CANDLELIGHTERS FOR CHILDHOOD CANCER

CANDLELIGHTERS IS THE FIRST AND OLDEST NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION IN NEVADA SERVING FAMILIES COPING WITH CHILDHOOD CANCER. TWO FAMILIES, EACH WITH A CHILD IN CANCER TREATMENT, FOUNDED CANDLELIGHTERS IN 1978, BELIEVING THAT FAMILIES COULD FIND STRENGTH, KNOWLEDGE, AND COMFORT BY BANDING TOGETHER. FOR FORTY-FIVE YEARS, OUR MISSION HAS BEEN TO PROVIDE EMOTIONAL SUPPORT, QUALITY OF LIFE PROGRAMS, AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES AFFECTED BY CHILDHOOD CANCER. OUR SERVICES ARE A CRITICAL LIFELINE FOR FAMILIES FACING A CANCER DIAGNOSIS. ON A DAILY BASIS, WE HELP FAMILIES COPE WITH THE EMOTIONAL TRAUMA AND FINANCIAL HARDSHIP EVOKED BY A CHILDHOOD CANCER DIAGNOSIS. ALL TOO OFTEN, FAMILIES FALL APART FROM THE STRESS OF THE CHILD'S DIAGNOSIS, TREATMENT, POTENTIAL RELAPSE, AND, SOMETIMES, DEATH, LEAVING PARENTS AND SIBLINGS FEELING ISOLATED, DEPRESSED, AND VULNERABLE. OUR PURPOSE IS TO ALLEVIATE THE ISOLATION MANY FAMILIES FEEL AT THE TIME THEIR CHILD IS DIAGNOSED WITH CANCER AND PROVIDE ACCESS TO FINANCIAL RESOURCES, MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, AND FAMILY SUPPORT TO ENSURE THEIR ABILITY TO FOCUS ON THE MOST CRITICAL ELEMENT OF CANCER TREATMENT-THEIR CHILD'S SURVIVAL. ALL SERVICES ARE PROVIDED TO THE ENTIRE FAMILY, AT NO COST. OUR PROGRAMS FALL INTO THREE KEY AREAS: FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE MANY PEOPLE DO NOT REALIZE THE SIGNIFICANT FINANCIAL STRESS AND HARDSHIP A CHILDHOOD CANCER DIAGNOSIS CREATES FOR A FAMILY. WHILE DEALING WITH THE EMOTIONAL IMPACT OF A CANCER DIAGNOSIS AND THE IMMEDIATE NEED TO BEGIN TREATMENT, PARENTS ALSO FACE THE UNEXPECTED AND UNPLANNED INCREASE IN FINANCIAL OBLIGATIONS, COMMONLY ASSOCIATED WITH A CANCER DIAGNOSIS. OUT OF POCKET EXPENSES DUE TO MEDICAL CO-PAYMENTS, PRESCRIPTION COSTS, AND OTHER ADDITIONAL COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH CANCER TREATMENT COUPLED WITH UNPAID TIME OFF TO CARE FOR THE DIAGNOSED CHILD CREATES FINANCIAL INSTABILITY WITHIN THE HOME. FAMILIES ARE ELIGIBLE FOR FIANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR RENT OR MORTGAGE, UTILITIES, GAS, AND LOCAL TRANSPORTATION NEEDS. CANDLELIGHTERS ALSO PROVIDES A MEDICAL AND PRESCRIPTION CO-PAYMENT REIMBURSEMENT PROGRAM. THE REIMBURSEMENT IS BASED ON A SLIDING SCALE THAT FACTORS IN HOUSEHOLD INCOME AND NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS WITHIN THE HOUSEHOLD. IN ADDITION TO THE ASSISTANCE ABOVE, OTHER FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE INCLUDE: TRAVEL FOR TREATMENT WHILE CHILDREN TYPICALLY RECEIVE TREATMENT IN SOUTHERN NEVADA, IT IS COMMON FOR FAMILIES AND THEIR CHILDREN TO TRAVEL TO OTHER