“The very next researcher or scientist that puts a cell in a petri dish could say, ‘aha, this is it,’ you just don’t know. And we’re waiting for that aha moment.” –Sherrie Wells, Hugs for Brady Foundation Co-Founder
In a recent interview with Great.com’s podcast series, ‘Great.com Talks With…’, Hugs for Brady Foundation’s co-founder and executive director, Sherrie Wells, introduced the foundation’s mission to relieve the financial burden from families with children suffering from pediatric cancer.
As it is much less common than cancer found in adults, research into pediatric cancer is limited. Through fundraising, Hugs for Brady supports scientific research on cures for pediatric cancer, believing that a cure for pediatric cancers will also mean a cure for adult cancers. Watch the full video interview here.
Alongside several other small foundations, Hugs for Brady raises money for cancer foundations across the United States, knowing that every donation could lead to a cure. Sherrie and her husband Michael underwent the same struggles that families across the world are going through now. Their young child, Brady, suffered from leukemia for nearly a year before tragically losing his battle.
Due to a lack of healthcare through her employer, Sherrie was forced to quit her job to take care of Brady while her husband continued working, as his employer provided healthcare for their family.
This is very common for many families living this reality. In these times, difficult financial and life decisions must be made. Founded 10 years ago, Hugs for Brady has raised nearly five million dollars to support research and individual families struggling financially with the costs of pediatric cancer treatment.
From clothing to toys, from televisions to gaming units, Hugs for Brady believes that children undergoing treatment should be surrounded with joy, happiness and comfort.
During Brady’s treatment, there weren’t any safe chairs or wagons available to allow Brady to move around the hospital with his IV. This struggle led to the creation of Brady Buggy Wagons, allowing treatment to be mobile throughout the hospital. Doctors have widely noted the psychological improvements they have seen in children using them. Today, hospitals around the world have begun to purchase these wagons.
Towards the end of the interview, Sherrie shared with us, “I don’t necessarily know that there will be a cure for any of the 12 or 13 major pediatric cancers in my lifetime. But that’s something that I have to hang on to. I have to have hope and optimism. I do know one thing for sure: if we don’t try, there isn’t going to be a cure. So we have to keep trying. We have to be optimistic. We have to have hope. We have to keep donating. These children need our help. They need our support. And we have to give them the best chance possible to live.”
At Hugs for Brady, we’ll be celebrating our 10 year anniversary later this year to reflect upon all of the progress made and to continue fighting for a cure to pediatric and adult cancers.
Want to support the Hugs for Brady Foundation? Donate today.
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