Chattanooga area youth amid a fight against cancer, plus others who are survivors of the disease, are benefiting this summer thanks to a new partnership between the Chattanooga-based Austin Hatcher Foundation for Pediatric Cancer and the Children’s Cancer Recovery Foundation of New Oxford, Pennsylvania.
The CCRF recently made a donation of toys to the Austin Hatcher Foundation, with another donation coming soon. Those toys will be integrated into the foundation’s various programs provided to young cancer patients and their family members at no cost, often as therapeutic rewards.
In addition, the CCRF is funding the admission of three area youth to summer camps. Two are enrolled for cooking and baking camps at the Sweet and Savory Classroom in Chattanooga, hosted by chefs Jeff and Heather Pennypacker. The Sweet and Savory Classroom has a long-running relationship with the Austin Hatcher Foundation. Also, a third child will attend the Wild Water Summer Camp hosted by the Chattanooga Audubon Society, thanks to CCRF support.
The CCRF’s donation of toys is tied to its “Bear-Able Gifts” program, the largest supplier of new gifts to children with cancer in North America. The Bear-Able Gifts program delivers gifts – items such as board games, toys, crayons, coloring books, markers, puzzles, books, teddy bears, and craft kits – to thousands of children at hospitals and oncology centers each year.
This two-tiered initiative spearheaded by the foundation’s Family Services Coordinator, Erin Bowlen, reflects the foundation’s commitment to the Chattanooga area – and the area’s reciprocity. It also illustrates the goal of expanding national awareness of the Austin Hatcher Foundation, officials said.
“We are so excited that we have forged this new relationship with CCRF,” said Austin Hatcher Foundation pediatric psychologist Dr. April Nesin. “This gives us additional opportunities to benefit families we care for. It’s also helpful to both organizations efforts toward achieving their respective goals of helping people. It’s great to see two organizations come together like this. It’s an example of efforts being complemented, rather than duplicated.”