Nonprofit Courageous Kids Visits The Henry Ford

By Terri Hocking
Director of Courageous Kids, Inc.

With the generous support of The Henry Ford Outreach Program, children coping with serious medical conditions, along with their families enjoyed the Wizard of Oz Exhibit at The Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn on Sunday, Dec. 4.

Courageous Kids, Inc., of Hartland, is dedicated to inspiring hope and helping kids cope with cancer and other life threatening illnesses throughout Southeast Michigan. Children between the ages of 0 and 18, with a life threatening illness, are welcomed to register as a Courageous Kid.

“Our goal as a non-profit is to organize continuous activities and fun events which will provide positive anticipation for children battling serious illnesses”, says Terri Hocking, Founder/Director of Courageous Kids. “Coping with ongoing medical procedures, hospitalizations and often depression, is obviously a difficult task … but when a very ill child continually has something fun and exciting to look forward to, it offers hope for tomorrow.”

Nine courageous kids and 39 family members enjoyed the Henry Ford Museum event arranged by Courageous Kids and The Henry Ford Outreach Program on December 4. All scheduled Courageous Kids’ events are considered “family centered”, where parents, siblings and grandparents are also invited to attend. Memory making and family bonding are important components to each scheduled event.

After the event, a Courageous Kid mom was asked to explain what “Courageous Kids” meant to their family.

“Events like the day at the Henry Ford help our children on so many levels," said Dawn, mom of Keegan and Ruth who are both facing life threatening illnesses.

"First, it gives them something to look forward to. Secondly, it gives them several hours of fun and feeling like a 'regular' kid. And, of course, any time our whole family can enjoy things together, it means so much to us! Families facing medical issues spend so much time apart either with a child in the hospital or rushing to and from the countless appointments that it is wonderful just to have time to reconnect and enjoy being together and focusing on something other than the medical challenges we face! We can't thank Courageous Kids enough for events like these.”

Courageous Kids, Inc. is a nonprofit 501c3 charitable organization, locally founded in December of 2010, and serves children and families of Southeast Michigan.

How can you help? If you would like to participate in making sure this vital outreach will continue uninterrupted, and to share your belief that the power of HOPE can light the path through life’s most challenging days, donations are appreciated and accepted through the Courageous Kids website www.courageouskidsmi.org, by office phone 517-545-7305, or by mail: Courageous Kids, P.O. Box 39, Hartland, MI, 48353.

All donations will be matched, dollar for dollar, before Dec. 31, by the David A. Brandon Foundation. Please help Courageous Kids take advantage of this generous match grant opportunity through your generous donation.

To email Terri Hocking: terri@courageouskidsmi.org.