This month’s First Friday interviewee is not only a client of ours, but also the Founder of an incredible not-for-profit organization located just outside city limits. Cindy Kerr is a mother, entrepreneur, seamstress, and inspiring community leader. She has sparked the creation of a supportive international community for children and teens living with cancer from a single, colorful pillowcase. We are very excited to share her personal story; the good that she, the ConKerr Cancer Board, and their global troupe of volunteers contribute on a daily basis; and how you can join in on their mission for a night of fun at the 2nd Annual ConKerr Cancer PJ Party!
Philly PR Girl: What role did your son Ryan play in the creation and progression of ConKerr Cancer as an organization?
Cindy Kerr: When Ryan was diagnosed with bone cancer at the age of 12, I knew he would be spending long days in the hospital for the next year. As a mother, I wanted to do whatever I could to make his room seem like home and so I made him a fun, bright pillowcase for each and every hospital stay. When Ryan had a relapse two years later, I made 30 pillowcases for the oncology floor at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and ConKerr Cancer was born. Ryan’s high school and our local community became involved to ensure we could keep up with the demand from the hospital and Ryan developed and maintained a website for us. Throughout his numerous treatments and leg amputation, Ryan remained focused on the other kids in treatment and not himself. Although he lost his battle with cancer, his story and life continue to inspire volunteers all over the world.
Philly PR Girl: What did Ryan’s favorite pillowcase look like?
Cindy Kerr: Ryan looked forward to receiving a new pillowcase for every hospital stay and was particularly fond of either food or sports pillowcases. Probably his hamburger pillowcase was his favorite.
Philly PR Girl: Can you share with us any prominent facts and figures about childhood cancer?
Cindy Kerr: Each year over 40,000 children are in treatment for cancer in North America with the average length of treatment lasting 2 to 3 years. On the average, 36 children and adolescents are diagnosed with cancer every day in the United States (around 46 per school day).
Philly PR Girl: How did your organization and the efforts of your volunteers evolve from a local to international level?
Cindy Kerr: For several years, our pillowcases were being distributed locally to CHOP, St. Christopher’s Hospital, Shriner’s and A.I. Dupont. We had just received the news that Ryan’s cancer was terminal and the Martha Stewart Show called to tell us we had won the “Dreamers into Doer’s” Award. After being on the show, we received thousands of emails in a couple of weeks from people wanting to start chapters across the country. Through the love and support of thousands of volunteers and 130 chapters, we have delivered over 850,000 pillowcases to 250 hospitals worldwide.
Philly PR Girl: How did the idea come about for a ConKerr Cancer PJ Party and can you tell us more about it?
Cindy Kerr: ConKerr Cancer focuses on the life of the child while they are going through their journey by making their hospital room seem more like home and through our hospital sewing days. The PJ party is an opportunity to provide these children and their families a fun night out amongst their peers from the local community allowing them just to be a “normal” kid. Pajamas are a great equalizer!
Philly PR Girl: We know you have a great relationship with the Please Touch Museum. Tell us why this is the perfect place for you to have your PJ Party?
Cindy Kerr: The Please Touch Museum is a perfect choice for the party as it provides a fun, creative atmosphere for children. In addition to exploring the museum and riding the carousel we have lots of activities planned that will appeal to kids of all ages.
Philly PR Girl: What kinds of opportunities do you offer volunteers, and what would you suggest to someone who would like to become further involved with the organization?
Cindy Kerr: ConKerr Cancer has been able to make a difference for so many children thanks to our wonderful volunteers. We are always in need of people who can sew, but we utilize non-sewers to wash and help prepare the pillowcases for hospital delivery. As the price of fabric has nearly tripled since we started, we encourage groups or individuals to organize a fundraising drive to help us raise money for our fabric. Two of our popular programs are “Wear your PJ’s to School or Work” and student community service projects. Please visit www.conkerrcancer.org to see how you can become involved and make a difference.
