November 2026 Newsletter
C.U.R.E. Childhood Cancer Association is celebrating 50 years of impact, hope, and walking alongside Families during their most difficult times. As we honor the legacy built by our Founders, Supporters & Families, we’re also preparing for an exciting future. While we take pride in how far we’ve come, we’re even more energized by what’s ahead. Big, exciting things are on the horizon—the next chapter of C.U.R.E. is just the beginning.
Check out: “What I Wish I Knew…”
We are sharing a new series of YouTube videos called “What I Wish I Knew”. They will be from the perspective of Parents, Caregivers, Providers and more.
Our latest video shares about self-care ideas for caregivers. Check out the video below:
Be sure to check out past videos as well:
Spotlight on:
Meet our Friend, Bryce!
Bryce is a playful, active three year old! He was diagnosed with High Risk Neuroblastoma in August 2026. Bryce loves vehicles and has a big sister he loves to wrestle with!
While in treatment at the hospital, Bryce likes to play in the playroom and play deck, go to OT and walk the halls.
C.U.R.E. Halloween Spooktacular!
A huge heartfelt THANK YOU to everyone who helped make our C.U.R.E. Halloween Spooktacular such a special day! It takes a village to create moments filled with laughter, excitement, and smiles, and we are so grateful to everyone who came out, contributed, and helped make Halloween extra special for our amazing kids. Seeing their faces light up is what it’s all about!
A special thank you to Jason of Bliek Farms in Sodus for donating all the pumpkins and apples, Marty from Thor Productions for bringing the energy and excitement, and Lynne and Randy from CURE Bears for Hope and Love for your continued kindness and generosity and sharing your DJing and photography skills.
We are also incredibly thankful to our community partners who set up rooms for trick or treaters to visit: Michaela from 13thirty Cancer Connect, Kelsey from Camp Good Days, and Shivani and Amanda from Cancer Support Community at Gilda’s Club Rochester, Collin, Jen, & the team from the AC6 Clinic at Golisano Children’s Hospital, and Holly & Charlotte Dutcher for joining us and sharing your time, support, and caring hearts with our families. Your generosity and willingness to join in the fun mean so much to our C.U.R.E. family!
To everyone who helped, participated, donated, volunteered, or celebrated with us: THANK YOU! You helped create more than just a Halloween party. You created a night filled with joy, friendship, community, and, most importantly, SMILES. Those smiles are priceless, and they are the reason we do what we do.
Thank you for making our First C.U.R.E. Halloween Spooktacular a frightfully fun success! ❤️🎃👻
Hey, C.U.R.E. Parents:
Did you know we have a private Facebook Group JUST for you? Connect with other parents. Ask questions about treatment, education help and more. Learn from others.
Contact us to learn more!
The Vertex Foundation Scholarship for SCD & TDT helps people with sickle cell disease (SCD) or transfusion-dependent beta thalassemia (TDT) and their immediate families (spouses, siblings, caregivers and children) pursue two-year, three-year, four-year or graduate degrees by offsetting some of the cost of attending college or graduate school.
CANDICE’S SICKLE CELL FUND SCHOLARSHIP
Candice’s Sickle Cell Anemia Fund, Inc., is a powerful initiative founded by Candice Young-Deler, who has courageously overcome the challenges of living with Sickle Cell Disease. Inspired by her own academic journey, Candice created this scholarship to support students living with Sickle Cell who are pursuing higher education.
Each year, the fund awards $1,500 scholarships to three deserving individuals, helping ease the financial burden and recognize their resilience and determination. These scholarships not only provide financial support but also affirm the strength and potential of students facing chronic health challenges.
💡 Why It Matters:
Students with Sickle Cell often face painful health episodes that disrupt their education. This fund helps ensure that their dreams of college and career success remain within reach.
📬 Want to support or apply?
Visit candicessicklecellfund.org to learn more, donate, or share the opportunity with someone who may benefit.
Resources:
Childhood Cancer Survivor Scholarship and Employment Resources:
Children's Cancer Cause is assisting childhood cancer patients, survivors and families by centralizing most national resources that provide scholarships for survivors of childhood cancer or those with particular effects. The site also has resources and advice relating to employment and applying for these scholarships.
