September is Childhood Cancer and Sickle Cell Disease Awareness Month. For children, young adults, and families navigating through cancer treatments or other life-threatening illnesses such as Sickle Cell Disease, the past 18 months have presented entirely new challenges during an already difficult time.
With feelings of fear, anxiety, and social isolation at an all-time high among patients and families, The Periwinkle Foundation’s work, and the work of similar organizations, has become that much more meaningful. The Periwinkle Foundation’s programs have proven to exceed initial expectations and are recognized by physicians as a critical part of treatment and recovery for children with cancer and other life-threatening illnesses.
The Periwinkle Foundation, named after a plant used to make the chemotherapy agent vincristine, was founded in 1983 by Dr. Paul Gerson to provide children at Texas Children’s Hospital with the opportunity to “just feel normal” for one week at Camp Periwinkle, an overnight summer camp for patients ages 7-15 treated at Texas Children’s Cancer Center, and a sibling. Today, Periwinkle camps, arts and survivor programs touch more than 14,000 children, teens and families annually.
For more than 38 years, The Periwinkle Foundation has been committed to offering positive and life-changing programs through a community of healing to create stronger survivors.
In recognition of September as Childhood Cancer and Sickle Cell Disease Awareness Month, we are asking everyone to join us in raising awareness by ordering free gold and burgundy ribbons from www.periwinklefoundation.org to wear throughout the month.