That 1 Family Shines Warrior Breakfast/ 2 Cancer Harvest of Hope For 3 Ride A Child
4 Holiday Programs Report 5 Annual 2018 Report 6 Annual 2018
Report 7 Annual 2018 Report 8 Annual 2018 & 9 Sponsor Partner Spotlights
& D.I.Y. 10 Volunteer Fundraiser Spotlights from the 11 Message Executive Director Staff 12 Candlelighters
CandlelightersConnections WINTER 2019
Family That Shines: Morrison Family Meet Erin Morrison: an active and
strange lump on the side of her neck. After a few visits to the pediatrician, enthusiastic 15-year old. She is a she was sent to the emergency room for Sophomore at Liberty High School and additional tests. “Our world was shaken plays soccer for FC Portland and her high to the core when several hours later the school. She a member of the Hillsboro doctors came back with a diagnosis: Youth Advisory Council and was selected cancer. The next day Erin’s cancer journey to attend the National League of Cities began. She had biopsies and surgery which Conference. She is also very active with confirmed it was Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, the Girl Scouts of Oregon and Southwest Washington and was selected to be on the and she immediately started treatment strategic planning team for the Girl Scouts at Doernbecher Children’s Hospital. The national conference and is a founder of the treatments were difficult and made Astronomy Club. She lives in Hillsboro with her extremely sick, but thankfully, the her mom, Kris, her dad, Sean, and her little cancer responded to treatment. She just celebrated one-year cancer free! The sister, Sarah. recovery process has been slow, but she’s Erin’s cancer caught the family doing amazing and getting better every completely by surprise. In August 2017, day!”, says Kris. Erin came off the soccer field with a
The Morrison Family at Candlelighters Family Camp last Summer.
Candlelighters For Children With Cancer publishes CandlelightersConnections four times a year to provide news and other information to our childhood cancer community in Oregon and SW Washington.
“We are so blessed to be part of the Candlelighters family! When we received Erin’s cancer diagnosis, we were overwhelmed with worry and fear. Our family and friends were wonderful, but Erin felt very alone. Every day brought new, more difficult challenges. It was so hard watching our bubbly, energetic girl struggling through treatment valiantly fighting to be brave. Candlelighters provided light during those dark days. With activities that embrace not just the child fighting cancer, but the whole family, we felt so much support and understanding! We didn’t feel so alone anymore. Programs like Family Camp, the Holiday Party and the Teen Luminaries group, introduced us to new friends and gave us hope and encouragement to face the days ahead”, says Kris. “Childhood cancer affects not only the child facing the disease, but the rest of the family too. The day-to-day demands of treatment, tests and hospital visits are scary and exhausting for everyone. Candlelighters is wonderful and unique, because they understand that ALL members of the family - cancer patient, parents and siblings - need support. These worries and concerns don’t just go away the minute treatment ends. Healing from the trauma of cancer is different for everyone and takes time. By supporting families and including them in activities
Erin as emcee at The SUPERHERO 5K 2018
post treatment, Candlelighters gives families the time they need to recover and find their strength again”, says Kris. One of Erin’s favorite activities is being part of the Candlelighters Teen Luminaries group. “I enjoy being in the Luminaries because I get to work with other kids my age going through similar challenges. We understand each other and know our cancer doesn’t define us. I love how we put aside our own problems and help the community together.”
The Morrison Family at Disneyland
Our Mission:
To provide a community of healing, hope, and light throughout the life-long journey of childhood cancer. We advocate, we educate, we build partnerships, and we foster solidarity for all families experiencing cancer.