Some opportunities require commitment to a childhood cancer advocacy project while in college, while others make you eligible for you just being you. But you do need to apply! Be sure to read the instructions and qualifications very carefully. Apply in plenty of time to get feedback from family, guidance counselors and others.
YOU can help C.U.R.E. for FREE
Follow us on social media:
Facebook: facebook.com/curekidscancerrochester
Instagram: @curekidscancer_
Twitter: @curekidscancer_
TikTok: @curekidscancer_Write a review about C.U.R.E. on our Facebook Page or on Google.
Write a blog that can be shared on our website.
Contact our Parent Advocate Michelle or Elena about doing an Instagram Takeover.
“Like”, Share or Comment on our social media posts.
Bereavement Group
All of us at C.U.R.E. sincerely appreciated the privilege of honoring all our C.U.R.E. angels at our annual Remembrance Service on Sunday, October 25th.
November Bereavement Group
Wednesday, November 4th at 7:00 p.m.
C.U.R.E. Office
103 White Spruce Blvd.
Rochester, NY 14623
No RSVP Required.
December Bereavement Group
Wednesday, December 2nd at 6:30 p.m.
Parent Night Out - Paint & Sip
More Info to Follow
RSVP Will Be Required
Not on our Bereaved Family mailing address list or in our private FaceBook page? Click the button below to be added or contact Diane at (585) 473-0180 x105.
Did you know? For children who have experienced the death of a sibling from childhood cancer, SuperSibs offers additional mailings through the Grief and Loss Mailing Program.
This program includes...
💛 Grief support and resources specifically for parents
💛 4 mailings per year for two years with activities designed to help SuperSibs to cope with their grief and feelings
💛 A special remembrance on the anniversary of their sibling’s passing
Learn more about this free program for siblings:
Click Here To Check it Out
FORE A Cause!
Our friends from the Pecora Real Estate Team have done it again! For several years now, Jonathan and the Pecora Team have been hosting their Annual Keller Williams Golf Classic benefitting C.U.R.E. They were connected to us when a friend was diagnosed with cancer and received services from C.U.R.E. during treatment. They saw the impact C.U.R.E. made in their friend’s life, and wanted to give back.
They had a wonderful day out on the course with a great turnout and lots of fun for all! Altogether, they raised $4,755 for our Families! Thank you so much for your kindness and supporting C.U.R.E. over the years! It means so much to have your support!
In Honor of Mark Dillon…
We are incredibly grateful to have once again been chosen as a recipient of proceeds from the annual Mark Dillon Memorial Golf Tournament! Each summer, the Dillon Family and Friends gather for a special day of golf and camaraderie to celebrate Mark’s life and honor his memory.
We are honored to be part of Mark’s lasting legacy and deeply appreciative of the Dillon Family’s continued commitment to C.U.R.E. and the Families we serve. Their generous $2,500 donation helps us continue embracing Families at every turn.
Thank you to the Dillon Family and everyone who helped make this wonderful event possible! Your generosity makes a meaningful difference in the lives of the Families we serve.
Gracie’s Fall Festival!
Our Friend, Gracie, is such a wonderful advocate for our Families! Every year, Gracie runs a pumpkin patch to help raise awareness for childhood cancer and fundraise for C.U.R.E. This year she changed it up and hosted a pumpkin party Fall Festival! Around 130+ friends and family came out to celebrate, pick pumpkins and mums and have a good time.
This year’s event generated in $3,393 donations! What a wonderful way to give back and support other kiddos like her. Thank you Gracie for your kindness and bringing your community together for a cause!
Thank you, Paychex Cares!
C.U.R.E. Mom, Janine, is such a wonderful advocate for C.U.R.E. and brings her passion everywhere she goes, including her workplace. In September, Janine and her team at Paychex led a Hoodie Day to help spread awareness for childhood cancer month. Employees made a donation to dress down for a day. Together, they raised $392 for C.U.R.E.!
Thank you to the Paychex Team for supporting our mission and making an impact on our community!
ARRRn’t We Thankful!
