OUR VISION IS BOLD, OUR MISSION IS URGENT—AND WITH YOUR SUPPORT, OUR IMPACT IS UNSTOPPABLE!
The Vision of Kids Beating Cancer
Always looking to the future, the vision of Kids Beating Cancer is to continue investing in the development of improved methods to treat children diagnosed with cancer more safely, effectively and with fewer side effects, and to focus on advancing the most significant breakthroughs in the treatment of pediatric cancers that will offer the best hope of a cure to children with cancer worldwide.
The Mission of Kids Beating Cancer
The mission of Kids Beating Cancer is to provide access to life-saving treatments for children diagnosed with cancer, funding pediatric cancer research for improved outcomes, moving new discoveries to patient care, all while supporting children and their families throughout the journey to a cure.
Science is the Cure to Saving Children’s Lives.
The KBC Promise
At Kids Beating Cancer, we believe that no family should fight alone.
We are the only nonprofit of our kind in the U.S. supporting children through every phase of their journey — from diagnosis to treatment to survivorship — while advancing research that brings us closer to cures.
Our promise is threefold:
- Funding advanced researchto accelerate discoveries into treatments and cures.
- Ensuring access to cutting-edge careso every child has the best chance at life.
- Surrounding children and families with compassionate support, easing burdens and restoring hope.
Together, we honor John’s legacy by keeping his heart alive in every child we serve.
The Philosophy Behind Our Programs
Keep Hope Alive – Fight for a Cure for Every Child – Keep Families Together
At Kids Beating Cancer, we believe in more than hope.
We believe in creating a place where cures begin and families heal.
That place is the Kids Beating Cancer Children’s Center—a safe haven where children battling cancer and life-threatening diseases can find strength, comfort, and community.
Within its walls, families will discover they are not alone. They will walk this journey together—with other families who understand, with care that sustains both body and spirit, and with programs that bring light into the darkest of times.
For parents, hope is not enough. What they need is access to the most advanced treatments—their child’s only chance at survival.
This is the heart of our mission:
To fight for cures, to surround children with compassion, and to keep families together through the most difficult fight of their lives.
Together, we can build that place.
Together, we can keep hope alive.
Why Kids Beating Cancer Exists
Kids Beating Cancer exists for one reason: to make cures possible.
By removing financial, logistical, and emotional barriers, we give families the freedom to focus on what matters most—helping their child survive and thrive.
We stand as a champion for these brave children and their families, fighting every day for one powerful outcome:
that no child dies before experiencing the joy of life.
At the heart of our mission is one unwavering purpose:
Saving Children’s Lives.
Did you know?
Three areas of support of Kids Beating Cancer
Research
Kids Beating Cancer funds innovative pediatric cancer research at leading institutions nationwide—advancing breakthrough treatments, improving outcomes, and moving promising discoveries from the lab directly to the bedside.
- John Voight Memorial Leukemia Research Grant
- Robert G Owens Memorial Leukemia Research Grant
- Science is the Cure Grant
- Emerging Scientist Grant
- Promising Scientist Grant
Treatment
Expanding Access to Lifesaving Treatment Through Innovation and Investment
CLINICAL TRIALS PROGRAM
Kids Beating Cancer funds access to critical clinical trials for children facing high-risk cancers or relapse—children who would otherwise have no treatment options. These trials often represent their only hope for a cure.
PEDIATRIC TRANSPLANT CENTER
In 2012, Kids Beating Cancer funded the establishment of the first pediatric transplant center in Central Florida—the Kids Beating Cancer Pediatric Transplant Center at AdventHealth for Children. This center ensures that no child must leave their home or support system to receive a bone marrow or stem cell transplant.
CELLULAR THERAPY MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY
Kids Beating Cancer continues to invest in the latest advancements in cellular therapy—bringing previously unavailable technologies to Central Florida. With the purchase of over 17 high-tech, state-of-the-art medical devices, KBC has dramatically improved patient outcomes while also reducing healthcare costs at the Kids Beating Cancer Cellular Therapy Facility at AdventHealth Orlando.
These critical innovations are more than technology—they are lifelines.
Just some of the lifesaving impacts of our cellular therapy investments include:
- The state-of-the-art CliniMACS Prodigy and Macs Quant machine that will enable CAR-T to be done in house at the ONLY facility in Florida that will do CAR-T for pediatric patients. This equipment will not only serve Central Florida children but has the potential to serve children from all over the state of Florida and beyond!
- This KBC funded equipment will allow the manufacture of cell therapy products depleted for alpha-beta T-cells, a cutting-edge therapy for reducing post-transplant Graft versus Host Disease (GVHD), a major complication after bone marrow/stem cell transplant.
- This KBC funded equipment will allow the manufacture of Natural Killer (NK), selected cell therapy products, that can recognize and eliminate tumor cells rapidly without prior sensitization. Clinical evidence has shown that donor-derived NK cells pose a low risk of inducing GVHD.
CHILDREN’S SUPPORT PROGRAMS
Restoring Childhood—Even in the Midst of Cancer TreatmentKids Beating Cancer offers a range of essential programs under BUNKY’s Pals, that serve hundreds of children each year, providing critical emotional and practical support during cancer treatment or stem cell transplant.
These unique, child-focused programs are designed to:
- Ease suffering and reduce fear during long and painful treatment journeys
- Distract from pain and isolation with creativity, connection, and joy
- Inspire imagination and hope, helping children reclaim the wonder of childhood—even in the hospital
Because we believe that joy and laughter are not luxuries—they are part of healing. And when a child feels better emotionally, their body is better prepared to heal physically.
BUNKY’S PALS Program
Comfort, Connection, and Care Throughout the Journey
Kids Beating Cancer’s BUNKY’S PALS program provides comprehensive, compassionate support to children and their families during every phase of treatment—from hospital stays to long-term outpatient care.
Open to all families, regardless of hospital affiliation, this program ensures no child feels alone in their fight, and no family faces the journey without help, hope, and heart.
- BUNKY SNUGGLE BOXES providing every child a soft, cuddly Teddy Bear named Bunky, a comfy blanket, socks, beanie, and t-shirt (Locally and Nationwide)
- BUNKY & FRIENDS CELEBRATIONS providing weekly fun activities for the children while in treatment at participating hospitals, milestone and seasonal gifts, and fun filled safe Parties and Events during the year for the entire family treated in Central Florida
- HEART OF JOHN providing a little gift of financial support in remembrance of the struggles families face during treatment on dates of significance in January, May, August and Christmas.
- MY ROOM providing children while receiving a bone marrow or stem cell transplant at Orlando Health Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children and AdventHealth for Children, a decorated, themed hospital room selected by the child.
- FOOD FOR FAMILIES providing a stocked Kitchen and Pantry while children receive a transplant at the Kid Beating Cancer Pediatric Transplant Center at AdventHealth for Children. Providing weekly meals and snacks for the children while in the hospital and out-patient treatment at Orlando Health Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children and AdventHealth for Children.
- THE FOR THE LOVE OF JOHN providing Bicycles for children who wish to ride in Central Florida
- PRINCE AND PRINCESS celebration party for those children in the WALK OF HEROES
- WALK OF HEROES at the HATS & HEROES BALL providing clothing, dinner, arrival party, and a hotel stay annually for special Heroes honored in Orlando Florida
