affected cancer!”

iCANcer App Combats Cancer with Pocket-Sized Organization

Apple recently released the first app for iPhone and iPod touch that manages the cancer journey. iCANcer is meant to benefit cancer patients, survivors and caregivers alike. The app helps manage your medical information by allowing you to calculate the ANC, graph labs, log treatment, save doctor appointment information, log side effects and late effects.

The app has many other features to put your mind at ease:

-Password protected

-Exports medical information

-Organizes doctor appointments

-Stores questions you have for specialists

-Manages medical history

-E-mail your information to a new doctor

For the month of September, $1 from each app download goes to American Childhood Cancer Association. Visit the Apple download site to purchase yours today!

Survivorship and the After Effects of Being a Childhood Cancer Survivor

Click to Play

Chris English, a childhood cancer survivor, shares his story about his battle with childhood cancer and shares information about the after effects of cancer and his adult life as a survivor.

Amy Setser speaks about Bumping for Blake in Quad City Times

Why donate to Children's Cancer Connection? Each donor has their own personal reasons. Amy Setser, mother and organizer of Bumping for Blake's Cancer Camp, tells her story to the Quad City Times.

From the article:

"For a long time, I felt like I was taking from these organizations, and we just didn't have the energy to give back," Ms. Setser said. "Now that Blake is approaching the end of his treatment, I wanted to find an organization I could really put my heart behind."
"I picked the Children's Cancer Connection because it promotes the camp that Blake will go to for years to come. This organization promotes healing for the entire family and focuses on the emotions the entire family goes through, not just the child going through treatment."

Holiday Cards are Here!

It’s official! The designs have been picked for our 2010 Holiday Cards and we are ready to sell them to you!

This year, we are excited to be holding our very first unveiling event where you can come see the cards for the first time and meet the child artists! The open house will be held during Girls’ Night in the Village(an event hosted by John Stoddard Cancer Center) from 5-7p.m on September 30 at Simply for Giggles in the East Village. Stop by and have some hot apple cider and cookies while you look.

Cards will be available in retail packs of 24 at the Brass Armadillo, Heart of Iowa Marketplace, Simply for Giggles and The Lagniappe. A mail order form will be available beginning September 15 on our website.

For corporate or imprinted orders, contact Cindy at 515.243.6239 x1107 or by e-mail at Cindy@ChildrensCancerConnection.com

Changes Made to Keep Children's Cancer Connection Strong

As you are well aware, we are facing one of the most difficult economic times in our nation’s history.  Like many companies and organizations, Children's Cancer Connection has also been affected.  In order to ensure that we weather this economic storm and have the ability to maintain our programs for those facing childhood cancer our Board of Directors has chosen to act proactively and has made the hard decision to cut a number of budget items to ensure the strength of this organization.

We have made significant cuts to every expense line item including supplies, equipment, printing and postage and all other areas that we could do without, or delay, until things turn around.  The most noticeable impact of these cuts however, includes a reduction in our staff. 

This week we had to say farewell to our Receptionist – Cheryl Angier.  Cheryl has been the morning voice of the organization for nearly three years. 

We also had to say goodbye to our Director of Programs and Volunteer Services, Brecka Putnam.  Brecka joined us in February of 2008 and has been instrumental in helping us grow our programs.  Brecka brought the first “Survivors of Childhood Cancer” program to Iowa and has been a huge advocate of our family based programs and services.

Brecka asked that we share a note from her –

"Dear friends,

It has been a joy to work with and get to know you over the past few years.  I have learned so much from you, and am amazed by the strength of families touched by childhood cancer and the compassion of the volunteers that serve them.  It is with sadness that I inform you that my position at Children’s Cancer Connection has been eliminated due to financial reasons.  I will miss those of you that I have worked with greatly, but I take comfort in knowing that this decision was necessary to preserve the organization and allow Children’s Cancer Connection to continue providing excellent services for families.  Should you wish to contact me in the future, please don’t hesitate: brecka.putnam@gmail.com. "

We are saddened that we have had to make these deep cuts and that our Children's Cancer Connection family has been affected.  We are dividing responsibilities to ensure that we maintain our current level of programs and services.  We feel very fortunate that we have managed to not have to downsize as long as we have.  Many other organizations were forced to do this early in the economic down turn, and others have had to close their doors. 

Both our Board of Directors and I are committed to do what it takes to ensure that we will be here to meet the needs of every family that needs our services and programs. 

I am available to answer questions and listen to concerns.  Should you want to contact me, I am available by email at Mark@childrenscancerconnection.com or by phone at 515-243-6239 extension 1101. 

Relive the fun times from Siblings Camp 2010!

What a great time everyone had at Siblings Camp 2010! Check out the photos of this years' campers!

Bumping for Blake's Cancer Camp

Upon hearing that her son would be finished with treatment in September, Amy Setser wanted to give back to one of the many organizations that helped them during the 3 ½ year journey. “I wanted it to be an organization that I could really stand behind and get excited about helping,” said Setser, Blake’s mom. After Blake attended the oncology camp this year, Setser knew that Children’s Cancer Connection was the organization that she wanted to support.


Bumping for Blake’s Cancer Camp Volleyball Tournament will be held at Hawkeye Tap in Davenport on Saturday, September 11 starting at 9 a.m. In addition to the double elimination volleyball games that will be held throughout the day, the event will host a water balloon toss, serving challenge, raffle and 50/50 drawings. Of course, there will be fun for the kids as well! The Kids Korner will have face painting, temporary tattoos a water balloon toss and games with prizes.
Team registration is just $120 and you can email bumpingforblake@yahoo.com to register or to obtain more information.

Back to School and Childhood Cancer

Click to Play

While children with cancer often experience disruptions in their education as they are coming back to school after being diagnosed/treated, there are alot of different valuable resources for parents, children, suvivors and teachers as they go through this process.  View this episode, "Back to School and Childhood Cancer," as a part of Simply Connected brought to you by Children's Cancer Connection, to learn about a few of these resources!