STATES FOR SPECIALIZED TREATMENTS, SUCH AS BONE MARROW TRANSPLANTS AND BRAIN TUMOR TREATMENT. SHOULD A FAMILY FACE THE NEED TO TRAVEL FOR CARE, CANDLELIGHTERS ASSISTS WITH AIRFARE, LODGING, CAR RENTAL, FOOD REIMBURSEMENT, AND GAS CARDS TO HELP OFFSET THE FINANCIAL BURDEN OF TRAVEL. BEREAVEMENT SUPPORT CANDLELIGHTERS PROVIDES FUNERAL ASSISTANCE TO FAMILIES WHOSE CHILDREN LOSE THEIR BATTLE WITH CANCER. CANDLELIGHTERS ASSISTS THE FAMILY WITH FUNERAL COSTS. SURVIVOR AND SIBLING SCHOLARSHIPS ONE OF THE GREATEST JOYS PARENTS CAN EXPERIENCE IS SEEING THEIR CHILDREN SURVIVE A CANCER JOURNEY AND GO ON TO PURSUE OPPORTUNITIES IN HIGHER EDUCATION. CANDLELIGHTERS IS PROUD TO CELEBRATE THESE IMPORTANT MILESTONES AND FUND SCHOLARSHIPS TO SURVIVING CHILDREN AND SIBLINGS FOR COLLEGE, TRADE AND TECHNICAL SCHOOLS. EMOTIONAL SUPPORT THE EMOTIONAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL TOLL OF CHILDHOOD CANCER IS CRUCIAL FOR THE CHILD, THE FAMILY AND THE SIBLINGS. WE ENSURE THE ENTIRE FAMILY IS SUPPORTED THROUGHOUT THE CHILDHOOD CANCER JOURNEY AND BOTH SHORT-TERM AND LONG-TERM IMPACT ARE ADDRESSED. EMOTIONAL SUPPORT SERVICES PROVIDED CONSIST OF COUNSELING, SUPPORT GROUPS, ART AND PLAY THERAPY. FAMILIES MAY ACCESS OUR COUNSELING SERVICES AT ANY TIME DURING THEIR CANCER JOURNEY: AT DIAGNOSIS, DURING TREATMENT, SURVIVORSHIP, AND BEREAVEMENT. QUALITY OF LIFE PROGRAMS TO HELP ALLEVIATE THE ISOLATION MANY FAMILIES FEEL, CANDLELIGHTERS PROVIDES FAMILY-FOCUSED OPPORTUNITIES FOR PARENTS, THE DIAGNOSED CHILD, AND SIBLINGS TO CONNECT WITH OTHER FAMILIES WHO UNDERSTAND THEIR JOURNEY. THESE PROGRAMS ARE OFFERED IN A FUN, COMMUNITY SETTING GIVING THE FAMILIES A SENSE OF NORMALCY DURING AND AFTER TREATMENT WHILE CREATING MEANINGFUL AND LASTING MEMORIES. A FEW OF THESE ACTIVITIES INCLUDE MOVIE NIGHTS, HALLOWEEN BASH, HOLIDAY PARTIES AND A HOLIDAY ADOPT-A-FAMILY. CAMP FIREFLY CANDLELIGHTERS OFFERS A MEDICALLY SUPERVISED CAMP EACH SUMMER. A FIVE-DAY FOUR NIGHT CAMP IS OPEN TO ANY CANDLELIGHTERS CHILD DIAGNOSED WITH CANCER AND THEIR SIBLINGS, AGES 9-17. STAFF LEAD A ROBUST COMMITTEE OF DEDICATED VOLUNTEERS TO PLAN AND COORDINATE CAMP ACTIVITIES AND LOGISTICS. EACH YEAR, CANDLELIGHTERS PROVIDES 150 CAMP OPENINGS FREE OF CHARGE TO FAMILIES. ARTS/EDUCATION PROGRAM CANDLELIGHTERS RECOGNIZES THE SCIENTIFICALLY PROVEN IMPACT OF THE ARTS ON REDUCING STRESS LEVELS OF THE CHILD AND FAMILY AND PROMOTING THEIR HEALING PROCESS DURING TREATMENT. CANDLELIGHTERS OFFERS ART EDUCATION THROUGH A CREATIVE EXPRESSIONS ART PROGRAM PROVEN POSITIVE OUTCOMES INCLUDE: (A) LOWERED STRESS AND ANXIETY LEVELS; (B) PROCEDURES AND TREATMENT CONDUCTED WITH MORE EASE SHORTENING TREATMENT TIME; (C) SHORTENS HOSPITAL STAYS; (D) IMPROVES HEALING PROCESS.