Children’s Charity Brings Hope and Awareness this September

Hauppauge, NY – September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month (CCAM). In order to highlight this national campaign and spotlight the work that local charity, Friends of Karen, does to help families caring for a child with cancer (or another life-threatening illness) in the NY tri-state area, Dr. William Spencer, who chairs the Health Committee of the Suffolk County Legislature, invited Nancy Mariano, the Regional Director of Friends of Karen to speak.

“Go Gold” is the national motto for Childhood Cancer Awareness Month and it refers to the gold ribbon that symbolizes childhood cancer. 86% of Friends of Karen children are diagnosed with some form of cancer and Friends of Karen is there for these families 365 days a year, not just in September. That’s why their mantra is “Always Gold.”

When a child is seriously ill, it affects the entire family. Friends of Karen’s team of social workers work with each family member. This includes child life specialists and creative arts therapists who provide sibling support to the other children in the family. To date, since its founding in 1978, more than 15,000 children and their families have been helped by Friends of Karen. Nancy shared with the committee, “No family is ever the same after a diagnosis like this, but they can remain strong and functioning if they are not alone. Friends of Karen is there every step of the way to provide financial, emotional and advocacy support.”

(Suffolk Legislator’s Robert Trotta, Sarah Anker, Monica Martinez, Tom Cilmi, Nancy Mariano, Regional Director of Friends of Karen, William Spencer, Bridget Fleming, Leslie Kennedy, DuWayne Gregory, and Robert Calarco are holding a sign that reads Support Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, #AlwaysGold #FriendsofKaren #ChildhoodCancerAwareness)

For more about Friends of Karen, visit www.friendsofkaren.org or call Nancy Mariano at 631.473.1768 ext. 304.

Friends of Karen began in 1978 when one neighbor, Sheila Petersen, came to the aid of a couple and their daughter, Karen, who was terminally ill. A fund-raising campaign for medical and other costs enabled Karen to spend her precious last days at home surrounded by loving family and friends. 39 years later, Friends of Karen has expanded to a NY tri-state children’s charity that serves children from birth though age 21 who are diagnosed with cancer or another life-threatening illness. To date, more than 15,000 children and their families have benefited from Friends of Karen’s services.