Fundraising Archives

Nov 21 2023

Annual Appeal 2023

November 2023

Dear Friends,

Why Me’s story is one of resilience, starting with a few dedicated volunteers, a handful of families, little money, and first-hand knowledge of the support services that would be most helpful. We persevered through the years, building Sherry’s House while the need for our services grew. In 2020, we faced adversity head-on when the Covid-19 pandemic changed how we supported our families. Through the years, we continue to adapt to new challenges that come our way.

This year, on a frigid Sunday morning in February, a sprinkler pipe in the playroom at Sherry’s House burst. Water poured down all over our beautiful paper cranes, into the kitchen, and down the ductwork into our office. The extensive damage brought the playroom down to the studs and made way for kitchen and office renovations. For the nine months that Sherry’s House was under renovation, our staff worked tirelessly, remaining focused on meeting the needs of our families without interruption.

Resiliency continues to be essential in our everyday work. If you look in the eyes of a child battling cancer, you will see tenacity and resilience, longing to be a normal child. The fact is a family that has a childhood cancer diagnosis is anything but normal. These families are isolated, fractured, and just trying to get by, which is why our services are so important. We bring families together, help them create new memories to last long beyond cancer treatment, and reassure them they are not alone.

You can be a part of creating these memories and giving families hope. Just think of the difference you can make. A donation of…

♥ $100 will buy take-out for 1 family in residence at Sherry’s House. After a long day at the hospital, this will give them a night off from cooking.
♥ $250 will purchase 1 month of chips, cookies, and other snacks to be brought to the hospital for clinic visits.
♥ $500 will send a mother and father away to our annual Bereavement Retreat weekend. This weekend is for them to focus on their grief and the child they lost.
♥ $2,500 pays for one week of entertainment at our Summer Camp.
♥ $5,000 will provide 5 graduating Why Me teens with a scholarship for their future endeavors.

This year, with the help of our friends, supporters, and donors, we helped our Why Me families root for the WooSox from a suite, drop the puck at a Worcester Railers game, get princess makeovers, search eagerly for Easter Eggs at our annual Easter Egg Hunt, catch fish at our annual Spree Day, cheer with excitement at the Celtics, and so many other experiences.

In these last 38 years, we have helped over 1,000 families through the shocking words, “Your child has cancer,” and that number continues to grow at record rates. You can be a part of continuing to create special memories and new support services through a gift to Why Me. Please make your tax-deductible checks payable to Why Me and mail them to 1152 Pleasant Street, Worcester MA 01602. You can also make your secure contribution online, here. Please note Annual Appeal in the comments section.

Thank you for investing in Why Me and our future. Best wishes to you and your loved ones for a happy and healthy holiday season.

Warm regards,

Rebecca Kuczarski
Executive Director

“I can be changed by what happens to me. But I refuse to be reduced by it.” – Maya Angelou

Dec 23 2022

Annual Appeal 2022

December 2022

Dear Friends,

Ten years ago, I lost my four-year-old daughter to Leukemia. Sophia was an absolute ray of sunshine. The youngest of my three children, she was carefree, kind, thoughtful, and adoring of her older siblings, Ethan and Hannah. Upon Sophia’s diagnosis, our lives became fraught with uncertainty. Our world turned upside down emotionally and financially.

We were a Why Me family for the seven months that Sophia was on treatment before her unexpected passing – attending the Holiday Party and Easter Egg Hunt and participating in the parent support group. We got by with the support of our community, but once Sophia was gone, we worried about what support, if any, would still be available.

There’s this saying you hear around Why Me, “Once a Why Me family, always a Why Me family,” and it rang true. We were given bereavement support, not just for my husband Eric and me but also for the kids. We met other bereaved families, and our children formed life-long bonds. This support was pivotal in our healing.

Five years ago, I joined Why Me as the fundraising manager. This August, I became the Executive Director and now oversee the creation and maintenance of programming that was helpful to our family, bringing me full circle with the organization. Hospital visits with coffee and donuts, the presents that showed up when Sophia landed in the hospital right before Christmas, and all the small things in between, were such a relief to us and continue to be for other families like ours.

I can assure you that a childhood cancer diagnosis leaves an impact that lasts a lifetime. Just think of the difference you can make! Every clinic visit, support group meeting, and family fun event would not be possible without our extended community of Why Me supporters.

