Over the past three years, we have been fortunate to build a relationship with a nonprofit called Fxck Cancer that deserves a big shout out. It has generously supported the Foundation in different ways. This includes financial contributions, participating in our events and very notably, by providing once in a lifetime experiences to some of our kids through its Dyin 2 Live Dreams program.
In 2021, when our relationship got underway, one of our kids, Blake Hill, wanted to go to Disneyland and had no way of getting there. We asked Fxck Cancer’s Executive Director Brandon Ward if he would help make this possible. He responded instantly and without hesitation. Fxck Cancer treated Blake and his entire family to a memorable and laugh-filled experience at Disney!
Over the past few years, Brandon and his team have helped other PCRF families, too. They sent super fan Camden Carter and his family of five to a Buffalo Bills game. They gave Talon Haley and his family a behind-the-scenes experience at the Boston Red Sox vs. NY Yankees game. As a part of our LaCROSSe Out Cancer initiative, Fxck Cancer has provided eight different kids star-studded experiences at Premier Lacrosse League games. They go the whole way to make our kids feel like champions – from limos and suites to on-field fun at prestigious venues such as Boston’s Gillette Stadium and Philadelphia’s Subaru Park. They even brought in a surprise guest, para–Olympian Noelle Lambert, to share her secrets of overcoming obstacles to help inspire one of our kids to get back on the lacrosse field.
This year, Fxck Cancer was interested in having its Endurance Club participate in our Reaching for the Cure event. They asked if we had any kids who they could honor. Immediately we thought of 7-year-old Teddie Cruiscuolo from Massachusetts. Her family really wanted to attend the run walk but would need to travel all the way across the country. Once again, Brandon and his team stepped up and made it happen. They flew the entire family from Boston to California, provided a rental car and a house to stay in that was walking distance to Newport Beach. Teddie and her sisters had never been to California, so this was quite the treat. They all got to soak up the California sunshine and loved splashing in the Pacific Ocean. At Reaching for the Cure, Teddie kicked off the Half Marathon race and lead the Fxck Cancer Endurance team on the run/walk. It was an experience for the record books for everyone involved!
All of us at the Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation are grateful to Brandon, Sam and the entire Fxck Cancer family, including the members of its Endurance Club, for bringing these experiences to life for Teddie and kids like her. You all are guardians of kids’ joy and dreams. We are so proud to call you friends.
