What’s black and red and seen all over? You’re right if you guessed Road Scholar Transport’s Children’s Cancer Recovery awareness truck, traveling our nation’s roads delivering freight and spreading awareness as part of our 10 Million Miles to a Cure Awareness Campaign.
I recently had the pleasure of speaking to Austin Kulp, Marketing Communications Manager for the Children’s Cancer Recovery Foundation.
Can you please tell me a little about the CCR Foundation?
AUSTIN: Children’s Cancer Recovery Foundation was created in 1990 after Greg Anderson, our Founder and survivor of a 30 days to live lung cancer diagnosis, visited a Children’s Hospital for a speaking engagement. After meeting with numerous parents at the hospital, Greg realized that he needed to do something to help. Greg interviewed parents and those responses helped him form the programs we have today.
The Bear-Able Gift program, which delivers gifts to thousands of children each year…items such as board games, toys, crayons, coloring books, markers, video games, puzzles, books, teddy bears, craft kits…all sorts of things that make children smile and laugh…are distributed to hospitals across the country. The Bear-Able Gift Program is the largest supplier of gifts to children with cancer in North America.
Families of children with cancer often face financial difficulties. Suddenly, household bills become overwhelming; utilities are in jeopardy of being shut-off or an eviction notice is received. The Helping Hands Fund provides emergency bridge payments directly to the utility companies and landlords, ensuring that each child has a warm, safe place to call home while recovering from cancer.
The Camp Scholarship Program allows children in remission to reconnect with those friends and activities. The program provides funding for a camp of their choice; sports, music, art, science, horseback riding, skiing or whatever activities they missed most during treatment.
The Bible’s story of Cain and Abel drives an important part of the mission of Children’s Cancer Recovery Foundation. After Cain had murdered his brother Abel, God asked him where his brother was. Cain answered, “I know not; am I my brother’s keeper?”
Cain’s words have come to symbolize people’s unwillingness to accept responsibility for the welfare of their fellows — their “brothers” in the extended sense of the term. The Judeo-Christian tradition is that people do have this responsibility.
Children’s Cancer Recovery Foundation operates an extensive international aid program which provides treatment medications and medical supplies to clinics and doctors treating cancer patients in developing and impoverished countries. We also provide medicine and supplies to aid medical professionals in the treatment and prevention of the side effects of cancer including lymphedema and treatment-related infections.
Children’s Cancer Recovery Foundation has partnered with mission hospitals, medical clinics and healthcare providers in Ghana, Guatemala, Honduras, Kenya, the Philippines and Viet Nam. Without this important program, literally thousands of cancer patients would simply not be able to receive the medical attention that is required for survival. Indeed, we are proud to do our part in being our brothers’—and sisters’—keeper.
Our Mission:
Children’s Cancer Recovery Foundation assists children under age 18 and their families who are facing the hardships of a cancer diagnosis. The Foundation focuses on improving the mental, social and emotional well-being of these families while helping to minimize the devastation that cancer can cause. A national footprint allows the Foundation to make a difference in communities, large and small, providing a helping hand wherever needed.
How did you come to learn about Road Scholar Transport’s awareness program?
AUSTIN: We were informed about the Road Scholar’s Awareness Truck Program through Pyrotek, a company that supports our organization and who has also shipped freight with Road Scholar in the past.
What do you think of our CCRF awareness truck?
AUSTIN: We were so happy to hear that Road Scholar Trucking was willing to create a truck to promote Children’s Cancer Recovery Foundation. The Road Scholar truck is absolutely amazing. Awareness is a huge part of the success of non-profit organizations such as ours. The Road Scholar truck allows CCRF to reach families that may not know about our organization or our programs. Our goal each year is to support as many children and families as we can. The awareness from the Road Scholar truck is a huge part in reaching the goal.
Have you received any feedback on our truck?
AUSTIN: We have received a lot of positive feedback about the truck. We are constantly asked if the Road Scholar truck delivers our toys to the hospitals across the nation. Everyone we talk to about the truck is impressed that Road Scholar truck is willing to help promote and spread the word of so many great causes.
We would like to get Road Scholar Trucking involved with future events. We have 5 event scheduled for 2013 including 2 toys drives.
*Tee Off For Children’s Cancer Golf outing on June 3rd at the Country Club of Harrisburg
*The Celebration of Hope Gala September 13th at the Hershey Lodge
*Family Fall Festival October 6th at the Twin Brooks Horse Show Association
*Wink 104 Holiday Toy Drive at Ollie’s Bargain Outlet on December 6th
*Z Country Toy Drive at Kmart on December 12th
What do you think of Road Scholar Transport’s awareness campaign in general compared to other trucking companies?
AUSTIN: It is wonderful that Road Scholar is willing to promote worthy organizations on their trucks. Awareness is a huge part of children’s cancer and the fact that Road Scholar is willing to help us promote our programs is amazing. We look forward to working with Road Scholar in the future and hope that other businesses are able to support Road Scholar so that we can keep our CCRF truck on the road.
Did you know that Road Scholar has over two dozen awareness trucks? Cruise over to www.roadscholarawareness.org to learn more about our Children’s Cancer Recovery truck and to view Road Scholar’s other awareness causes!
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