BUNKY’S PALS: Patient & Family Support
The BUNKY’S PALS Program is Kids Beating Cancer’s promise that no child will walk their treatment journey alone. From the moment a child registers with BUNKY’S PALS—whether on treatment or recently off—support, comfort, and joy surround them and their families.
The First Gift: A Snuggle of Comfort
Every child receives a BUNKY’S Snuggle Box, filled with love and practical comforts:
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A soft Bunky Bear to hug through long hospital days
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A cozy blanket and beanie
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Snuggly socks and a Kids Beating Cancer T-shirt
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Other surprises to remind them they are never alone
This first gift becomes a symbol of courage, connection, and care.
Ongoing Support Through Treatment and Beyond
BUNKY’S PALS continues to walk alongside children and families through:
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Themed Hospital Rooms – transforming sterile spaces into a child’s favorite world, whether superheroes, princesses, sports, or cartoons
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Weekly Meals & Activities – providing nourishment and fun during hospital stays
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Kitchen & Pantry Stocking – ensuring families have food available while their child receives a transplant
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Milestone Gifts – recognizing birthdays, treatment milestones, and moments of courage
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Bicycles – gifting freedom and joy to children who dream of riding again
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of Heroes – providing clothing for children honored on stage at the annual Hats & Heroes Ball
Community, Connection, and Joy
In Florida, BUNKY’S PALS members are invited to year-round events designed to restore joy and strengthen families:
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Spring Easter Party
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Summer Back-to-School Party
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Prince & Princess Party
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Fall Halloween Party
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Holiday Party & Children’s Candle Lighting Ceremony
Plus, families enjoy access to sporting events, special outings, and ticketed activities that bring laughter and light back into their lives.
The Heart of BUNKY’S PALS
At its core, BUNKY’S PALS is about more than gifts or events—it’s about giving children the chance to feel like kids again, no matter how tough their treatment may be. It’s about families finding strength in community, and hope in the midst of hardship.
The Story of Bunky Bear
Bunky, the beloved teddy bear of Kids Beating Cancer, began his mission of love and comfort with a brave young boy named John.
At just five years old, John was diagnosed with Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS) that progressed into Acute Myelogenous Leukemia (AML). His only chance for survival was a bone marrow transplant. After enduring his first transplant, John faced the unimaginable—another transplant less than a year later. This meant leaving behind his friends, his school, and his family once again for more than 100 days in a hospital across the country.
Through the endless days of hospitals, IVs, and isolation, one constant source of comfort was Bunky. This little bear never left John’s side. Bunky absorbed his tears, shared his hopes, and gave him strength when life felt too heavy for a child to carry.
Though John lost his four-year battle with leukemia at just nine years old, his bond with Bunky did not end. John’s wish was that other children, just like him, would also feel the love and comfort that Bunky brought into his life.
From that wish, Bunky was reborn. At first, each bear was lovingly hand-sewn. Over time, Bunky grew into a symbol of compassion and hope, carried proudly by Kids Beating Cancer. Today, thousands of Bunky Bears have been delivered across the country—soft, snuggly companions bringing comfort to children battling cancer, leukemia, and those receiving bone marrow or stem cell transplants.
Every child who receives a Bunky is reminded they are not alone. John’s legacy lives on in every hug, every smile, and every ounce of courage that Bunky inspires.
Bunky is more than a bear—he is a promise of comfort, a symbol of hope, and a lasting gift of love from one little boy whose story continues to change lives.
For the Love of John
John’s last Christmas wish was simple: a bicycle.
But his family could not afford one, and because of his illness, others felt it wasn’t an appropriate gift. Though he received presents, there was no bicycle waiting under the tree.
For John, that absence spoke louder than the gifts he did receive. He interpreted it as a lack of hope. And for a child who believed that Christmas should always bring joy, this realization weighed heavily on his young heart.
From John’s experience grew a powerful symbol. Today, at Kids Beating Cancer, every child who wishes for a bicycle will receive one—no matter their condition. Because a bicycle is not just a gift, it is hope on two wheels, a promise that joy still belongs to them.
Every child deserves hope.
If you would like to sponsor any of the Children’s Programs, email angelica@kidsbeatingcancer.com or click on the link below.
