Each of our children face the challenges presented by pediatric cancer with a courage and spirit well beyond their young years.  They face these challenges with the love of their families as well as the support of Brendan’s Fund.

FAMILY CHALLENGES
In most instances a parent finds it necessary either to terminate work or reduce their hours in order to care for their ill child. Pediatric cancer treatment requires costly and time consuming trips to Philadelphia, often on a daily basis for months at a time. Income is reduced as expenses mount. 

OUR CHALLENGE
We assist all of our families by providing services to reduce the financial stresses they encounter through: reimbursements for gas, tolls, parking, meals and lodging for illness related expenses; gift cards for supermarkets, phones, back to school shopping, holiday gifts and baskets; and utility and rent or mortgage payments are covered when necessary.  Our social worker and a family support network address emotional needs and concerns.

Yet each one of our children is special and unique. Cancer may strike them in infancy, as a toddler, during a carefree childhood, as a teenager or young adult.  Brendan’s Fund strives to find ways to help them meet those challenges by assisting with their special needs and unique personalities above and beyond the general services we provide.

OUR RESPONSE
Our first request, almost fifteen years ago, was for a pink bike with streamers for a terminally ill five year-old girl’s birthday. Years later we purchased a surrey for a teen aged leukemia patient who could no longer ride her bike.  Her sister chauffeured her around their neighborhood in her surrey.  Brendan’s Fund also provided her with scholarship money for college when she was in remission from her cancer.  Numerous other young adults have also benefited from our scholarship programs.

Brendan’s Fund has paid for summer camps, swim club programs, and trips to Disney World.  We have donated numerous laptop computers for our children to use during hospital stays and isolating home illnesses.  This helps them keep up with school work and communicate with their friends. Brendan’s Fund has had the privilege of sending some of our high school students to the prom, providing dresses, tuxes and limos to make the evening special. 

In addition we have helped families purchase a used car, paid for car repairs and car insurance.  Brendan’s Fund paid the back taxes for one of our families and renegotiated their mortgage loan which prevented them from losing their home.

On a sadder note, Brendan’s Fund has paid for respite nursing care for terminally ill children.  The pain endured with the loss of a child is immeasurable.  Our final gift to some families has been payment of funeral expenses when they suffer the loss of a child.

All of our responses and services are provided in an effort to reduce the financial and emotional stresses a family experiences when confronted with the challenges presented by pediatric cancer.

If you know of a family in need of support in the Cape May County, NJ area, please contact us.