Letter from the Executive Director

Supporters are the inspiration that drives us as we strive to reach every one of our families to ensure they know our

DEAR FRIENDS of Kids with Cancer

Supporters, on a regular basis we are humbled by the testimonials, thank you notes, pictures and stories we receive from our patient families about what their experience with Friends has been like. They are the inspiration that drives us as we strive to reach every one of our families to ensure they know our “once a friend, always a friend” approach. The most significant compliment to Friends of Kids with Cancer’s mission always will be the incredible number of families who give back, and their continued involvement, no matter where they are on their journey. This gives all of us at Friends such a strong sense of pride. I hope you will feel that same pride as you see the impact this one-ofa-kind organization has been able to make in the past year because of your support. While the magnitude of this impact is far greater than words or a report can describe, please know this meaningful and distinctive mission is only possible because of you.

In 2021, our families, especially those in active treatment, continued to be affected by the global pandemic. As the year progressed, it was encouraging to see how things started to ease. However, there was still a significant need for the adjustments to programs and services to make sure we were able to support those disproportionately impacted. We are always so grateful to our hospital partners and steadfast volunteers who worked alongside us to ensure the full scope of our programming was effectively meeting the needs of our kids and their families during such a challenging time. We also worked diligently to expand necessary programming, as well as our staff. We celebrate these accomplishments as they proved to be a great success. We cannot do this work alone, and we need our partners and supporters with us. Thank you for your trust, love for these amazing kids, and all the thoughtful support.

With gratitude,

Brandy Bimslager Executive Director

A Simple Idea

Friends of Kids with Cancer has a proud 29-year history exclusively in St. Louis of helping kids with cancer…be kids. Jill Turec, Developmental Specialist at Mercy Clinic Children’s Cancer and Hematology Center, along with concerned parents, Molly Henry and Susie Snowden, saw the great need to enrich the daily lives and divert the attention of the patients outside of the medical treatments. These three women shared a dream that every child with cancer would experience as much fun, laughter, support, and normalcy as possible. It was this idea that was the birth of Friends of Kids with Cancer.

For 29 years Friends has been driven to meet the everevolving needs of not only the patients but their entire families. Everything Friends provides is suggested by medical professionals and patient families. Starting in the office of Dr. Bob Bergamini, local Pediatric HematologistOncologist, in 1992, Friends adopted his philosophy: treat the needs of the entire child, not only the cancer.

THE POWER OF THINK, FEEL & SMILE

Friends of Kids with Cancer helps cultivate mental wellbeing with Educational, Emotional, and Recreational programs that help children, and their families, cope with the daily challenges they face, make the best out of their situation, and most importantly, give them the tools to retain childhood.

Friends provides programs like tutoring to help kids with learning difficulties due to chemotherapy or medical visits that remove them from the classroom. Emotional

Think

Friends of Kids with Cancer understands that getting a proper

Feel

10

Therapy Hours

167

2,337 Total Sessions for Patients and Siblings 2021

24 Group Sessions for Kids and Adults

Friends of Kids with Cancer provides several different avenues for safely and effectively releasing the emotions and stress built-up in our patients, their siblings and families. It’s important to have positive options for patients and families to express their thoughts and feelings when words just don’t suffice.

Emotional

Our Emotional Programs instill confidence and help form therapeutic relationships, which assist in releasing these feelings through:

SERVICES

137 504 Family Counseling Sessions Total Sessions

Friends

Volunteerism

The growth and everyday success of the organization relies on our dedicated volunteers who help organize, brainstorm, develop, and execute tasks as small as toy deliveries and as large as major fundraising events.

202 2000+

NEW VOLUNTEERS SIGNED UP

VOLUNTEER HOURS DONATED