Brave Like You Brave Like Me
We donate 10% of our proceeds to Brave Like You Brave Like Me, a completely volunteer run 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded by our mama that provides mental health resources for pediatric cancer families in Utah. Here's why:
In October 2022, Hazel (middle sister - in the plaid) who had been dealing with leg pain for months that the doctors kept saying was nothing, was rushed to the ER and diagnosed with leukemia (B-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia to be exact). She got a port placed the next day and immediately started a 2.5 year treatment plan of chemotherapy. (She's almost done btw! February 14, 2025 is her last day to take chemo!!!!)
To say the diagnosis was jolting is an understatement. Everything changed. We had great family and friends that helped along the way, but it was hard to make the adjustments of our everyday life when so much of it revolved around frequent hospitalizations, clinic visits, and just having to avoid visitors, crowds, and other activities to keep Hazel safe.
Over time, we started to get connected to other awesome foundations in Utah that offer various types of support for pediatric cancer families. But we wish it would have been sooner as we could have really could have benefited from those resources upfront. We also tried to go to some events for pediatric cancer families, but they often felt so far away, and sometimes we couldn't go because it wasn't safe. It felt very lonely.
Our mom asked if other families were feeling the same way and many said yes! Also, some of the social workers at the hospital expressed that they would like to help more, but that they were very busy with helping patient families with the necessities of cancer treatment (usually financial). They said they didn't really even have time to consider focusing on anything besides that. We expressed that we wanted to help fill in some of the gaps where the hospital and other organizations needed some help so we could keep families more supported and connected through small and consistent opportunities to get together.
So, that's exactly what the foundation is doing!
Our mom, with the help of some other amazing ladies, helped start a support group in Davis County. Another one is set to start in January in SLC County. And Utah County will be next. We have been able to hang out with friends we met through the pediatric cancer world when we go! Our parents get to talk with other parents. It helps a lot.
The foundation is beginning to establish partnerships with mental health professionals and coaches to offer services to these families for free or at a discount.
There's another cool project called the Brave Journal that they will launch next year.
We are so happy that we can help the families that need all of this! It makes a big difference and we hope to keep helping more people through our contributions from this business.
If you ever want to volunteer or donate resources (in-kind or monetary) to the foundation, our mom says to contact bravelikeyou@gmail.com or message her at 801.735.2298.
