Children's Cancer Association

JoyRx Mentorship: JoyRx Mentorship fosters trusted companionship to inspire friendship and distraction during an isolating time. Trained adult volunteer JoyRx Mentors provide emotional support to children in treatment for cancer and other serious illnesses, and they offer critical support to parents who endure the hardships of hospital stays with their child.In the hospital, JoyRx mentors arrive with bags full of toys, games, and activities to help their young friends laugh and smile. Their friendship helps kids just be who they are - appealing to their interests and personal preferences. Continued on schedule O.With their mentor, they can play games, watch movies, do arts and crafts, or whatever activity they want to help pass the time in the hospital. For parents, these visits offer a brief respite, allowing a moment for themselves - they can take a walk, grab some coffee, spend time with their other children, or take an opportunity to step away and breathe. Mentorship matches can last multiple years, and often the bonds of friendship are still strong long after the final treatment.Since 1999, the program has matched more than 1,600 kids undergoing lengthy treatment regimens with a trained and trusted adult mentor volunteer.In April 2025, the organization reached a major milestone since returning in hospital post COVID: supporting over 100 active mentorship matches for the second year in a row.

JoyRx Nature: JoyRx Nature provides an essential connection to the natural world. Nestled in 24 acres of surrounding woods with plentiful wildlife and a serene lake, JoyRx Nature's Alexandra Ellis Caring Cabin at the Oregon Coast provides children in treatment and their extended families with a place of peace in a calming environment. The Caring Cabin is an extraordinary destination for families to relax, explore, and create once-in-a-lifetime memories. Designed with the needs of seriously ill children in mind, the Caring Cabin lends a much needed mental break to recharge during or after treatment. This no-cost, five-day retreat restores energy and provides respite for families battling pediatric illness.