The Pirate Toy Fund does such wonderful work in our community! They provide toys to local organizations that help children all around the Greater Rochester region. C.U.R.E. is one of those organizations who benefit from their giving.
This year, the Pirate Toy Fund provided bags and bags and boxes of toys, games and puzzles! They included something for every age group, including our teens who are so often are overlooked. We are so grateful for their kindness and for thoughtfully choosing each and every item for our Families.
Thank you to Otto and the team for all that they do in our community and for bringing joy to kiddos when they need it the most!
Sprinkling Awareness!
For the 3rd year in a row, we have partnered with local ice cream shops to ‘Sprinkle Awareness’ for Childhood Cancer Awareness Month in September! They either created a specialty item on their menu, distributed gold sprinkles, or encouraged donations to help spread awareness.
This year we partnered with: Molly V’s, Papa Jack’s Ice Cream Bruster’s in Webster, and Charcoal Corral. Thank you to each of you for raising awareness in our community and supporting the Families we serve!
Our Hearts Are Full!
It means so much to us when we have a Family who dedicates their time or donates back to C.U.R.E., even years after treatment. Karen is a kind grandparent who gives back to C.U.R.E. with her whole heart!
Thank you Karen, for dropping off hats, pillow cases, games, coloring books and so much more! She even made individual bags with fun items and juice boxes to be donated to kiddos staying at the hospital. This was so thoughtful and so very much appreciated. We know these will make lots of kiddos very happy!
Please give a hand to our Advocates of the Month…
The Golisano Music Therapy Team & Aaron Austin!
We would like to highlight and extend our heartfelt thanks to the Golisano Music Therapy Team – Rosie, Elaine, Madeline and Julia – and Aaron Austin for once again helping make our annual Bereavement Ceremony so meaningful. We are incredibly grateful for their continued support year after year and the care they put into making this special day possible.
Rosie, Elaine, and Madeline thoughtfully selected the music and shared their beautiful talents by performing during the ceremony, creating a touching tribute to the children we hold so dearly in our hearts. We are also grateful to Aaron for bringing and setting up the sound equipment and helping coordinate the musician to ensure everything came together seamlessly.
Your continued generosity, time, and talents help create a beautiful atmosphere as families gather to remember and honor their sweet angels. We cannot thank you enough for being part of this special tradition and for helping make each year a meaningful day of love, remembrance, and connection.
2026 Holiday Volunteer Opportunities
Come help us make the holidays bright! Volunteer opportunities include preparing for our Holiday Party, helping at our Holiday Party and wrapping gifts for our Families.
(1) Come to our office and help prep all the fun goodies our Families will be receiving at our Holiday Party
(2) Helping at our annual Holiday Party for our Families. We can use help with set up, during the event and clean up. The event is being held at our office this year!
(3) We are in need of WRAPPERS. No rhyming skills needed. But we love to have fun! We just could NOT offer the Holiday support we provide without YOUR help! Please join us and wrap gifts for our Families at our office this Holiday season. We will provide the wrapping paper and tape. You will need to provide your skilled hands and ability to not lose the scissors!
Say Cheese!
We are looking for local photographers who would be willing to donate their time occasionally to photograph our End of Chemo Bell Ringings in the office. If you are interested in joining our volunteer email list for this project, please click the box below. When we are notified of an upcoming End of Chemo Bell Ringing, we will reach out to our network of photographers and will work on a first-come-first-here basis. We would love to build up our volunteer photographer list for these special occasions!
Make an Impact!
We have some Board positions opening up! Are you interested in applying?
The Board meets monthly for 1.5 - 2 hours (Currently the third Wednesday evening of the month from 5:30 - 7:30)
Board members must attend two of the three main fundraisers (5k & Fun Walk, Golf Tournament, Brunch)
Board members are on at least one sub-committee
Board members make a monetary donation for the Board sponsored Live Auction package for the Brunch
Applications can be emailed to:
cureboardapplications@gmail.com
Bring Holiday Joy to Families!
While the Holidays seem so far away, they’ll be here before we know it and we are starting to plan! Please reach out if you are interested in sponsoring a C.U.R.E. Family this holiday season. Sponsorship entails shopping from the Wish Lists provided to C.U.R.E. We anticipate 7 - 10 gifts per child and spending anywhere from $250+ depending on the size of the Family.
