Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation

Funds raised through the 2010 Triathlon will enable children fighing cancer to receive the undivided comfort of their parents during treatment and recovery.

Beginnings

The Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation was inspired by a three year old boy diagnosed with Ewing Sarcoma. Two years later, he suffered a relapse. One day his mother broke down in tears as she shared the hardships she and her family had faced. She spoke of unplanned and extended hospital stays, expensive medications, sometimes costing as much as $1,000.00 after insurance. Furthermore, she shared the dilemma of giving up her income in order to care for her son and accompany him on hospital stays.

She also faced the fear of not knowing whether her son would live. She and her family were seemingly drowning because even though there was support it still was not enough assistance to help them during this difficult time.

After this conversation, Nikki Katz, founder of the Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation, realized the great need for a support system for families with children suffering from cancer on the Central Coast. One year later, with the determination to assist families enduring similar if not the same situation, the Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation was born.

Services

• Financial assistance:  Low to moderate income families can apply for $2,000-5,000 in financial aid to pay for rent, mortgage, utilities, car payments, health insurance premiums, medications, hotel accommodations for extended hospital stays and other day to day necessities.
• Support Groups:  They offer monthly parent support groups in Santa Barbara and Ventura, led by a licensed social worker.  Art therapy group is also provided for the child with cancer and their siblings, led by a licensed child therapist.
• TBCF Storytellers:  TBCF volunteers read stories to all the children in pediatrics at Cottage Hospital.
• Moments in Time:  They offer help to families with special requests such as building a wheelchair ramp, tutoring, childcare, and other unmet needs.
• Care packages:  Consist of market and restaurant gift certificates, toys, toiletries, a phone card, and food vouchers.
• Transportation:  They arrange rides to and from treatments for families without transportation.
• Kids’ Days and Family Fun Events:  They host fun activities for families, helping them to feel less alone.

Facts:

• 46 Children in the United States are diagnosed with cancer every day.
• One in every 330 children will develop cancer by age 20.
• Cancer takes the lives of more than ALL other childhood diseases combined.
• Childhood cancer occurs regularly, randomly and spares no ethnic group, socioeconomic class or geographic region.
• Chemotherapy can last over three years for these children.
• There is a proven correlation between the time a parent spends with their sick child and the child's recovery and survival.  This is not to say a child will recover as a result of a parent's presence, but it has a significant influence on how they accept and react to the cancer treatment. 
• It is often impossible to sustain an adequate income while providing the care required for a child suffering from cancer. 
• Children with cancer, and their families, frequently experience extended hospital stays, sometimes as long as six months or more. 
• Life after cancer treatment often consists of continued support while treating side effects caused by chemotherapy such as cognitive learning problems, diabetes, loss of bone density, hearing loss, sterility, obesity and more.
• Although the five-year survival rate is steadily increasing, one quarter of children will die five years from the time of diagnosis.
• An average of 12,500 children and adolescents are diagnosed with cancer each year in the United States.
• Each year, 3,000 children die of cancer
• Research has improved cure rates, but not enough.
• Due to progressive treatments, the majority of children with cancer will grow up to adulthood and live a normal lifespan.

Support