Valerie Fund Uses Toys, Camp, More To Keep Sick Kids' Spirits High
MORRISTOWN, N.J. (CBSNewYork) -- The Valerie Fund tries to make cancer treatment less frightening for children.
For the youngest, child life specialists try to offset the grind of cancer therapy.
"They give me toys, coloring books and a lot of stuff to make me happy and surprised," one young boy told WCBS 880's John Metaxas.
Valerie Fund Uses Toys, Camp, More To Keep Sick Kids' Spirits High
Slightly older kids need a bit more.
"They tell you everything so it's not like they're keeping anything from you," one girl said. "They let you know what you have to do and what you're going through."
And in the summer, The Valerie Fund gives these kids a chance to get away at Camp Happy Times.
For 8-year-old Tum Tum, it was his first trip to camp.
"Play in the pool, go fishing and carnival," he described.
It was a first time for 14-year-old Francesca, too.
"I did a zip line, which I never would have done," she said. "And I did rock climbing. And there was like an obstacle course like all the way up in the trees."
The Valerie Fund, which helps children diagnosed with cancer and blood disorders, is hoping to raise $1 million when it holds its annual walk and 5K run Saturday at Verona Park in Verona, New Jersey. For more information, click here.
The walk is now in its 10th year, and for the last decade, it's given thousands of young cancer patients and their families a chance to get together, to know they're not alone and to give back.
Young Patients Rally Supporters For Valerie Walk
The kids gather everyone they know to join in and form teams.
"My family, my friends, my family's friends, my friend's family, everyone," Francesca said.
The devotion to the cause is striking.
"This is something, we're not going to be like, 'OK, we're done with cancer now. Goodbye,'" one supporter said. "This is something that's going to be with us for the rest of our lives. And we want to make sure that we give back every year to them."