We also have amazon Wish Lists (which will be more specifically catered to our Families mid-November) that you can shop from, too!
C.U.R.E. Apparel Available!
We are thrilled to announce the official launch of our brand-new C.U.R.E. Apparel collection in partnership with Sew Pieceful Designs!
Why Shop the Collection?
This isn’t just about the clothing—it’s about the impact. When you purchase from our new apparel line, you are doing more than just updating your wardrobe:
Make a Direct Impact: Every purchase directly supports C.U.R.E. Childhood Cancer Association’s mission as 20% from every purchase will be donated back to C.U.R.E.!
Spread Awareness: Wearing our gear helps amplify our voice and brings visibility to the cause in your own community.
Show Your Solidarity: Join a community of supporters united by hope, strength, and the goal of a future without childhood cancer.
35th Annual Race With Grace 5k & 10k!
Start (or continue) a Thanksgiving tradition and join us for the 35th Annual Race With Grace Run! Runners can choose from the 5k or 10k and participate in the 34th year of the event:
Date: Thursday, November 26th
Time: 8:30 am EST
Location: Lakeshore Community Church - 3651 LATTA RD. ROCHESTER NY 14612
Runners and volunteers are needed! Click the link below to sign up:
Looking for a fun family project? All proceeds from the sale of vintage miniature furniture kits from minisbycm.etsy.com will go directly to C.U.R.E. Childhood Cancer Association. Each kit costs $12 and contains everything needed to build a piece or set of dollhouse furniture. Please spread the word!
Grateful Giving
Grateful Giving is a platform and mobile app that connects individual donors and businesses with nonprofits that need support to carry out their mission.
When you sign up, Grateful Giving allows individuals to automatically donate a portion of their spending to selected charities. It operates through a software platform that connects users with over 1.5 million non-profits, transforming everyday purchases into automated micro-donations to support causes. For individuals, this involves connecting a bank account or credit card to the service, which then sends a small percentage of daily spending to a chosen charity. For businesses, it can be used to give back to customers' favored causes or to make automatic donations for purchases, referrals, and birthdays, with the business paying for the donation as a thank you.
For individuals
Connect your accounts: Link your bank account or credit card to the Grateful Giving platform.
Set up giving: Choose to automatically donate a small percentage of your daily spending to a charity you care about.
Select a charity: Choose from a database of over 1.5 million 501(c)(3) charities.
For businesses
Partner with Grateful Giving:
The business pays a subscription fee to use the platform.
Automate donations:
The platform makes automatic micro-donations on behalf of the business for customer purchases, referrals, or employee/customer birthdays.
Pay for the donation:
The business pays for the donation as a way to thank customers or employees and support social good.
Enhance customer loyalty:
Businesses can align with causes their customers care about, increasing loyalty and customer retention.
How it helps
Simplifies giving:
It makes it easy for both individuals and businesses to give to charity through automated, regular donations.
Supports charities:
It provides a consistent funding source for a wide range of non-profit organizations.
Builds community:
It fosters deeper connections by allowing businesses to support causes that are important to their customers, employees, and communities.
Qualified Charitable Distributions:
To transfer funds from your IRA to C.U.R.E., please follow these step-by-step instructions:
(1) Contact your financial advisor or representative at the financial institution that holds your IRA.
(2) Tell your representative that you wish to make a QCD from your IRA to C.U.R.E.
(3) Request a check made payable to “C.U.R.E. Childhood Cancer Association” and indicate that it is a “qualified charitable distribution from the account of (your name).
(4) For wire transfers, contact request transfer instruction from C.U.R.E.
(5) Tax ID information: C.U.R.E. Childhood Cancer Association Federal Tax ID: 51-0215037
(6) Please contact C.U.R.E. and let us know to expect a payment.
Please note that the maximum QCD is $100,000 per year per person, with married couples with separate IRAs eligible to give up to $200,000 per year. Transfers to donor-advised funds, supporting organizations, private foundations, charitable remainder trusts, and charitable gift annuities do not qualify. The transfer is tax-free and is not included in your adjusted gross income (AGI), thus there is no charitable deduction. A transfer is not subject to AGI limitations on charitable deductions. C.U.R.E. recommends you consult with your estate attorney and/or financial advisor prior to requesting a QCD to C.U.R.E.
