Cancer Resources
for the Family
We know that when you get a cancer diagnosis, it affects the entire family. That's why we have worked to put together a list of helpful cancer resources to share with you. Simply click on the type of resource and a list will pull up for you!
The following are just a few of the available resources that Lighthouse has received from families, social workers, and other organizations. These are simply suggestions. Any views or opinions presented by these resources are solely those of said organizations and do not necessarily represent those of Lighthouse Family Retreat.
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Multifaceted Resources
ALEX’S LEMONADE STAND FOUNDATION (ALSF)
ALSF raises money and awareness for childhood cancer causes, primarily research into new treatments and cures. Their goal is to encourage & empower others to get involved and make a difference for children with cancer. ALSF also has a travel scholarship program to help families with medical travel expenses. The website has an extended list of resources for families in all areas of the country from clinical trials, camps, financial resources, and beyond.
ASC is a national resource for educational, financial, emotional & recreational support along with funding research and resources for clinical trials and other treatment needs for both adult & childhood cancers.
ASSOCIATION OF CANCER ON-LINE RESOURCES
A unique collection of online cancer communities designed to provide timely and accurate information in a supportive environment. It is a FREE lifeline for everyone affected by cancer & related disorders.
Offers an abundance of information on different cancer diagnoses, treatment options, research, clinical trials, financial assistance, camps, and multiple resources for many other areas.
CHILDREN'S CANCER FUND OF AMERICA (CCFOA)
CCFOA is dedicated to relieving stress and suffering by providing aid, funds, financial assistance and in-kind grants to children suffering from cancer and their families; to disseminating information regarding the prevention and treatment of cancers and other life-threatening diseases or conditions afflicting children; to procuring and distribute donated merchandise to various 501(c)(3) non-profit community service organizations which aid the ill, needy and children.
The Childhood Leukemia Foundation (CLF) is a national non-profit organization that educates, empowers and raises awareness and the necessary funds to support programs that benefit children living with cancer.
CURE Childhood Cancer is dedicated to conquering childhood cancer through funding targeted research and through the support of patients and their families.
NATIONAL CHILDREN’S CANCER SOCIETY (NCCS)
NCCS serves as a financial, emotional, and educational resource for families that can’t make ends meet when their child is diagnosed with cancer. Since our inception, we’ve provided over $59 MILLION in direct financial assistance to more than 35,000 CHILDREN with cancer nationwide, and we work closely with over 300 hospitals and pediatric oncology units throughout the US.
OKLAHOMA CHILDREN’S CANCER ASSOCIATION (OCCA)
A non-profit organization offering support, activities, and resources for Oklahoma residents.
Their mission is to help families tackle childhood cancer by providing comprehensive financial, emotional and practical support.
A non-profit helping you and your loved ones live well with cancer, through free programs and counseling.
This non-profit strives to bring awareness, research, and connection for families walking thru cancer in the east Texas area.
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MIGHT + BRIGHT
At Mighty + Bright, we believe an uncomplicated life is the ultimate self-care. Mighty + Bright was built out of one mom's vision: There must be a life beyond survival mode.
Camps & Recreation
Lighthouse Family Retreat is a faith-based non-profit that exists to strengthen every family living through childhood cancer. We host restorative retreats and develop helpful resources so that families and their support systems can find hope in God and help in their fight.
Camp Sunshine provides respite, support, joy, and hope to children with life-threatening illnesses and their immediate families from around the world through the various stages of their journeys. Camp Sunshine also provides bereavement sessions for families who have lost a child to supported illnesses. Located in Maine and takes families from all over the country.
Camp Sunshine provides programs throughout the year to give children with cancer the opportunity to enjoy normal activities like swimming, horseback riding, arts and crafts, and making friends! Camp Sunshine offers a variety of programs, which encompass the entire family - brothers, sisters, and parents! A network of support is made up of other families experiencing the challenges of fighting cancer. This organization only serves families in Georgia.
Blue Skies offers weeklong family retreats to bring the hope of Christ to families living through the challenges of pediatric cancer.
Nonprofit dedicated to granting dreams for LOCAL children with life-threatening illnesses, Dreams Come True has granted more than 3,000 dreams for children battling life-threatening illnesses in Northeast Florida and Southeast Georgia.
