By Gwen Mysiak, Executive Director

“Your Child Has Cancer.” It is difficult to even comprehend ever having to hear those words. Crippling anxiety, helplessness, the fear that every interaction could be life-threatening, pediatric cancer destabilizes every single aspect of existence. While in the fight for a child’s life, the burden and stress of financial instability also looms large. The ripple effect of a pediatric cancer diagnosis is far and wide. Families report losing more than 40% of their annual household income as a result of treatment-related work disruption and that figure does not account for out-of-pocket expenses like traveling to the hospital and extra childcare at home.  These are the shoes of families facing pediatric cancer since the day that horrible diagnosis came.

P.U.N.T.’s Mile in their Shoes Walk & Roll was inspired in 2020 to raise funding and awareness for our six critical programs anywhere, any time. Even after in-person fundraising events resumed post-pandemic, this campaign continues to remain an important staple of our annual fundraising event efforts.

Participants can register on our website (puntpediatriccancer.org) as an individual, join a team, or create their own team and walk their walk anywhere through August 31! You can set a fundraising goal, create your very own personal family team page, and encourage/challenge those in your own network to make a difference by supporting your walk or doing their own, too!

If you would prefer to walk the walk with the fellowship of community at your side, we also have that opportunity. P.U.N.T.’s 4th Annual “Walk and Roll” event presented by Highmark of Western New York will take place on August 31st at Delaware Park from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. In addition to helping raise crucial funds, the walk will usher in pediatric cancer awareness month.

While stepping out for our mission, families will also enjoy music with Buffalo Bills & Sabres own DJ Milk, food trucks, and visits with beloved team mascots Sabretooth, Rax of the Buffalo Bandits, Buster Bison, and Billy Buffalo! The walk will start in front of Parkside Lodge at Delaware Park and if you would rather “roll,” bring your roller blades, wagons, or strollers to make your lap!

“There isn’t a family facing pediatric cancer in Western New York that doesn’t know the incredible impact of this organization,” said Kelly Barnhart, mom of pediatric cancer warrior Carson who battled infant glioblastoma. “I dream of a world where no parent has to hear their child has cancer, but until that happens, P.U.N.T. will be there for every family whose life changes with those words.”

If you would like to be there for a nonprofit that walks beside local families traveling one of the worst roads a child and family could every travel every single step of the way, we hope you will join us for this year’s “Walk & Roll!”

For more details and to register to join our team of difference-makers, please visit www.puntpediatriccancer.org.