TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – September is National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. It is recognized annually around the world in an effort to raise not only awareness, but also funds for those affected by childhood cancer. According to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 43 children in the U.S. are diagnosed with cancer every day.
One of the organizations raising awareness about childhood cancer is Angel’s Hope, an Alabama-based online support organization. Angel’s Hope, a 501(c)(3), was created after 18-year-old Angel Eaton passed away due to Ewing’s sarcoma, a rare form of bone cancer, in an effort to further her dream of bringing hope and smiles to children affected by childhood cancer.
Eaton’s mother Kimberly Eaton said, “My daughter Angel loved the kids she met while going through treatment. She had a passion to help make their life a little easier. She always said she wanted to ‘give hope and make smiles.’ She wanted to give her young cancer warrior friends an opportunity to still be kids and have a reason to smile.
“Angel started doing little projects when she finished her first fight with cancer. She collected toiletry items and made toiletry kits for the families who would be admitted unexpectedly, held food drives for the Family Room at Children’s, held toy drives and gift card drives for families and raised money for organizations that had helped her during her fight. It was her dream of starting a foundation of her own, but she died before she had a chance. So, her family and friends took on her dream and made it a reality. Our mission has always been to enrich the lives of children fighting cancer by offering various outreach programs within the pediatric cancer community.”
The organization raises awareness of individual children’s experiences with cancer and provides personalized gifts to children statewide through the Angel’s Box of Hope program.
“The Angel’s Box of Hope program was launched on Sept. 18, 2017 – the one-year anniversary of her death. This was definitely an Angel-inspired project. She wanted to provide a gift for any child going through treatment, but she wanted to make sure the gift was actually something the child would enjoy,” Eaton said. “We used to joke about how many coloring books and crayons she received when she was in the hospital. People were so amazing and generous, but sometimes it felt like they forgot how old she was, and I’ve heard that from a lot of older patients. So, Angel’s Box of Hope is just that. It’s a box filled with goodies that are specific to the individual child receiving the box. Parents/guardians fill out a form with their child’s specific interests, clothing size, favorite color, etc. Then, we go shopping. Every box typically contains some kind of outfit and lots of toys. Whether it’s PlayStation games or art supplies or Barbie dolls, each box is packed with that individual child in mind. In addition, the Box of Hope contains a $25 gift card for the parents and a $5 Target gift card for each sibling. There’s also a little memento of an anchor. The anchor was Angel’s symbol. By including it in the box, it’s our way of sharing a small piece of her hope.”
Angel’s Hope also provides a Hope & Healing Retreat to help bereaved families and provide a safe place for moms like Eaton who have lost a child to cancer.
For September, Angel’s Hope has launched September Blessings in honor of National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.
“We wanted to bless families who were in the ‘thick of it’ or who were finished with treatment and have really gone above and beyond to help others or raise awareness,” said Eaton. “We ask for nominations (it could be a mom, dad, cancer fighter or sibling) of someone who totally ‘rocks’ or just needs a bit of encouragement. We draw one name every day to receive a little something special.”
Nominations can be made at www.facebook.com/kim.eaton1.
More information about the Box of Hope program, including how to apply, can be found at www.angelshope.org/angels-box-of-hope-1.
Information about Angel’s Hope programs and how to get involved/donate can also be found at www.angelshope.org.
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