Careathon celebrates $1 million raised for Child Cancer Fund

Jacksonville, Fl — It started with a brainstorm in a conference room with less than a dozen people. The Child Cancer Fund of NE Florida was approaching its 20th anniversary and wanted to find a partner that could help it to raise its profile in the community. It was during that discussion that Careathon was born.

It was envisioned as an on-air campaign of stories featuring children and their families, and how cancer had presented challenges far beyond the medical treatment. One after another, these families shared stories of falling behind on their mortgage, needing tutoring so that their child wouldn’t fall behind, and even needing gas cards to get to and from weekly treatment.

The first Careathon raised more than $130,000, far beyond everyone’s wildest expectations. That money would be used in a restricted fund to forever pay the salary and benefit for the Child Life Specialist at Nemours Children’s Specialty Care. Ms. Joli, the Child Life Specialist, is an ally to the children in treatment. She helps distract them from the painful procedures that come during treatment. Joli uses toys, lights, games, just about anything she can think of to keep the child’s spirits high.

In 2019, the Child Cancer Fund announced that, through Careathon and other fundraising events, the restricted fund had reached its target, and the Child Life Specialist would forever be funded.

That allowed the Child Cancer Fund to dedicate more of its resources to helping families through financial assistance programs, tutoring, trips to Camp Boggy Creek and more.

“Through the Careathon, the community has made it possible for the Child Cancer Fund to help that single mom put food on the table, or that 4th grader to get tutoring to keep up in school. The community has supported local families in a desperate time of need”, said Carla Montgomery, Executive Director of the Child Cancer Fund.

Now in its 6th year, Careathon has exceeded $1 million overall, and will be raising funds for local families throughout the week of July 13th through several different ways:

• Monday, July 13 from 5am - Noon: Donate by cell phone to **1045
• Make a secure online donation directly to the Child Cancer Fund.
• Text FOREVER to 41444 to make a secure online donation.
• Bid on one or more items in the Careathon Auction.

LISTEN: Careathon celebrates $1 million milestone since 2015

Careathon will continue to spotlight local pediatric cancer patients and their families, as approximately 115 children annually receive a cancer diagnosis. Every dollar raised through Careathon directly supports these families on their cancer journey.

Your support is critical to keeping these families together during a dark time in their lives. From all of us at WOKV and Cox Media Group Jacksonville: Thank You!

Cox Media Group