The 6th Annual Clips for Cancer, presented by Florida Radiology Consultants, kicks off Sept. 1. The month-long event raises funds necessary to ensure that programs and services are available for local children diagnosed with cancer at Golisano Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida.
Throughout September, which is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, the community comes together with a goal of raising $350,000 to benefit Barbara’s Friends – Golisano Children’s Hospital’s cancer fund.
“Last year, the annual event was cut short due to Hurricane Ian, and a portion of the funds raised were used to help families impacted by the devastating hurricane,” said Amy Frith, senior director of Barbara’s Friends. “Since the storm, more than 50 children have been diagnosed with cancer and need the community’s support. Generous donors ensure that no child is denied lifesaving care or turned away because of their family’s inability to cover the cost of treatment.”
This year’s event is also dedicated to Frank Haskell, 93, who passed away in July. Haskell co-founded Barbara’s Friends with his wife Betty, in honor of their daughter, Barbara, who died from cancer, and was a passionate supporter of Southwest Florida children with cancer and life-threatening blood disorders. In his honor, the Frank Haskell Endowment Fund has been established to fund the Barbara’s Friends Scholarship.
Clips for Cancer events include:
- Sept. 1 and 29 – More than 25 local community leaders will have their heads shaved by pediatric cancer survivors for awareness of the effects of cancer treatment, which often include hair loss. Shaves will be hosted live on Golisano Children’s Hospital’s Facebook page and YouTube. Leaders will be rallying the community to raise a minimum of $5,000 each and braving the shave. There are still slots available to participate on-site at the Sept. 29 shave if attendees raise at least $5,000.
- Sept. 1-3 – The top 14U baseball players in the country all come together in fundraising competitions with proceeds to benefit Barbara’s Friends. The public is invited to JetBlue Park, Fort Myers, at 11 a.m. Sept. 3 for a free game and to watch 9-year-old cancer patient Logan Stryker throw out the first pitch.
- Sept. 9 – The Mighty Mussels will host a “Cancer Sucks” night when they play the Bradenton Marauders at 7:05 p.m. The organization will donate $4 for each ticket purchased through https://fevo.me/barbarasfriends to Barbara’s Friends. Golisano Children’s Hospital therapy dogs Lemon and Dorian will throw out the first pitch with two cancer survivors.
- Sept. 15 – For the fourth year, Riverdale High School will support Clips for Cancer at its homecoming game. The school has raised over $14,000 to support Barbara’s Friends. With the goal of raising $5,000 this year, the school will be selling T-shirts designed by Alba Cuka, a 13-year-old from Naples currently in treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
- Sept. 23 – Cycle Bar will be hosting $20 charity rides, no membership required, at 10 and 11 a.m. to benefit Barbara’s Friends with raffles and vendors prior to the Bell Tower Family fun day.
- Sept. 23 – From 12-3 p.m., Bell Tower Shops will host a Family Fun Day benefiting Barbara’s Friends. The free event will feature games, a face painter, a DJ, a bounce house, a stilt walker and more. A community Clips for Cancer event will take place at 1 p.m. at Dave & Buster’s, where anyone can donate and have a cancer survivor shave their head. The event will also feature “Flowers for the Fight,” a community art project to be displayed at and proceeds to benefit the Golisano Children’s Hospital. For more information, visit belltowerfl.com.
- Throughout September
- 3 Pepper Burrito, with eight locations in Southwest Florida, will be donating all proceeds from kids’ meals sold during the month to benefit Barbara’s Friends. This is the fourth year 3 Peppers has supported children with cancer, with more than $13,000 donated to date.
- Pure Barre Fort Myers and Gateway Studios will host donation classes throughout the month. Classes are a $20 donation, no membership required. For classes, contact the studios at 239-240-7777 or 239-560-0277. This is the fourth year that Pure Barre has supported Barbara’s Friends, with more than $6,500 donated to date.
Golisano Children’s Hospital cancer and blood diseases survivors and current patients participating in Clips for Cancer include:
- Cape Coral: Jordan DeLorenzo, 17; Owen Hart, 5; Elizabeth Higgins, 14; Kadin Williams, 11
- Fort Myers: Jaxson Warren, 12; Aurelia Denson, 4; Ever Young, 7; Diego Santiago, 16
- Mackenzie Hummer, 24
- Estero: Logan Stryker, 9; Libbi LeDuff, 4
- Naples: Addi Hall, 5; Alba Cuka, 13
- Port Charlotte: Ryker Privett, 4
- Lehigh Acres: Ricardo Garza, 30
Each year, thousands of Barbara’s Friends dollars help families with children in treatment, such as providing gas cards to make sure kids can get to and from Golisano for daily treatments, paying for medications when insurance will not cover at-home chemo or pain relief drugs, or purchasing meals so parents can stay by their children during treatment. Barbara’s Friends also offers college scholarships, so that survivors can apply for college funds.
Donations raised through Clips for Cancer are also helping fund medical advances in technology and care, including the addition of pediatric neurosurgical services at Golisano and the first-ever total immersion chemotherapy room at the Golisano Children’s Hospital Naples pediatric hematology and oncology clinic.
Thanks to events like Clips for Cancer and the generous Southwest Florida community, Barbara’s Friends has a 28-year history of helping kids with cancer and life-threatening blood disorders. To date, Barbara’s Friends has cared for more than 10,000 local children.
For information on how to donate or participate and raise money for the cause, visit BarbarasFriends.org/ClipsForCancer.
About Barbara’s Friends – Helping Kids with Cancer at Golisano Children’s Hospital
Established in 1995, Barbara’s Friends provides equipment, staffing and services to support lifesaving cancer care for children from across Southwest Florida at Golisano Children’s Hospital. The Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Program is the only program of its kind in Southwest Florida and has served over 10,000 patients since opening. No child is denied treatment or turned away as a result of their family’s inability to pay for care. For more information about Barbara’s Friends fund and supporting child patients in your community, please call Lee Health Foundation at 239-343-6950 or visit BarbarasFriends.org.
About Golisano Children’s Hospital
Established by Lee Health in 1994, Golisano Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida has been named a “Top Hospital” three times by The Leapfrog Group. It is the only recognized children’s hospital between Tampa and Miami. Lee Health opened the new 134-bed Golisano Children’s Hospital in May 2017, relocating the children’s hospital from the adjacent HealthPark Medical Center. It includes comprehensive pediatric services including a 24-hour pediatric emergency department, hematology-oncology unit, milk lab, Regional Perinatal Intensive Care Center, and Level II and Level III NICU with 70 private rooms. Golisano Children’s Hospital is proud to have been named Soliant’s 2018 Most Beautiful Hospital in the U.S., a recognition determined by popular vote. Since 2019, Golisano Children’s Hospital has been a proud member hospital of the Children’s Miracle Network. For more information, visit GolisanoChildrensSWFL.org.