My family is just one of over 800 that Why Me has supported in the last 37 years. You can be a part of continuing to create special memories and new support services through a gift to Why Me. Please take a moment and read through our annual appeal, highlighting a few of our families and their personal journey with childhood cancer. It also includes some of our family events and fundraisers from the last few years and some dates to note for 2023. Consider making your tax-deductible donation to Why Me here, or mail in your contribution to us at 1152 Pleasant Street, Worcester MA 01602. Please note Annual Appeal in the comments section.

By supporting Why Me, you are investing in our future, so we can continue to help children like my Sophia. Best wishes to you and your loved ones for a happy and healthy holiday season.

Warm regards,

Rebecca Kuczarski

Executive Director

“For there is always light, if only we’re brave enough to see it. If only we’re brave enough to be it.” – Amanda Gorman, The Hill We Climb

Nov 17 2021

“The Next Step”

The first annual 100 Mile Ruck March Challenge took place in July and raised over $73,000 for Why Me. This is a military inspired event, where a small group of athletes ruck (hike) 25 miles a day for 4 days. Camping out each night on the farm of a local brewery and continuing the march at sunrise each morning. Athletes carry everything they need for this 4 day event on their backs, navigate the 100 mile course, cook their own meals, set up and break down their own camps each night, tend to their feet and bodies, all in an attempt to earn the coveted 100 Mile Ruck March Finisher Medal. From the early stages of planning to stepping off day 1 at Sherry’s House through every blister to the final two athletes crossing the finish line – the entire event was filmed by Brandon Dziokonski, from Cinch I.T.

Brandon then took all of the footage and seamlessly weaves together an incredible documentary that captures the raw emotion of the entire experience. The Next Step is not only the compelling journey of 15 athletes pushing their minds and bodies while discovering their limits but also the fortitude of children and their families battling pediatric cancer. We encourage everyone to take the time to watch the movie whether on your device or streaming on your television.

All 15 athletes are local entrepreneurs or business owners, some with young children, who put their professional and personal lives on hold for four days to raise funds and awareness for Why Me. Some spent months training, wherever they could fit it into their day – whether early in the morning or late at night. In so many ways this competition honored many obstacles that a child with cancer faces. Our athletes were away from their families and the comfort of their own homes while participating. Our Why Me children and families know all too well, the stress that comes from having a family divided. Often when a child is hospitalized, parents must decide who will stay in the hospital and who will care for the siblings at home. Adjusting to the new normal of hospital food, machines beeping and discomfort are just a few small things that family have to take on upon a cancer diagnosis. Each night as our competitors set up their individual tents on the hard ground and consume their prepacked meals, they were reminded of what it feels like to miss the comforts of home. The rucks they carried were symbolic of the baggage and emotions that childhood cancer patients and their families must carry as they face a life-threatening illness and uncertain future.

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world”
— Margaret Mead

Thank you to each athlete – Rick Porter, the creator of the 100 Mile Ruck March, Jay Barron, Eric Carey, Tim Coelho, Casey Cormier, Mike Covino, Tory Gisleson, Jessica Jacques, Tye Jordan, Evan Koogler, Tucker Mahoney, Troy Milliken, David Ojerholm, Michelle Paton, Tobe Reed. Each had your own personal “why” but we hope that throughout the four days we were able to show you Why Me’s why. 100 miles in 4 days is grueling but pales in comparison to what children battling cancer have to endure. You signed up without hesitation and have truly made a difference in so many lives of local families. {Below pictured L-R are finishers: Mike Covino, Tobe Reed, Tory Gisleson, Troy Milliken, Rick Porter, Jay Barron, Tucker Mahoney, Jessica Jacques, Tye Jordan and Tim Coelho.}

Mike Covino, Tobe Reed and Tory Gisleson

Troy Milliken, Rick Porter, Jay Barron and Tucker Mahoney

Join us July 21-24, 2022 for the 2nd annual 100 Mile Ruck March Challenge. Sign up as a volunteer or athlete here.

Mar 16 2021

Spin for Kids 2021 – Thank you Andy Sharry

Andy, center, at the Bermuda Marathon in 2000 with the Why Me Running team

Andy Sharry reached out to us in 2017 and proposed joining forces with Worcester Fitness to raise money through a Spin-a-thon.

Andy has been involved with Why Me in many different ways. He coached our marathon running teams, was a member of our board of directors, and held small events to raise money here and there for us over the years.

When he came to us with this new idea, immediately we agreed.