Serves children with cancer and their families by providing year-round programs, experiences and companionship, and summer camps at no cost.
Grants wishes to children diagnosed with life-threatening illnesses.
Grants wishes to children diagnosed with life-threatening illnesses.
Teaches children living with cancer to develop their creative voice through the art of photography. Camps located across the US.
Committed to providing positive group activities and emotional support for young cancer patients. Sunshine Kids provides a variety of programs and events, free of charge, for kids who are receiving cancer treatments in hospitals across North America.
THUMBS UP MISSION
Our mission is to fortify families where a parent or child is fighting cancer.
Our focus is to battle fear by infusing hope, inspiring laughter, and instilling an eternal perspective in each family we serve.
Educational & Resource
RALLY FOUNDATION FOR CHILDHOOD CANCER RESEARCH
Rally Foundation empowers volunteers across the nation to raise awareness and funds for research in the fight against childhood cancer.
LEUKEMIA & LYMPHOMA SOCIETY (LLS)
LLS funds lifesaving blood cancer research around the world and provides free information and support services.
PEDIATRIC BRAIN TUMOR FOUNDATION
PBTF is the largest nonprofit funder for childhood brain tumor research and family support. Offers free educational information about brain tumors, college scholarships, and fundraising to assist with medical bills.
Financial Assistance
Financial assistance as well as some fun opportunities along the way. (Oklahoma residents only)
Sign up for a $50 gas card (one-time donation). You’ll need to contact them because it’s not listed on their website. Contact your local rep or call 1-800-227-2345. They can complete the form for you via telephone.
ANDRE SOBEL RIVER OF LIFE FOUNDATION
Provides emergency financial assistance within 24 hours for single-parent families living through childhood cancer who have exhausted all other possible resources. They work with 50 hospitals across the country.
THE ANDREW MCDONOUGH B+ FOUNDATION
The B+Foundation provides financial & emotional assistance to childhood cancer families nationwide along with funding childhood cancer research & building awareness.
Helps families with a child or parent afflicted with cancer deal with the overwhelming financial & emotional burden of the disease. (Limited to hospitals in their network located in NY, NJ, PA, CA & New England area)
JOHNSON & JOHNSON PATIENTS ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (*MOST DRUG COMPANIES HAVE AN ASSISTANCE PROGRAM)
Johnson & Johnson has a prescription assistance program to apply for.
LEUKEMIA & LYMPHOMA SOCIETY (LLS)
LLS funds lifesaving blood cancer research around the world and provides free information and support services.
PEDIATRIC BRAIN TUMOR FOUNDATION
Largest nonprofit funder for childhood brain tumor research and family support. Offers free educational information about brain tumors, college scholarships, and fundraising to assist with medical bills.
Our Foundation is dedicated to honoring Sophie's memory by providing financial support to those families burdened by pediatric brain tumors nationwide, increasing global awareness not only of pediatric brain tumors but the serious lack of funding for this research, and providing financial support for St. Jude, where Sophie was treated, and other viable organizations committed to the treatment of pediatric brain cancer.
Housing & Travel
Believe In Tomorrow provides exceptional hospital and respite housing services to critically ill children and their families. We believe in keeping families together during a child’s medical crisis, and that the gentle cadence of normal family life has a powerful influence on the healing process.
The JL foundation assists families with travel expenses while receiving treatment. Louisiana based.
Offers a place to rest, refresh and stay while your child is in the hospital or receiving treatment far from home. It makes children happier and healthier by keeping families together & gives them a place that feels like home.
Sibling Support
SUPERSIBS, POWERED BY ALEX’S LEMONADE STAND FOUNDATION
Previously known as Supersibs, ALSF has taken over the program to ensure that siblings of children with cancer can continue to receive comfort and care through this great program. Currently is called Supersibs, Powered by Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation.
OLIVERS STORY- (MICHAEL DODD BOOK)
This book tells a story about one child. But there is an important story to be told from every brother or sister of a child with cancer. That’s because when you find out your brother or. sister has cancer, all of a sudden, life can kind of get turned upside down.
Special Surprises
They will send a “Hope Box” filled with goodies to lift the spirit of the cancer patient as well as siblings.
To provide every child that is diagnosed and undergoing treatment for cancer or receiving chemotherapy to treat other life-threatening illnesses with a cap autographed by the athlete, entertainer or other notable celebrity of their choice.
