September is National Childhood Cancer and Sickle Cell Disease Awareness Month. Join The Valerie Fund in going red and gold to raise awareness. #nobodyfightsalone #bethehope #40yearsofcaring.
This September, there are two new community events that will support The Valerie Fund's fundraising efforts in honor of this special month. Community events play a key role as fundraising additions to our main events. What is so special about a community event is that it is usually organized by families and friends of Valerie Fund patients that want to give back to the organization.
The first, is a family fun event hosted by Pier Village in Long Branch, NJ on Sunday, September 17th. In honor of National Childhood Cancer and Sickle Cell Disease Awareness Month, Pier Village is hosting a "birthday party" to support The Valerie Fund's 40th anniversary. Entertainment will include, New Jersey 101.5 with a special appearance from Judi Franco of the Dennis and Judi Morning Show, Big Marks Action Park: inflatable amusement rides, and live entertainment by the Lakehouse Music Academy. Activities will include kid friendly games, face painting, henna artists and specialty craft vendors along with companies giving away samples. The event is free and open to the public.
Nicole Kushner Meyer, of Kushner Companies said, "We are thrilled to help The Valerie Fund celebrate its 40th birthday. The incredible compassion and support this organization gives to families in need is an immense source of local pride, and we look forward to The Valerie Fund's next 40 years of unparalleled work."
The second community event this month is Katie's Krew 1st Annual Color Run. Katie's Krew, run by Jennifer Mulcahy, is a Valerie Fund Walk team that is attributing the money raised by the Color Run to the 2017 Valerie Fund Walk & JAG Physical Therapy 5K Run. Jennifer and her two daughters, Katie and Grace, want to give back to the organization that helped them. Jennifer's daughter, Katie, was a Valerie Fund patient.
"It is important to me that my girls know the importance of giving back and helping others. The character of all of the people involved in the Valerie Fund and Camp Happy Times is awe inspiring. I can only hope Katie and Grace can learn from watching them and embody that character," said Jennifer.
"The girls [Katie and Grace] and I wanted to do something special for The Valerie Fund's 40 year anniversary and wanted to host an event for the entire family. Katie & Grace really wanted to have a local event for their family, friends, classmates and teammates."
The Color Run will be on Sunday, September 24th in Bayonne, NJ. Entertainment will include a DJ, refreshments, face painters and food trucks. For more information please visit: https://www.thevaleriefund.org/color-run/.
ABOUT THE VALERIE FUND: After their nine-year-old daughter Valerie succumbed to cancer in 1976, Sue and Ed Goldstein were determined that no family should have to travel great distances to receive state-of-the-art medical care. Today, more than 6,000 children with cancer and blood disorders benefit immeasurably by receiving their medical treatment close to home in a child-centered environment. The Valerie Fund ensures they do not have to rely on insurance reimbursements to receive a range of customized therapeutic services that enhance their quality of life. For more information, please visit www.thevaleriefund.org.
