KIDS CANCER CARE FOUNDATION OF ALBERTA

Each year in Alberta about 240 children are diagnosed with cancer. What follows are months or years of invasive treatments that interrupt the normal course of childhood depriving kids of regular childhood experiences such as playdates school sports and other activities. Children with cancer miss out on a lot leading to gaps in skills and development. A childhood rich with responsive relationships and learning experiences is essential to healthy development. KCC's vision is a cure for every child and care for every family helping young people and their families rebuild their lives through three essential program areas: 1. Research & Hospital - KCC funds research into the toughest childhood cancers enabling researchers to develop new therapies that save young lives without causing the chronic health problems of conventional therapies. Psycho-social research informs the design of programs and services that support children and families through their cancer crisis. KCC provided funding for two phase-one clinical trials that are testing next-generation immunotherapies that harness the child’s own immune system to fight cancer. The first trial testing a vaccine for DIPG (a terminal brain cancer) and the second is testing a CAR T-Cell therapy for sarcoma. KCC has invested $18.2 million into research and hospital support over the past 18 years. 2. Education Support & Scholarships - Cancer treatments can cause learning difficulties in children resulting in lower academic and employment outcomes. KCC’s education programs help children affected by cancer build a strong foundation for life. Our education support programs include one-to-one tutoring Cancer in the Classroom (to foster greater empathy in classmates of children with cancer) supporting parents post-high school preparation and post-secondary scholarships. Since its inception in 2008 KCC has invested $2.2 million in education support programs. 3. Camp & Outreach programs - KCC's year-round camp and outreach programs provide a safe space where children engage in creative play forge new friendships and develop new skills that help sustain them through the harsh realities of cancer its treatments and its lasting effects. Summer camps with healthy meals help to ease the burden on parents providing kids with therapeutic exercise to mitigate the side effects from treatment and psychosocial support to help kids manage their fear. KCC is there at every stage of the cancer journey.

A child’s cancer diagnosis affects the whole family. Parents must juggle work medical appointments household responsibilities and extracurricular activities while providing care for their sick child. Sometimes the healthy siblings feel resentful and retreat into themselves. Other times they seek connection in challenging ways. In 2023-24 Kids Cancer Care introduced three new programs and/or services to its Outreach area to help families navigate the challenges that come with a child’s cancer diagnosis. 1. PLUS PLUS (Practical Learning for Undiagnosed Siblings) is a five-week program designed by Kids Cancer Care’s certified child life specialist that helps siblings learn about cancer so the experience is less scary. PLUS offers siblings a safe space to explore their feelings and ask questions. Using age-appropriate play and fun activities the program provides coping skills and tools for siblings to understand and manage their feelings. 2. Siblings Meet Kids Cancer Care’s Siblings Meet program offers monthly recreational activities for undiagnosed siblings to connect with each other and foster friendships. 3. Counselling Kids Cancer Care’s registered social worker offers one-hour counselling sessions free of charge to families involved with Kids Cancer Care. There are sessions for children one-to-one sessions for parents and sessions for the whole family.