A Friendly News Update

In honor of Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, Side Project's For Friends Day will take place at SP Pizza on Sunday, Sept. 13th, from 12-2 pm. Join us for family fun and the release of our For Friends Golden Lager for adults!

This summer, 6-year-old Caleb got a truly unique Smile Maker experience thanks to our friends at First Alert 4. Between cancer treatments, Caleb, his mom, Chelsie, and dad, Jesse, traveled to First Alert 4 studios for a special meteorologist day, featuring a huge surprise from the Surprise Squad with Matt Chambers.

For over 25 years, art therapy has been a core therapeutic program provided by Friends of Kids with Cancer to children diagnosed with cancer or blood-related diseases in St. Louis. Our supporters may recognize the beautiful, fun, and often thoughtful artwork, but may not understand what art therapy is and exactly how it helps kids and families as they move through their cancer journey.

Despite a day full of rain and lightning, over 200 supporters came to Whitmoor golf course to participate in Friends of Kids with Cancer’s Golf Tournament & Auction to raise $485,796 for programs to help children facing cancer in St. Louis.

Over 1,500 participants supported Walk with a Friend by walking or running in honor of or in memory of a loved one with cancer.

Friends of Kids with Cancer’s 28th annual Trivia Night sold out once again, attended by a variety of people, including patient families, treatment center partners, old friends, and newcomers.

Stories bloomed on stage at the 31st Annual Fashion Show & Boutique, raising over half a million dollars.

Join Friends of Kids with Cancer for a show “where stories bloom” at the 31st Annual Fashion Show & Boutique. This truly unique fundraiser treats childhood cancer patients to the red-carpet lifestyle for a day, as they dance down the runway feeling fairytale glitz and glamour at two fashion shows on Thursday, November 6, at The Ritz-Carlton, St. Louis.

With your support, we can provide new coats, hats, and gloves to children undergoing cancer treatment and their siblings.

Miles for Marshall 5K Trail Run for Childhood Cancer promises a day filled with fun, community spirit, and the opportunity to make a meaningful impact. The patients and families in our community who face a cancer diagnosis welcome and need your support.

The 16th annual Art from the Heart celebrated sixteen years of showcasing artwork, celebrating the expressive minds of extraordinary artists who are affected by pediatric cancer.

Experience Saint Louis’ first gamified pub crawl. 9 Soulard bars become 9 "holes," where you can compete against your friends in golf-themed drinking games and challenges at each hole… fore a great cause!

For Friends golden lager Side Project Brewing brews for Childhood Cancer Awareness with "For Friends" golden lager, available on draft and in cans to-go at all Side Project locations starting with the Launch Party Saturday, September 6th at Side Project Pizza. A portion of proceeds from the sale of this beer will go directly to Friends of Kids with Cancer.

Friends of Kids with Cancer is proud to introduce the Sweet Dreams program, a new initiative that provides fun, friendly pillowcases to pediatric patients during turndown service each day.

Though postponed due to weather, the 2025 Trivia Night nautical themed fundraiser sold out and brought out a large crowd of over 500 players, raises over $35K.

Robert Thomas and Ryan Lommel introduce special guest speakers, Bell and Noah, who inspire golfers at the 27th Annual Golf Tournament & Auction and help raise essential funds.

Jersey Mike's Subs presented Friends of Kids with Cancer with a check for over $154,000 for March 2025.

For a quarter of a century, this cherished event—featuring a 1-mile walk and a 5K—has brought together friends, families, and neighbors, all united by a shared purpose. This year, in celebration of the 25th anniversary, the event proudly introduced a 10K option, offering a new challenge for passionate runners eager to go the extra mile for a meaningful cause.

Enjoy The Customers band on Saturday, March 22 at The Sawmill BBQ Pub & Grill.

Friends of Kids with Cancer is joining forces with over 14 Jersey Mike’s Subs locations in the St. Louis region for the 15th Annual March “Month of Giving” campaign to support local charities.

The 30th Annual Fashion Show & Boutique brought pure imagination to nearly 30 patients who strutted the runway, feeling beautiful on this magical day.

The 15th annual Art from the Heart celebrated fifteen years of showcasing artwork and celebrating the expressive minds of children and young adults facing cancer as extraordinary artists.

For Friends Golden Lager honors Childhood Cancer Awareness Month with a portion of proceeds donated to Friends of Kids with Cancer in September.

