An Update on Funding Runway Families
Funding our Runway families is the primary focus of our organization. We believe there are tangible ways to make a difference in the lives of children who have lost a mother to breast cancer by paying for wrap-around services for the family.
Because of the incredible support of those in attendance at our Virtual Runway Show in October, we raised $293K! Because of you, we can continue to assist families and children who have applied to our Family Grants Program.
Most recently, a family who applied for a grant, is made up of an 11-year-old girl and her maternal grandparents. The grandmother wrote:
I am seeking funding to help afford a new furnace before winter comes in. Our family has had a number of unfortunate circumstances both personal and financial. Our only daughter passed away March 19, 2020 of metastatic breast cancer at the age of 41. She left behind her only child who turned 11 in March. Sarah (named changed to protect anonymity) now lives with my husband and me. We are all trying to adjust as well as trying to carry out the dreams of success my daughter had for Sarah such as her attending good schools and going to Northeastern University to pursue an art degree.
–Runway Family Grant Applicant
In the next 18 months I hope to have my granddaughter settled into a wonderful, new school, and I hope to be getting ready for retirement and enjoying life with my family.
Runway provided this family with a new furnace, a year’s worth of groceries, a therapist, a remote-tutor, art lessons (when the classes reopen), and horseback riding lessons. We know Sarah’s mother would have found ways to support her daughter’s remote learning, her extracurricular interests, her well-being, and her mental health; therefore, our funding encompasses and surrounds this child with those hopes and dreams. Finally, because of our dedicated social worker team, we can provide weekly check-ins with this family as they navigate their new reality and continue to deal with a tremendous amount of grief.
Since the Virtual Show, we have funded an additional $5K of groceries, $2K of tutoring support, $3K of therapy, and $4K of school-related expenses for our college kids. There are also two families in our application process seeking $15K+ of funding, and because of our fundraising to date, we can assure them that their needs will be met.
For many of our families, we are their first call during their grief cycles as pain intensifies, and knowing families have us as a resource is exactly why we chose to grow Runway for Recovery this past year. The holidays can add another layer of stress and reawaken all of those emotions one thinks are safely tucked away. We tell our families there is no reason to be in denial, repress one’s emotions or feel the need to be Superman or Batwoman.
“Grief is like the ocean; it comes in waves, ebbing and flowing. Sometimes the water is calm, and sometimes it is overwhelming. All we can do is learn to swim.”
Vicki Harrison
We are here because of your support, and we cannot thank you enough for allowing us to do the work that demands our attention. We hope you will continue to consider supporting Runway by becoming a monthly donor which will allow for us to remain steady in our funding and our growth.
If you know of a family who has experienced the loss of caregiver (mom, dad, or grandparent) to breast cancer, please put them in touch with Runway and/or have them apply for one of our Family Grants.