Our first Spin for Kids happened on March 4, 2018. We had 25 bikes, 3 instructors and over the 4 hours each participant rode about 75 miles. We had lofty goals of raising a few thousand dollars in just a few months and managed to raise a whopping $20,500.

The next year, 2019, increased with 28 bikes and the same grit to endure the 4 hours of being on a spin bike. We thought if we could raise $20,000 last year; why not try for $30,000. Our amazing riders, along with some sponsors, raised over $37,000, blowing our goal out of the water.

March 9, 2020, 32 riders spun a total of 2,400 miles and raised just over $47,000 for Why Me. The next day Charlie Baker declared a state of emergency in Massachusetts and the rest of our fundraisers for 2020 were cancelled. Our physical office closed for 6 months but cancer does not stop, so we adjusted the way services were provided and helped our families feel supported when times were extremely tough.

Worcester Fitness also closed for many months and like the rest of us, continues to see the effects of the pandemic one-year later. We expected to put Spin for Kids on hold in 2021 but in January, Andy reached out and we made a go of it. We shifted the event to a whole week to add a virtual component and challenged participants to spin 100 miles over the week. We also added an at-home “Spin Your Way” option for families to get moving for a total of 10 hours in a week. Lastly, we were able to have a small in-person group, who were pushed to the max during the live 2-hour event.

This year, Spin for Kids made over $10,000 and over the last four years has raised almost $120,000 for Why Me.

None of this would have been possible without the heart and soul of Spin for Kids, Andy Sharry. Andy motivates like no other and he knows how to help others reach down deep to persevere. Andy is the first to be choked up when listening to a Why Me parent share their child’s journey at Spin for Kids and uses that emotion for inspiration.

Thank you Andy for caring so deeply. We could not ask for a better coach in our corner.

Andy closing out the last hour of our first Spin for Kids in 2018 {Photo Credit to Kill the Ball Media}

If you’d like to be on our mailing list to know about events, like Spin for Kids, and other happenings, sign up here.

Jan 13 2021

Ashlyn Mercier – Miss Gold Coast 2021

Miss Gold Coast is a part of the Miss Connecticut Scholarship Organization, Inc. – supporting the advancement of women in society by embracing diversity, education and civic action. The organization invests in the women of Connecticut to further their education and provides a platform to propel their futures. I will be competing in the Miss Connecticut competition this April! I am beyond excited to embark on this journey and am so grateful to have this opportunity. Throughout this year, I will be working with organizations that help bring positivity into the lives of children battling critical illnesses. Like my Facebook page to follow me along on my journey and the road to Miss Connecticut, as well as my impact with Nick’s Courage: One Smile Goes a Mile.

My brother Nicholas was only two years old when he received his Leukemia diagnosis, the next four years of his life he battled harder than anyone I know. Nick showed my entire family and me what it meant to be truly courageous and to be a hero. Battling pediatric cancer is hard on so many levels; it takes away a part of your childhood that you can never get back. For these kids it replaces what is supposed to be youth sports and playground fun with surgeries, prescriptions, and hospital rooms.

Why Me was there for Nick, to bring fun and lighthearted events back into his life. Through their Family Fun events, Nick got the opportunity to play and have fun like a kid again. For me as a sibling, I got to meet other families and siblings of children with childhood cancer which served as a beautiful reminder that Nick and my family were never alone in his fight. Nick and I’s favorite event to attend through Why Me was Spree Day. Every year we got to go to the 200 Sportsmen’s Club and compete in activities such as fishing, archery, and shooting BB guns. This event brought out my family’s competitive side and brought so much laughter and joy into our lives. The most magical event though is the Holiday Party, which was an event we had the opportunity to attend every year around Christmas time. What blew me away the most as a child and still to this day, is that every single child, including siblings that attended the Holiday Party received a Christmas gift. It brought so much joy to everyone there.

As Miss Gold Coast 2021, I want to give back to Why Me for all of the joy they have brought into my family’s life and all the joy they continue to bring into the lives of others. Through my social impact initiative, as part of the Miss America organization, Nick’s Courage: One Smile Goes a Mile; I will be hosting a series of raffles on my Facebook page. I hope that you will consider purchasing raffle tickets as all the money will be donated directly to Why Me. If you are not interested in purchasing raffle tickets, you can donate directly to Why Me’s website. Thank you so much for your kindness and generosity.

Sincerely,

Ashlyn Mercier

Miss Gold Coast 2021