Foundation helps families with kids fighting cancer
Losing a family member to cancer is difficult, but when the loss is a young child, grief can be overwhelming. One local family faced such a situation and transformed their heartbreak into hope for others facing similar circumstances.
As a result of the loss of their young son, Julie and Steve Hupp of Grayslake created the 12 Oaks Foundation. Their mission is to provide grants to families suffering financial hardship due to cancer treatment to help cover the costs of sports and community activities for their kids.
September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, and two foundation events are happening at 12 Oaks: the sixth annual Matt's Mile & 5K race will kick off at 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 12, at the Prairie Crossing Trails, and the Shining Stars Anniversary Gala will be from 6:30 p.m. to midnight Saturday, Sept. 26, at the Ivanhoe Country Club. All proceeds benefit the 12 Oaks Foundation.
The Hupps' young son, Matt, was diagnosed with an aggressive lymphoma and passed away just a year after being diagnosed. Matt, who had a passion for sports, always wore the No. 12 on his jersey. During the year of his illness, the ability to participate in outside activities gave the family a sense of normalcy to their lives while enduring difficult treatments and emotional highs and lows.
Now, through the 12 Oaks Foundation, Julie and Steve can give back to those who are traveling the difficult path of trying to maintain the normal routines of life while offering comfort and support to a loved one suffering from cancer.
One grateful parent who received assistance from the foundation summed up her heartfelt appreciation: "I couldn't call you to thank you because I can't even think about it without crying, much less speaking."
Another shares, "With your help, our girls are able to enjoy dance, piano lessons and voice lessons, too."
Matt Hupp loved all sports; baseball, football, basketball, even snowboarding. It was his passion for sports that taught him valuable life lessons and gave him the courage to fight his diagnosis. Although he lost his battle to the aggressive lymphoma, those around him witnessed his extraordinary strength.
And his family realized that their faith, coupled with the support they received from their community, carried them when they didn't think they could go on.
The 12 Oaks Foundation honors the memory of Matt by assisting families going through the financial and emotional hardships of cancer treatment to continue participating in enriching activities, whether it's sports or piano lessons. The foundation expects to fund more than 100 children's activities in 2015.
Come to run, stay for fun Saturday, Sept. 12, at Matt's Mile & 5K by registering online. Celebrate with at the Shining Stars Anniversary Gala, Saturday, Sept. 26. To register, visit www.12oaksfoundation.org.
To learn about the 12 Oaks Foundation, email info@12oaksfoundation.org.
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