'“It’s Such A Blessing': Long Island Girl Battling Cancer Gets Playset From State Farm

LAKE GROVE, NY — Emma, a 6-year-old girl who lives in Lake Grove, loves the colors pink and purple, KidsBop music, movies and mac and cheese. She is also battling acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

As Emma undergoes treatment, she has received a playset from State Farm, the company stated in a news release. State Farm teamed up with the Roc Solid Foundation to provide playsets to kids fighting cancer. Emma is one of the children to receive one.

The sponsorship supports the nonprofit's Roc Solid On Demand program, which provides playsets to families fighting pediatric cancer anywhere in the contiguous United States.

The family received all the materials and hardware, as well as Play Kits of Roc Solid swag. The playset was built in Emma’s grandmother’s yard.

“She loves, loves, loves the playset and asks frequently to go to grandma’s house to play,” Emma’s mom, Melissa, said in a news release. “It’s such a blessing and means the world to us to see her smile, run around and leave all her worries behind.”

Roc Solid Foundation's mission is to build hope for families fighting pediatric cancer through the power of play. The organization believes that “play defeats cancer,” because when kids are playing, cancer is the farthest thing from their minds. Additionally, with compromised immune systems during treatment, kids fighting cancer often cannot visit public places or interact with other children, so a back yard playset provides them with a safe, germ-free place to play.

Roc Solid has been building back yard playsets since 2009, but since Roc Solid On Demand launched in 2020, the organization’s reach has expanded tremendously, according to State Farm. They plan to provide at least 700 playsets to kids fighting cancer throughout the U.S. this year.

"State Farm has been an amazing partner to us," Eric Newman, founder of Roc Solid Foundation and a pediatric cancer survivor. "We are so grateful for their continued support as this new program has evolved, so we can continue to provide play to kids during a very difficult time."

Giving back to communities where State Farm employees live and work is a big part of the company's culture, said Jennifer Young, a corporate responsibility analyst with the company.

“We are excited to partner with Roc Solid and give Emma a safe place to play and make memories with her family," Young said. "Seeing Emma’s smile as she plays on her new playset is what this program is all about.”