Piper Meyer, President of the Schimelpfenig Middle School Chapter of the National Junior Honor Society, brought in over 250 student volunteers to assemble 100 Buddy Bags
Piper Meyer, an 8th grade student and president of the Schimelpfenig Middle School Chapter of the National Junior Honor Society, had a very special mission, one that is very real and close to her heart. Her sister, Lucy Meyer, is a Wipe Out Kids’ Cancer Warrior (child with cancer) and was a recipient of a WOKC Buddy Bag, which Piper knew first-hand had benefitted her sister while she was in the hospital undergoing treatments and tests. Piper invited her fellow students and volunteers to join her in assembling 100 Buddy Bags for distribution to WOKC Warriors. About 250 students joined in shifts at the school and within just a few hours, had completed assembling 100 Buddy Bags.
Piper gave thanks to everyone for giving up hours on a Saturday to accomplish this goal. She especially thanked Shelby Rose, the middle school’s National Junior Honor Society advisor and Kristen Kinnard, school principal.
Buddy Bags are a core component of WOKC’s mission to work relentlessly for a day when cancer is no longer a threat to any child. They are designed to ease the transition from home/pediatrician's office to hospital for both the child and parents. A Buddy Bag is given to each child admitted to the hospital (Children’s Medical Center Dallas, Medical City Children's Hospital and Cook Children’s Medical Center in Fort Worth) with a cancer diagnosis to cover their family needs for that first shocking and stressful week at the hospital.
Buddy Bags are sturdy rolling suitcases filled with over 30 items, including basic toiletries, electronics, coloring books, games/toys, food vouchers, pillows, blankets, chargers, and other comfort items. All items in the Buddy Bag are the result of a thoughtful collaboration by parents of kids with cancer who know better than anyone which items might be needed at that time of crisis. Parents have called the Buddy Bags "medicine for the soul."
In addition to the Buddy Bag Program, Wipe Out Kids’ Cancer sponsors other programs:
* The Warrior Family Program involves numerous fun events throughout each year, including professional and semi-professional sporting events, picnics, fishing tournaments, holiday parties, a summer camp in Maine, and more.
* The Research Program: In its 40-year history, WOKC has provided $7 million in seed money for its novel research projects, which have received $22 million in additional grant money over these past 40 years. Wipe Out Kids’ Cancer has maintained focus on childhood cancer research by funding projects to increase survival rate, provide better treatment, and help doctors understand better this vicious disease.
Aashik Khakoo is CEO of Wipe Out Kids’ Cancer. Cindy Brinker Simmons is founder of WOKC.
To learn more about Wipe Out Kids’ Cancer and how you can become involved, visit the website at www.wokc.org. Facebook @WipeOutKidsCancer and Instagram @wokc
*Photos by Rob Wythe/Wythe Portrait Studio