WOKC's mission in action!
Warrior Family Program
Giving hope to our Warrior families.
WOKC realizes cancer affects the entire family. Our program provides fun and free events throughout the year giving hope and support to our mighty Warriors and their families. All family members enjoy amusement venues, sporting events, holiday parties, and other social engagement activities…"medicine for the soul" as parents describe. The Warrior program also offers many opportunities for families to spend time with other families facing similar challenges.
Warrior Parent Socials
Parents of critically ill children face an exceptionally high stress load, often leading to increased rates of divorce. The Warrior Parent Socials Program provides free “date night” experiences (Cooking Classes, Karaoke, Game Show Nights, etc…) with other parents navigating a pediatric cancer journey. This program not only allows couples to reconnect, but also help organically foster peer support systems and lasting friendships.
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Buddy Bag Program
Equipping families with the necessities.
The Moment Everything Changes
A pediatric cancer diagnosis turns life upside down in an instant. One moment, life is normal. The next, your child is being admitted to the hospital with a suspected or confirmed cancer diagnosis. There is little time to process what is happening and no time to go home and pack a bag. Suddenly, you are in a hospital room, facing the overwhelming weight of a pediatric cancer diagnosis... empty-handed, unprepared, and emotionally shattered. That’s when the Buddy Bag becomes a lifeline.
More Than Just a Bag
Delivered by a Child Life Specialist, the Buddy Bag is not just a rolling canvas suitcase. It’s a symbol of care, support, and hope. Each bag is thoughtfully filled with items that bring a touch of comfort and dignity to an otherwise chaotic moment. Each bag contains toiletries, a cozy blanket and pillow, dining gift cards for parents, and age-appropriate entertainment items for kids, including an iPad and wireless headphones. Each of the 40 items has a specific role in easing the abrupt transition from home to hospital.
"Giving a Buddy Bag is the best part of my job. I get to bring the bag in and get to make a special occasion out of it. Once the child opens the bag and sees the amazing gifts, especially the iPad and the wireless earbuds, they often squeal or cry. They have a moment of just fun and excitement while they and their family go through the bag. I have had many parents tell me later the Buddy Bag changed the situation for their child. Upon opening the Buddy Bag one young patient exclaimed, 'This is the best day of my life...' he had just been told he had cancer."
-Child Life Specialist at Cook's Children's