Lions Take on Pediatric Cancer:
The MI Lions Childhood Cancer Committee has two Facebook pages.
If you’re not already a member of both, we invite you to join us!
Childhood Focus Projects
Kids Kicking Cancer – www.kidskickingcancer.org
Kids Kicking Cancer was created in 1999 by Rabbi Elimelech Goldberg, a black belt rabbi and clinical assistant professor of pediatrics. He lost his first child to leukemia and began this program with a handful of children at Children’s Hospital of Michigan and now this progam teaches over 45,000 children and teens a year in 5 countries.
Kids Kicking Cancer’s mantra is Power Peace Purpose. Specially trained black belt artists teach kids diagnosed with cancer breathing, visualization and relaxation techniques to help empower them with pain reduction, cope with emotional distress and empowerment. All services are at no cost and serve children and families 3 years and older. Sessions can be individual or group based, in home or hospital community based.
Lions can help with monetary donations to help cover a session, uniforms, travel expenses and counseling.
Maggie’s Wigs 4 Kids – www.wigs4kids.org
This is a nonprofit organization established by Maggie Varney in 2003 to provide children diagnosed with Cancer, alopecia, lupus, leukemia and burn survivors with wigs and hair restoration. This organization, including a salon and a wellness center, serves children ages 3-18. Wigs are not covered by insurance in Michigan and can cost 2000$-3000$. Bills that would mandate insurance for this: HB 4357 and 4358 SB 234 and 235
Lions can help with monetary donations, hair donations from Upper Peninsula hair salons, sponsor a child’s wig, fundraisers, salon registration and writing or contacting your congressman.
Camp Quality Michigan – www.campqualityusa.org/mi
Camp Quality serves children with cancer and their families by providing year round programs at no cost. The camp not only provides a summer camp experience, but also year round programs to enhance their quality of life. Camps are held in Fenton, Luther, Beaver Island, and Lapeer and are free to children (ages 4-17) with cancer and their families. Amy Smitter, Camp Director also sent a list of things that the Lions clubs can help with including sending a child to camp, fundraising, volunteering at a camp, and in kind donations.
Childhood Cancer Fundraisers
Dear Fellow Lions,
Many of you have asked “What can we do to help with the childhood cancer initiative?”
Here are a few needs as identified by the three focus organizations:
Maggie’s Wigs for Kids www.wigs4kids.org
Maggie’s has provided wigs and hair restoration to 4,700 children and 3, to be exact, in Chippewa and Houghton counties of the Upper Peninsula. Currently, there is also a little girl from Menomonee who may be in need of this service. This organization serves children ages 3-18.
- Donate your hair and /or encourage the salon you frequent to become a registered salon so as to be able to donate hair. This may be a great fundraiser for the month of September, since that is Childhood Cancer Awareness month. We could do this Upper Peninsula wide.
- Sponsor a wig for a child which cost approximately $800.
- Kids need crocheted, knitted, sewn hats/scarves and blankets.
- Write your congressman to get wigs covered by insurance: HB 4357 and 4358 / SB 234 and 235.
- Monetary donations can always help from Lion fundraiser projects.
- Volunteer
Kids Kicking Cancer www.kidskickingcancer.org
Kids Kicking Cancer is a global organization dedicated to lowering the pain of children through the teaching of martial arts as a therapy. All services are provided at no cost to children and their families affected by cancer.
- Monetary donations from Lions fundraisers can pay for martial art sessions, counseling sessions, uniforms, etc.
- Lions can collect books for all ages, gift cards from places like Target, Walmart, Meijer in small amounts like $5-$10 as these go into welcome bags for the kids.
- Gas cards for travel and cards for food
- Volunteer
Camp Quality www.campqualityusa.org/mi
This organization serves children ages 4-17 and provides summer camps to children and families affected by childhood cancer. It also provides year round programs to enhance children’s Quality of life.
- Monetary donations are helpful to sponsor a child at camp- $1200 for a child to attend and $2500 for a family to attend. This would be the cost for a weeklong camp experience.
- Lions can volunteer to be a companion to a camper at one of the week long camps.
- Lions can help at a camp for a specific activity or day. You can also volunteer to share hobbies or skills with campers.
- Clubs can collect items needed for camp like colored paper, pencils, water, pillowcases and blankets.
We are all very good at fundraising! We are Lions!
I also encourage you to remember our main focus with the Pediatric Cancer Initiative is to help those close to our communities. I have asked all clubs to put Pediatric Cancer into their budgets. Also, a Pediatric Cancer bank account was established at the last cabinet meeting but with incoming funds, an additional Single District 10 Pediatric Cancer account will be opened. Give me a few weeks to get that done and I will send information of where to send donations once that is established.
The SD10 Lions are partnering with Camp Quality and Bay Cliff Health Camp to offer a Camp Quality at Bay Cliff. A “Meet and Greet” is taking place on March 14th in Marquette. The flyer for the event is on the SD10 Lions website. I hope we can identify some kids that would benefit from a Camp Quality in the Upper Peninsula. I will keep you informed as to the progress on this project.
The Ronald McDonald pop tab fundraiser is an ongoing fundraiser for Children’s Hospital of Detroit. I have the flyers and fundraiser explanation letters. If your club is interested in doing that in your area, please contact me and I can send you the PDF.
Children’s Hospital and Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital are collecting child logo pillow cases, any size blankets and all kinds of hats for children.
Feel free to contact me if you have any questions and/or concerns. Please keep track of what fundraisers and donations your club is involved with. Your club can be eligible for pins and banners. Again, please check the Single District 10 Lions website. I will keep that updated with our progress! WE SERVE!
Thank you for your time and patience,
Lion Chris Smith
SD10 Pediatric Cancer Chairman
Engadine/ Naubinway Lions
313-682-8900
lionchris906pcc@outlook.com
