Making a Change Together
WHO WE ARE
Our Mission
Kids for a Cure was founded in the hope of supporting families who have children struggling with medical issues. We recognize how a health problem can completely change the life of a child and cause emotional and financial stress to their family and those close to them. We want to do anything we can to help them through a difficult time.
OUR CHARITY OF THE YEAR
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
All funds and donations collected by the end of 2022 will be donated to St. Jude
Why St. Jude?
St. Jude offers medical services to those who otherwise wouldn’t be able to afford them. According to their website, “No child is denied treatment based on race, religion or family’s ability to pay.” St. Jude is also making advances in researching various illnesses, such as Sickle Cell Disease and cancer. St. Jude treatment has made cancer survival rates in children go from 20% to 80%. They do all this without billing the families they help.
OUR STORIES
Why we do what we do
NATALIE
Hi! My name's Natalie, I'm 15, and one of the things that I'm living with is CFS (chronic fatigue syndrome). This makes everyday activities a challenge with extreme fatigue and flu-like symptoms. No amount of sleep makes you feel rested. This often leaves me bed-bound and missing out on normal teenage things.
Read more about Natalie's journey on her Instagram @spooniesrus
EMMA
After years of doctor's appointments and countless nights dealing with excruciating pain, when I was 10, I was diagnosed with CRPS (Complex Regional Pain Syndrome). CRPS is a condition in which your brain sends a message to trigger pain in certain limbs and joints in your body.
Seven years later, and still searching for pain control, I was introduced to a specialist who then diagnosed me with Bartonella. I am now working with him to manage both the symptoms created by Bartonella and CRPS. I have been given hope that in a few more years, I will live a normal and pain free life.
PAYTON
On the outside I look healthy, but I have invisible chronic illnesses. The list includes POTS, Lyme, Bartonella, MCAS, and more. From the time I could talk, I had stomach aches all the time. It's only ever gotten worse. It has turned into chronic pain, fatigue, dizziness, brain fog, and so much more. I go to countless doctors all the time, and I take meds and treatments just to try to function. Chronic illnesses are hard for everyone involved and I want to raise awareness and make a difference. Just because I don't look sick, doesn't mean I'm not.