Peachy the Magazine October/November 2013 | Page 107

INSPIRATION

runners, all of which helps us to assist
the many families who need our help
and to create greater awareness for
childhood cancer.”
Additionally, each group organizes
special events for HFC families
throughout the year: museum trips,
afternoons at the movies, Valentine’s
Day dinner, birthdays, room makeovers and end of life celebrations—all
events that are otherwise impossible
for families to enjoy with children with
compromised immune systems.
HFC hopes to expand to other cities
in Texas and hospitals, in particular
hospitals in which teenagers are being
treated for adult forms of cancer. A
new program, Laptops of Love, provides hospital and/or homebound
teens with laptops to keep them connected to school and friends.
HFC receives requests for assistance
from individuals and other programs
from across the country who have
learned of its organization. While HFC
would love to expand to help any and
every family facing a childhood cancer
diagnosis, and possibly someday will,
the organization remains focused on its
current mission.
For families receiving gifts from HFC,
the benefit of being touched by this

The Farrell Family at the HFC Valentine’s
Day Dinner

tremendous organization is evident
and the gratitude is tangible:
“Our daughter Rebecca was diagnosed
with leukemia in October 2011. A few
days after her diagnosis, as we were still
reeling from the news, the hospital social
worker came in to talk to us about support
organizations,” Jennifer Farrell said. “Two
weeks later, when we finally got home, we
had a check from HFC already sitting in
the mailbox to help with the initial hospital
expenses. It was amazing.”
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