HERE ARE A FEW OF THE WAYS MEGHAN’S DREAMS HAVE ACCOMPLISHED:
Meghan realized that pediatric cancer patients on hospital wards wanted their parents with them 24/7. Yet, there were no laundry facilities near Kosair Children’s Hospital. With hospital permission, Meghan purchased a washer and dryer and had it installed on the same floor.
Many children, once discharged from the hospital, need outpatient chemotherapy. Because Meghan knew those hours getting chemo could be boring, she had two wall mounted TV’s with children’s videos and games installed in the outpatient facility across from the children’s hospital to help pass the time and make their day a little brighter. Christmas visits to children in hospitals with Santa, as well as Valentine parties, have brought smiles to many pediatric patients.
Through the generosity of Meghan’s Mountain, patients at the Brown Cancer Center outpatient clinic were given new and more comfortable recliners, as well as a blanket warmer as treatment rooms can be awfully cold. We also have provided exercise equipment, TV’s and DVD’s for the clinic, Christmas parties for patients where they received clothes, Christmas ornaments, food and entertainment. We currently provide financial support to “Capture the Moment”, where both adult and pediatric patients can have professional photographers take individual and family pictures that will “last a lifetime.”
Meghan knew that being immersed in a sporting or a recreational event co family outing could allow cancer patients to forget about the disease that took over their everyday life, even if for just a few hours. We have purchased tickets for families to attend the Louisville Bats which included gift cards for food.
Our foundation has provided free cruises on the Belle of Louisville for families affected by cancer. Our second cruise is scheduled for October of 2022. We know first-hand the economic and emotional strains put on families affected by cancer, so we strive to give them a few hours of laughter while letting them know they do not climb their mountain alone.
For the pediatric children in the hospital and/or clinic at UK Dance Blue in Lexington, we have provided reading books, X-box gear, Treasure by vending machine, creative art supplies, and computers among other items. We have also provided free parking, admission and food to attend the games of the Lexington Legends, a class A affiliate of the Kansas City Royals.
We support Kids Cancer Alliance which provides bereavement support for families who have lost a child, a two year scholarship for a cancer survivor to pursue higher education, meals and programs at children’s cancer hospitals, free summer camps for kids with cancer or in remission, family retreats to get a welcome break from normal everyday life, two quarterly family events where families can come together and have quality time having fun and catching up with other families who met through KCA and a teen weekend retreat for campers, among other endeavors.
We support Gilda’s Club Kentuckiana, the largest non-profit cancer support organization in the United States. We are proud to have sponsored the following programs and events for their members living with cancer. Those include assisting with the Belle of Louisville Ohio river cruise; sponsorship of WIGS!, Over the Edge, and Noogiefest; sponsoring Camp Gilda, a week-long day camp for youth living with cancer; helping to fund the yearly Write Stuff Teen Essay and Visual Arts Contest; giving towards their annual Holiday Party for families living with cancer; and supporting monthly youth activity boxes that are delivered to more than 150 teen and kids.
We support Camp Quality Kentuckiana which focuses on pediatric and adolescent cancer patients and their families. Our donations go toward hospital outreach programs such as a catered meal to the families and medical staff on 7 W of Norton Children's Hospital; camp week (the Sugar Bowl of the year) where kids go for a free one-week stay to be kids once more and the camp is staffed by a professional medical team; Day at the Louisville Bats; Day at LouCity Soccer; Karting for Kids (go karts); Night at the Drive-In; Reunion day; Holiday Toy Drive; Family Camp Weekend; Teen Camp Weekend; and Cowboys for Kids. When Meghan was in remission, she was a volunteer camp counselor and learned just how important Camp Quality is to children with cancer as well as their immediate family members.