A Lovely Way to Honor a Friends Memory

Bay Shore, NY – Five years ago, Lila’s friend, age 5, passed away from cancer. To help cope with the loss of her friend and to keep her memory alive, Lila took up a craft called looms and has created hundreds of bracelets using these tiny colorful rubber bands. To honor her friend, Lila came up with the idea to sell her creations and donate the proceeds to Friends of Karen, a children’s charity that provides emotional, financial and advocacy support, at no cost, to families caring for a child with cancer or another life-threatening illness in the NY tri-state area.

Lila’s friend’s family had turned to Friends of Karen for assistance, and Lila saw firsthand how services were provided to her, as well as the whole family. Now, Lila’s Lovely Looms is helping to make a difference in the lives of sick children battling cancer. Through her hard work, creativity, and support from her parents, she sells her creations during her free time, or at camp, or on the beach. Proceeds are donated to Friends of Karen in memory of her friend. She has recruited many of her classmates to make looms as well, and has even prompted her summer camp to hold a fund-raising car wash for Friends of Karen. Lila plans to take her efforts to YouTube and Facebook, with the hope of helping as many families as possible.

After meeting Lila, Nancy Mariano, the Regional Director of Friends of Karen said, “Lila is an inspiration for us all and reminder that no person, gift, or idea is too small to help make a difference in the lives of one of our precious children.”

To keep families functioning, stable, and able to cope, Friends of Karen services are provided by a team of dedicated professionals – social workers, art therapists, and child life specialists – to ensure that families never have to make this difficult journey alone.

For more about Friends of Karen, visit www.friendsofkaren.org or call Rebecca Mowl at 631.473.1768 ext. 303.

For more about Lila’s Lovely Looms, visit www.lilaslovelylooms.org

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.