Helping Families Handle Cancer Announces First Scholarship for Parents and Siblings of Pediatric Cancer Patients in Alberta

CALGARY, AB / ACCESSWIRE / May 8, 2023 / Last year, Helping Families Handle Cancer granted scholarships to three deserving oncology parents, marking the first time we had been awarded such scholarships. In 2023, we are excited to announce the addition of our brand-new Oncology Sibling Bursary to our program. Our charity is the sole provider of oncology parent/sibling bursaries of its kind in Canada, and we require your assistance in promoting our initiative.

Helping Families Handle Cancer (HFHC), a non-profit organization dedicated to providing financial, emotional and practical support to families affected by childhood cancer, is proud to announce the launch of the Helen Stock Legacy Bursary, the first scholarship of its kind in Canada.

The Helen Stock Legacy Bursary was created to provide financial assistance to parents and siblings of pediatric cancer patients in Alberta who wish to pursue higher education but are facing financial difficulties due to the financial strains of their child’s cancer diagnosis. The scholarship aims to alleviate some of the financial burdens that families face during their difficult time and support them in achieving their educational goals.

Cancer patients and their families face significant financial struggles, with many families experiencing a decline in income, increased expenses, and a depletion of savings. The challenge of obtaining higher education can impede families from accessing opportunities for increased earnings, which could benefit the whole family.

“We are proud to launch the Helen Stock Legacy Bursary and support parents and siblings of pediatric cancer patients in their pursuit of higher education,” says Carie Stock, Founder of Helping Families Handle Cancer. “We recognize the financial challenges that families face during and after a cancer diagnosis, and we want to help alleviate that burden. We are honored to carry on Helen Stock’s legacy and support families in her name.”

Applications for the Helen Stock Legacy Bursary are currently being accepted, and the deadline for submission is June 15, 2023. For more information on the scholarship and to apply, please visit Helping Families Handle Cancer’s website at www.helpingfamilieshandlecancer.com.

QUOTES FROM PAST RECIPIENTS

“Many do not understand that when one member of a family has cancer, it affects all of the members of the family,” says a previous scholarship recipient “Receiving the Helen Stock Legacy Bursary was a confirmation for me that others outside of our family were rooting for all of us and our success. Having to take a year off from school to deal with our son’s treatment was hard. To put our own goals and aspirations on hold in sacrifice for our son is disheartening at times, and going through the effort to sign up and commit to classes and resuming my education was incredibly difficult with the demands put on us while we are still in treatment. Receiving the Helen Stock Legacy Bursary was the confirmation that I can go back to school, it financially made the situation go from barely possible to possible with conviction. Thank you for the courage and strength you have given me through this scholarship knowing that others were willing to invest in me because they believed I was able to achieve a higher education even during a family trial of strength.” – Ryan Brown (Teddy’s Father)

The Helen Stock Legacy Bursary was of great hope in a time of despair. My son battled Neuroblastoma for over 14 months before he passed away. I was in my first year of university, which was very expensive. Unfortunately, my government loans and grants dropped significantly as a result of no longer being considered a parent, since my son was my only child. I returned to school to give him a better life. Now, I feel finishing my degree is a way of honoring his memory. This bursary allowed me to focus on school while grieving my son, without having to attempt to work part-time as well. – Celine Grasdal (Gryhon’s Mom)

INTERVIEWS

Carie Stock
Executive Director
Helping Families Handle Cancer
Cell: 403-850-5477
[email protected]

ABOUT THE HELEN STOCK

The Helen Stock Legacy Bursary is named in honor of Helen Stock, a devoted supporter of Helping Families Handle Cancer who passed away in 2022 after a courageous battle with cancer. Helen believed strongly in the importance of education and the power of supporting families affected by childhood cancer.

ABOUT HELPING FAMILIES HANDLE CANCER

Helping Families Handle Cancer is a not-for-profit organization that strives to alleviate some of the stress of childhood cancer by providing financial support to families in need, due to the time commitment at the hospital, in caring for their child. The Helping Families Care Program purchases items such as parking passes, medical supplies, medication not covered through benefits, rent, fuel, groceries, and other household bills that families are struggling to pay for as they take time away from work to be with their child during this critical time. To date, Helping Families has helped over 1,900 families at the Alberta Children’s Hospital with over $1 million in financial support, giving more precious time with their little warrior! In 2022, Helping Families Handle Cancer expanded its Care Program to include a Palliative and Bereavement Care Program which financially supports families with a child who is not going to survive their cancer diagnosis.

ABOUT CARIE STOCK

Childhood cancer survivor, Carie Stock, started Helping Families Handle Cancer in 2008, based on her family’s experience through her childhood diagnosis and treatment. Carie’s story has come full circle in recent years as she regularly collaborates with the Social Workers at the Alberta Children’s Hospital (ACH) to support childhood cancer families.

SOURCE: Helping Families Handle Cancer