Second chances
Posted on December 9, 2019
For the last ten years, I have worked with a local charity know as Griffin’s Friends. Quite ironically it is a children’s cancer fund for patients being treated exclusively at Baystate Health, our parent company.
Griffin’s Friends is a group of volunteers dedicated to providing support to children with cancer. Founded in 1994 in Springfield, Massachusetts, Griffin’s Friends is named for Griffin D. Kelleher. His legacy, in a unique way, supports children in treatment for cancer and their families. The goal of Griffin’s Friends is simple and appealing: to bring moments of joy to courageous kids. We strive to ease the hardships of children in treatment for cancer and the families who love and support them.
When you join Griffin’s Friends you are assigned a team captain and are encouraged to attend all of the fun events we get to sponsor or host. Through the money we raise, we get to bring some normalcy back to these children and their families. By adhering to the mentality “let them be kids” allows these children to take a break from treatment. Bowling parties, day trips to Six Flags, Halloween costume parties, and my personal favorite; the annual pancake breakfast. We also do things like send the kids Valentines cards, pack Easter baskets, deliver Thanksgiving dinners, bring in Christmas presents and sometimes the “just because” gift.
We take into consideration things insurance doesn’t always cover, such as provide gift cards for groceries, gas and supplemental therapies which the families may not otherwise be able to afford.
Our biggest fundraiser throughout the year is our marathon challenge. This is daunting to say the least; but year after year when it’s time to start training again I find it a lot easier to lace up my shoes knowing my early mornings, sore muscles, and hours running pale in comparison to the hours these brave kids spend being poked and prodded. All of the money we fundraise goes directly to families with whom are a part of the Griffin’s Friends network.
I also volunteer with a local animal shelter in East Brookfield called Second Chance Animal Services. I’ll be the first to admit that this is less of a “chore” and something I look forward to each weekend. Even don’t mind cleaning up the dog’s kennels. This is a no kill shelter that takes in Dixie dogs from the southern states and “problem” dogs that would have otherwise been euthanized. Watching the dogs learn to trust, gain confidence, gain weight, and experience kindness (many for the first time) is more rewarding than I can begin to explain. Often times the only humans these animals get to see are the volunteers who show up. I make it a point to show up on holidays (with a ham on Easter) and on those rainy days when its understandably less likely for other volunteers to show up. However, I do have a lot of explaining to do with my own dog when I come home smelling like others. Though I wouldn’t change it for the world.
– Casey M.
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