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   “Your child has cancer” are four gut-wrenching words no parent ever wants to hear.

   Did you know?  Every two minutes a child under 20 is diagnosed with cancer.

   Your local Lions Clubs along with Lions Clubs across Minnesota are working to help these families. A relatively new foundation, known as the Minnesota Lions Childhood Cancer Foundation (MNLCCF), is working to help families who have a child on their cancer journey.  When a local Lions Club makes a donation to one of these families, the Foundation will match up to $500.  

   The MNLCCF was granted 501(c)(3) status as a nonprofit organization in July of 2020. Two of their major purposes are to support research by providing funds to the University of MN Masonic Cancer Center and to provide support to families of childhood cancer patients. This work is done through donations from businesses—large and small, individuals, donations from businesses who have charitable gambling funds, and individual Lions Clubs.

   In Minnesota, we also have Kamp KACE (pronounced Kasey).  This is a week-long Kamp held the end of June for children with cancer and their siblings. Kamp KACE was opened in 1986 and uses the facilities of Camp Cormorant in Lake Park, MN.  The mission of Kamp KACE is to help kids with cancer feel like kids. Kamp KACE provides a safe, rewarding, and memorable camp experience for school-aged kids with cancer and their siblings.

   The logo representing the foundation represents the five major types of childhood cancer. The most prominent is Leukemia which has 30% of diagnosed cancers.

   Remember this: in the time it took to read this article, another child has been diagnosed with cancer. If you would like to donate to the Minnesota Lions Childhood Cancer Foundation or Kamp KACE, you can send checks made out to the Foundation or to Kamp KACE in care of the Backus Lions, PO Box 161, Backus, MN  56435. Also, if you are aware of a family who has a child with cancer and who could use financial aid, contact your local Lions Club to get the process going for the matching grant. 

   If you would like more information about the MNLCCF or Kamp KACE, go to MNlionschildhoodcancerfoundation.org or contact Cora Hohnstadt, MNLCCF Trustee, through the Backus Lions address as well. 

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