What are Warrior Visits?
When I started Whip Pediatric Cancer, I was on a mission. My mission was to raise awareness and funds for pediatric cancer. I did not have any direction. I just knew in my heart that I wanted to make a difference. For me, the visits are an added perk. After meeting Tessa, my beloved friend in Times Square, I was asked to come and visit with her the following weekend to lift her spirits. I could not resist. Seeing how much my visits meant to Tessa and her family, I began reaching out to other families to bring smiles to their children during their fight with pediatric cancer.
Since then, my mom and I have visited over one hundred children with cancer. These visits are not a one-time thing, these brave souls become family to us and we love each and every one of them with our entire hearts. These children travel from all over the world to receive treatment at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in NYC. Not only have we visited the patient, we also make sure to always include their siblings in our visits. Each time we visit, we bring toys for the patient and their siblings. All toys are donated by the employees of three local companies which support Whip Pediatric Cancer. Thanks to Flexible IT, Lazer, Aptheker, Rosella & Yedid, and Palmetto, Mollo, Molinaro & Passarello for hosting toy drives around the holidays for these kids. Bringing toys to these families is not just a holiday event, we do this each every time we visit no matter what time of year it is. Each year around Thanksgiving, these organizations host a WHIPmas toy drive where employees bring in the hottest new toys so that I can spread Christmas joy all year long. If your company would like to help, please email me at whippediatriccancer@gmail.com.