Nancy Hunt first heard about the Pediatric Cancer Foundation of the Lehigh Valley (PCFLV) when she was volunteering at a fundraiser for her son's high school football team. Through conversation with another parent who was involved with the organization, Hunt was drawn to the PCFLV's mission of helping and supporting families affected by pediatric cancer. Shortly after, she came across a post on the Volunteer Center of the Lehigh Valley's website, where the PCFLV was searching for a volunteer to help them with their donor database system. With a bachelor's degree in management information systems and more than 10 years of field experience, Hunt was the perfect fit.
The foundation's team plans free activities and events for families going through the stress of a cancer diagnosis, providing a place for them to connect, share stories and support each other. The team also visits the pediatric unit at Lehigh Valley Health Network, working to distract children in treatment by entertaining them with arts and crafts.
The group accepts gift cards that can help assist with the affected families' day-to-day expenses, and their holiday gift card drive allows parents to purchase presents for their children. “I've had several rewarding moments while volunteering with PCFLV, but I'd have to say, my favorite is when I see random healthy children come into the office with gift donations they collected in lieu of birthday presents for themselves,” says Hunt. “One older teen was given some money for Christmas and he spent it buying and donating gifts for PCFLV kids. Kids helping kids is a beautiful thing.”
Emphasizing the number of children diagnosed with pediatric cancer in the Lehigh Valley, Hunt says, “It's very heartwarming to see people and organizations reach out to plan events of their own and donate the funds they raise to support our mission.”