This program is great because your child will receive a special gift via postal mail as well as lots, and lots of letters. You might also receive some fun stickers!
It is the goal of Emily's Power for a Cure to raise funds and awareness to fight Neuroblastoma while helping families who are actively fighting this disease.
Icing Smiles is a nonprofit organization that provides custom celebration cakes and other treats to families impacted by the critical illness of a child.  We understand that simple things, like cake, are luxuries to a family battling illness.  Our goal is to create a custom cake for the ill child, or their sibling, that provides a temporary escape from worry and creates a positive memory during a difficult time.
Click on the Contact Us link and request an application for an iPad. There is a waiting list, so it’s best to do this one as soon as possible.
Provides meals and gifts for families living in Chattanooga, TN.
This made our entire family smile along with close friends. It’s written and recorded by a professional just for you!
Improve the quality of life for children with cancer. Provides integrative therapies to all children with cancer to help manage the side effects and late effects of traditional cancer treatment. Therapies such as massage, acupuncture, art therapy, and horseback riding during treatment.
Jessie created fun-filled Joy Jars to send hope and joy to her peers fighting cancer.
We help child warriors find hope through their strength and beauty through photography.
Connection with other children walking through cancer. Team Summer kids help us dream up a great gift to send that kid something fun that will distract them from yucky medical stuff.
Spiritual & Psychological
The Beads of Courage program helps decrease illness-related distress, increases the use of positive coping strategies, helps children find meaning in illness, and restores a sense of self in children coping with serious illness. The program also provides something tangible the child can use to tell about their experience during treatment and after.
Our Mission is to show compassion, provide encouragement and pray for families with children who are facing a medical crisis.
Hatch’s house of hope integrates the specific needs of families dealing with the effects of pediatric cancer, with hospital-based as well as community-based services. Some of these services include IEP Neurocognitive testing; educational programming to help affected children overcome their cognitive and learning deficits; emotional counseling for the cancer-affected child, their siblings, and parents; and marital and financial counseling to ensure a safe environment in order to maximize family growth. (Chattanooga, TN)
Say Hello to Hope features the following:
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Stories: Families that have been or are walking through medical adversity describe their situation and what brought them hope and encouragement. 
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Resources: Practical resources and topics for families dealing with medical situations or their loved ones that want to support them. 
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Encouragement: Devotional-type content to provide spiritual encouragement for families dealing with medical situations. 
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Prayer: We post some prayer resources as well as monthly community prayers. 
MARRIAGE HOPE
The goal of this ministry is to help provide free counseling for financially strapped couples who are having some problems but are willing to try to work things out.   The couple that founded the ministry have a big heart for marriage ministry.  Their own marriage has been through a lot of tough times, including separation, separate bedrooms, etc. (you get the drift).   One of the biggest things they say they lacked during their problems is hope that things could really get better.   What they found out is that God can do awesome things if we are open to change and look at our own issues.  Once a couple is identified that can be helped, they can send an email with their contact information to the following email address – info@marriagehope.org.   Marriage Hope then searches for a local Christian counselor near the couple.   The Marriage Hope team gets the couple set up and sets up payment with the counselor directly so the couple does not have to deal with the issue. 
This is a support group program that provides a safe and supportive environment for children grieving a death. The program encourages the expression of grief verbally through creative, positive play within a peer group setting. Sessions are available to grieving children ages 4 to 16.
Books & Studies
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Unfinished Love (Sherry Tucker)–Walking by Faith Through Pediatric Cancer
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Hope for Families of Children with Cancer (Lynda Young)
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A Parent’s Guide to Clinical Trials (Adam Cohen MS, MD & Howard Colman MD, PhD
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The Cozy Cares Journal (Ruth Hoffman MPH) Ages 6-12
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Chemo, Craziness, and Comfort (Ruth Hoffman, MPH) ages 6-12
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Dance in the Rain (Ruth Hoffman, MPH) Ages 13 and up
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Millie Finds Her Miracle (Courtney Mount)
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Embracing a Miracle: 21 Days to Aligning Your Faith with the Heart of God (Courtney Mount)
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Who Cares for You (Marissa Bondurant) - 4-week study
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Children's books about cancer diagnosis from Mighty + Bright (Sara Olsher)