Become a C.U.R.E. Ambassador!
The Support Doesn’t Stop When Treatment Stops…
Because of YOU and your kindness.
Support our mission year-round by becoming a C.U.R.E. Ambassador! A C.U.R.E. Ambassador is a donor who commits to our mission through a monthly donation of his/her choosing. Whatever level you are comfortable with makes a difference!
Embrace the Difference
Did you know that we partner with Reeds Jewelers on their Embrace the Difference campaign? With Graduations approaching, we hope you’ll consider grabbing a gift from Reeds Jewelers Embrace the Difference Collection and make a difference to our Families (all while giving a beautiful gift!).
We also have exclusive bracelets here at C.U.R.E. with our logo on them that make beautiful gifts!
Round Up for C.U.R.E.!
We are thrilled to share that we are now part of the Walmart Spark Good program! You can select “C.U.R.E. Childhood Cancer Association” as your charity of choice and round up your purchases! The rounded up change will be donated to C.U.R.E.!
STEP 1: Visit walmart.com/sparkgood and sign in to your Walmart.com account.
STEP 2: Search for a favorite charity.
STEP 3: Once you choose a charity, go to the Round Up box and click "Select this Charity"
STEP 4: Review the FAQs and the Terms of Use.
C.U.R.E. Partners:
You can now return your cans and bottles to Alpco Recycling and Bottle & Can Retrieval Centers! Let them know you’d like to support “C.U.R.E. Childhood Cancer Association” and a donation will be made to us!
Alpco Recycling is located at:
846 Macedon Center Road, Macedon, NY 14502
More ways to help:
Together, we can make the Holidays Sparkle!
While the Holidays seem so far away, they’ll be here before we know it and we are starting to plan! Please reach out if you are interested in sponsoring a C.U.R.E. Family this holiday season. Sponsorship entails shopping from the Wish Lists provided to C.U.R.E. We anticipate 7 - 10 gifts per child and spending anywhere from $250+ depending on the size of the Family.
We also have amazon Wish Lists (which will be more specifically catered to our Families mid-November) that you can shop from, too!
Hailey and her Family have been saving aluminum can tabs for C.U.R.E. for many years now. The photo is Hailey standing in an oil drum of tabs surrounded by 14 oil drums FILLED with can tabs! They bring the drums to the scrap yard and then donate the proceeds to C.U.R.E. Those proceeds are then applied to the cost of parking vouchers for our Families.
You can bring your can tabs to our office at 200 Westfall Road, 14620 during business hours and we will collect them for Hailey and her Family.
We hope you think of Hailey and her program while you are at family gatherings, picnics and other fun summer activities this summer that may include aluminum cans!
C.U.R.E. has joined the PayPal Giving Fund. Please consider adding us to your account to Shop, Donate and Raise Awareness for our families.
PayPal Giving Fund expands our fundraising reach through direct integration with PayPal, eBay and GoFundMe.
We are so grateful to the community for all of the wonderful donations we receive throughout the year. We could not service all the families we do without this generous support. If you or a community group you belong to is looking for something to do for a charity, please consider donating items from C.U.R.E.’s wish list so that we can continue to provide for our families:
A cure for childhood cancer, blood diseases and brain tumors!
- Gift cards for Wegmans, Tops, Wal-Mart, Target and gas cards
- Gift cards for GrubHub, McDonalds, Wendy’s, Burger King, Chick Fil-A, Domino’s, Chipotle, Dunkin Donuts and Starbucks
- Gifts for teens or young adults
- Toys! Please see our Wish Lists below:
- Shop our Walmart Wish List here: https://www.walmart.com/lists/holiday-wishlist/a31ff2c6-8f70-4472-b862-93f8969c18fc
- Shop our Amazon Wish Lists:
Under $20: https://a.co/hlW4hCO
$20 - 50: https://a.co/eHiQcV2
$50+: https://a.co/bVDujCy)
We ask that all items be new and recently purchased. Thank you!