Each year, this tournament out-performs itself by offering inspiring appearances and speeches from local heroes like two young adult patients, Jon Feretti and Devin Luetkemeyer, and St. Louis Blues Center, Robert Thomas, as well as increasingly desirable luxury packages and items for auction and raffle.

Over $32,000 raised during the beautiful Walk with a Friend event, attended by over 1,000 guests.

Blues for Kids invited patient artists and their families, along with Friends art therapists to enjoy the St. Louis Blues morning skate at Enterprise Center this month.

St. Louis Cardinals' first basemen Paul Goldschmidt was named the winner of the Lou Gehrig Memorial Award for 2023, thanks to his "outstanding commitment to both his community and philanthropy." It's not at all surprising to those who know just how much Paul Goldschmidt does for the community. In addition to supporting many other organizations internationally and here at home in St. Louis, over the last few years, Goldy has donated $100,000 in support of Friends of Kids with Cancer's winter programming for children and families facing a pediatric cancer diagnosis.

2024's Trivia Night raised nearly $38,000, breaking the record for this event!

On the morning of Saturday, April 13th, athletic runners join pediatric cancer patient families to memorialize and honor the struggle of a cancer diagnosis, while raising funds for Friends of Kids with Cancer at the 24th Annual Walk with a Friend.

Toy drives, fulfilling holiday wish lists, hospital holiday stores, winter coats, MemoryMakers, SmileMakers, Elf on the Shelf, Winter Wonderland, New Year's Eve celebration kits—December was a very busy month for Friends of Kids with Cancer.

This magical annual event for patients and their families brought cheer and joy for the 2023 holiday season.

Learn more about a Friends of Kids with Cancer funded program that some might not know— AYA Cardinals Young Adult Cancer Program.

Kelli McKee is interviewed on podcast Mother of All Podcasts this week.

The 29th Annual Fashion Show & Boutique brought in a grand total of over $350,000 to support Friends of Kids with Cancer’s programming. Patient models and their families were treated to a special day of extravagant gifts, dress-up, make up, hair styling, and more at The Ritz-Carlton. 

The Friends of Kids with Cancer Fall Festival kicked off the spooky season with over 600 guests at this private event at Grant’s Farm.

The 14th Annual Art from the Heart fundraiser and celebration paid honor to patient artists while raising over $90K to continue Art Therapy programming at our three partnering hospitals.

Over 200 kids and their families ignited their imaginations inside The Magic House at this year’s Back-To-School party.

The Annual Golf Tournament & Auction this year was a huge success, raising a record amount of $370,000 benefitting Friends.

Excitement blew through the beautiful lakefront of Creve Coeur Lake Memorial Park as families and businesses came together for popcorn, snow cones, bounce houses, and games. Kids skipped and played with painted faces as the adults assembled to either walk the 1-mile or run the 5K.

Host a fundraiser at your school or business. We've got lots of great ideas!

This 28th annual event, which was on hold the past two years due to Covid-19, is finally back and will raise funds to support Friends of Kids with Cancer’s Educational, Emotional, and Recreational programs.

24th Annual Golf Tournament Raises over $314,000

Hundreds of people gathered at 22nd Annual Walk with a Friend for one purpose: to remember, honor, and support our pediatric cancer patients, their families and caregivers, their doctors and nurses, and all the kind people who help support Friends.

2022 Superhero Trivia Night brings in about $28,000 thanks to sponsors, players, and community heroes!

On the cold night of Tuesday, December 7th, patient families peered out their car windows in delight at our Winter Wonderland Drive-Thru.

On the night of Wednesday, October 20, patient families peered out their car windows in awe as they approached Grant's Farm Halloween Drive-Thru.

During this year's walk more than 500 walkers/runners joined us for a historical day to virtually walk/ run in honor and memory of the brave kids and their families during their battle against cancer!

19th annual 'Walk with a Friend' 5k Run/1 Mile Walk fundraiser held on Saturday, April 27, 2019 was a great success! Thank you to all of our sponsors, teams, participants, vendors, volunteers and everyone that braved the rain and contributed to making our fundraiser the best ever!

Help our kids stay warm this winter!

Support Ellen's Rock n' Roll Half Marathon

340 mile race to benedit Friends of Kids with Cancer

The weather could not have been more perfect and the smiling faces from kids, families, volunteers and supporters prove that Friends of Kids with Cancer has a positive effect on not only kids with cancer, but the community as well. Everyone came together for a great cause and the happiness was contagious.