“Families plan for college; they do not plan for cancer,” says Becky Chepokas, mom of Pinky Swear Foundation founder Mitch Chepokas.
Each year, 15,000 kids and their families hear the words “your child has cancer,” derailing plans and turning their world upside down in a matter of seconds. The stats are heartbreaking and paint a picture of the need for support in this country. Here are just a few examples of how childhood cancer diagnoses impact families:
• More than half of the families Pinky Swear serves live on less than $45,000 a year.
• 74% of families report that one parent is on leave from work after receiving a child’s cancer diagnosis.
• 33% of families travel two or more hours to their hospital or clinic for critical treatment.
Photography provided by Pinky Swear Foundation
More than 20 years ago, a compassionate 9-year-old boy saw the solution. As he was facing his own childhood cancer journey, Pinky Swear founder Mitch decided to give away his entire life savings to other families on his oncology floor. Before his passing, Mitch made his parents pinky-promise to continue to help kids with cancer and their families after he was gone.
Together with its supporters, Pinky Swear Foundation honors that promise by providing families with financial assistance for housing, food and transportation support during their childhood cancer journey. And because of this, these families can focus on what matters most — their child.
Out of the families who have received support from Pinky Swear Foundation so far in 2024, 98% have said the assistance with everyday expenses has reduced their stress as they navigate the difficult childhood cancer journey. You, too, can help relieve the financial burden for families across the United States who are facing a childhood cancer diagnosis.
Learn more about Pinky Swear Foundation and give your support at pinkyswear.org/support-pediatric-cancer-al.
