ST. LOUIS, May 24, 2019 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- The National
Children's Cancer Society (NCCS) offers the opportunity for a
younger child going through cancer treatment to be paired with a
mentor for emotional and social support. Mentors are the
organization's Beyond the Cure Ambassador Scholarship recipients
who overcame difficulties, showed determination and have been
awarded funds toward their college tuition from the NCCS.
Each NCCS mentor is a guide, trusted ally and role model who can
help a young child navigate the challenges of childhood cancer.
These extraordinary relationships often have a huge impact on both
the mentor and mentee. This was the case for Jake Waldron, a recent NCCS Beyond the Cure
Ambassador Scholarship recipient and DJ, his 10-year-old
mentee.
Jake and DJ talked by phone once a week for months and developed
a unique bond. In February 2019,
doctors broke the devastating news to DJ's family that they were
out of treatment options. One of DJ's biggest wishes in his final
months was to meet Jake in person. With help from the NCCS who
orchestrated the meeting by connecting with Miracle Flights, the
two met finally in person. They talked, laughed, took pictures and
played board games in DJ's hospital room. The time together meant
the world to DJ and provided a memorable day of joy before he
passed away on April 20, 2019.
"I wanted to send a huge thank you for everything you did to
make DJ's wish of meeting Jake happen…He was so excited when he got
to meet Jake and seeing the smile on his face whenever he would
talk about Jake will always hold a special place in my heart," said
Barb, DJ's mom, in a note to the NCCS.
The experience also had a lasting impression on Jake, who is
using his NCCS scholarship to attend Syracuse
University. He is majoring in economics and citizenship as
well as civic engagement with the hope of one day working for a
nonprofit organization. His time with DJ inspires him as he looks
for ways to help others.
"I want to thank you guys for having the mentorship program
because it has made such a significant perspective change for me.
When I was going through treatment I always had that one person who
I relied on. After visiting DJ, I realized that person for him is
me. That has made everything worth it," said Jake. "He helped and
touched me far more than I can ever express. Thank you for this
mentorship opportunity, it has truly been life-changing."
The National Children's Cancer Society (NCCS), headquartered in
St. Louis, Missouri, is a
not-for-profit organization providing support to families making
their way through the daunting world of childhood cancer and
survivorship. With over 30 years of experience serving over 43,000
children, the NCCS is able to take a "no matter what" approach to
help families stay strong, stay positive and stay together. The
NCCS has been recognized as a Better Business Bureau Accredited
Charity and earned a GuideStar Platinum Seal of Transparency. For
more information call 314-241-1600, visit theNCCS.org, or on
Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
SOURCE The National Children’s Cancer Society