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Champions for Children
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Our Call to Action
Each year, more than 27,000 children in the U.S., ages 3 to 18 are diagnosed with a life-threatening illness. That’s over and above the many hundreds of thousands of children already diagnosed with a potentially deadly illness. Another powerful fact: each year, more than 40,000 children in the U.S. undergo treatment for pediatric cancer. As one can imagine, these children and their families are faced with a struggle often filled with fear and emotional trauma. Treatments and surgical procedures can be scary and even disfiguring, causing many of these children to isolate themselves and become socially withdrawn. Debilitating anxiety and depression are also common among both patient and family members. Unfortunately, it can be difficult for children and their families to find the emotional stability and support they need during this life changing event. While there are many organizations that offer help to seriously ill children, none has been established to do what Berni & Murcer – Friends for LifeTM does. |
Our Purpose
Berni & Murcer – Friends for LifeTM is a specialized comfort program that works in collaboration with medical professionals and families to provide emotional support, day-to-day comfort, encouragement, and inspiration to children diagnosed with cancer and other life threatening illnesses through the use of manipulatives and materials that are designed to have therapeutic value. Our Goal To aid and advance the recovery of children while providing solace to their family members. As a comfort program, it is an essential component of the managed care process from diagnosis to reentry into community. 
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September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month
When it Rains, We look for Rainbows...When it's Dark, We look for Stars." Childhood Cancer Awareness Month is a time when we celebrate advances in childhood cancer treatment and care, remember the children we've lost, and engage new advocates to join in our mission of achieving a day when every child with cancer can live a long and healthy life. This month, approximately 1,400 families will hear the words no one wants to hear – "Your Child has Cancer.” Please join us in our journey of bringing hope and healing to children diagnosed with cancer (and their families) through the Berni & Murcer - Friends for Life "Comfort Backpack" program. The multi-dimensional therapeutic program is designed to improve the child's overall social and emotional well-being. With the normalcy of imaginative and interactive childhood play, Berni & Murcer - Friends for Life generates a renewal of inspired hope and increase of energy in the child to fight his or her illness, gain the strength and desire to persevere through the rigors of treatment, and increase their coping ability to receive life enriching after-care. Berni & Murcer - Friends for Life transforms children away from being “cancer patients,” to a recognition of their own self-identity, personal growth, and a healthy outcome. We're All In This Together! |
The Berni & Murcer - Friends for Life Team would like to extend a BIG HEARTFELT THANK YOU to all our “Messengers of Hope” for your kindness and generosity in supporting our organization on Fairfield County Giving Day! More than ever, our therapeutic “Comfort Backpacks” for children diagnosed with cancer are NEEDED to give children positive ways to cope with their feelings of trauma, not only from that of a life-threatening illness, but also from the devastating impact of a pandemic upon their lives and that of their families, emotionally, financially and socially.
The lyrics in Carole King's song, "You've Got a Friend" truly illustrates what Berni & Murcer - Friends for Life means to a child during their cancer treatments and the special bonding which develops and remains as a constant in their lives as they transition back into their community of peers.
"When you're down and troubled
And you need some love and care
And nothing, nothing is going right
Close your eyes and think of me
And soon I will be there
To brighten up even your darkest night
You just call out my name
And you know wherever I am
I'll come running, to see you again
Winter, spring, summer or fall
All you have to do is call
And I'll be there
You've got a friend with Berni & Murcer-Friends for Life!"
The lyrics listed below reflect the uniquely special and unwaveringly generous relationship Berni & Murcer - Friends for Life has with our Messengers of Hope. You're there to support us when you call upon you each and every time and you're there cheering us on along the way to shine the light of hope and healing to the children and their families during their darkest hours. If we dream it, we can be it!
"You just call out my name
And you know wherever I am
I'll come running, running, yeah, yeah, to see you again
Winter, spring, summer or fall
All you have to do is call Our Messengers of Hope!"
Stay tuned to upcoming news on how Berni & Murcer – Friends for Life is making a transformative difference in the healing journey for children. We so appreciate all of you taking this journey with us as “Messengers of Hope” during these unprecedented times.
Being a Messenger of Hope doesn't end on Giving Day! 15,590 children are diagnosed EVERY year and they NEED US the other 364 days! Here's how YOU can continue to help...
THANK YOU AGAIN and stay healthy and safe!!
With our love and gratitude,
Teri, Jonathan and Aaron Gaberman and the Berni & Murcer Friends for Life Team!❤️❤️
The lyrics in Carole King's song, "You've Got a Friend" truly illustrates what Berni & Murcer - Friends for Life means to a child during their cancer treatments and the special bonding which develops and remains as a constant in their lives as they transition back into their community of peers.
"When you're down and troubled
And you need some love and care
And nothing, nothing is going right
Close your eyes and think of me
And soon I will be there
To brighten up even your darkest night
You just call out my name
And you know wherever I am
I'll come running, to see you again
Winter, spring, summer or fall
All you have to do is call
And I'll be there
You've got a friend with Berni & Murcer-Friends for Life!"
The lyrics listed below reflect the uniquely special and unwaveringly generous relationship Berni & Murcer - Friends for Life has with our Messengers of Hope. You're there to support us when you call upon you each and every time and you're there cheering us on along the way to shine the light of hope and healing to the children and their families during their darkest hours. If we dream it, we can be it!
"You just call out my name
And you know wherever I am
I'll come running, running, yeah, yeah, to see you again
Winter, spring, summer or fall
All you have to do is call Our Messengers of Hope!"
Stay tuned to upcoming news on how Berni & Murcer – Friends for Life is making a transformative difference in the healing journey for children. We so appreciate all of you taking this journey with us as “Messengers of Hope” during these unprecedented times.
Being a Messenger of Hope doesn't end on Giving Day! 15,590 children are diagnosed EVERY year and they NEED US the other 364 days! Here's how YOU can continue to help...
- Spread the word!
- Like Berni & Murcer - Friends for Life on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram and share our posts with others!
- Oh, and you can also just tell someone in person – that works, too!
THANK YOU AGAIN and stay healthy and safe!!
With our love and gratitude,
Teri, Jonathan and Aaron Gaberman and the Berni & Murcer Friends for Life Team!❤️❤️
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In recognition of Brain Cancer Awareness Month, my son Aaron and I had the honor of joining over 480 members of the brain cancer community comprised of patients, survivors, caregivers, research scientists and medical professionals from 46 states on Tuesday, May 4th, 2021 for the virtual #Head2Hill event sponsored by the National Brain Tumor Society. Our CT Team shared intimate and heartbreaking stories with members of Congress of how a brain cancer diagnosis, especially GBMs had and continues to impact their lives in profound and devastating ways and the importance to support funding for vital advancements in medical research at NIH, NCI and the DOD's Peer-Reviewed Cancer Research Program. The only way that we're going to defeat this relentless enemy called, "Brain Cancer" in both children and adults and to ultimately win the war over all cancers is to begin by claiming victories in new research developments for better treatments which will improve the health outcome for both pediatric and adult patients, greater access and affordability of treatments and medications, including telehealth services and expansive support networks for survivors. Let us together, "Ubuntu" (I am because we are) author these next chapters of hope for all children and adults living with and diagnosed with brain cancer!
We continue to join our CT Team each year in advocating for new legislation and funding for pediatric cancers each year and will see everyone at The Hill in May 2025!
We continue to join our CT Team each year in advocating for new legislation and funding for pediatric cancers each year and will see everyone at The Hill in May 2025!
Berni's Face Mask Tips for Parents
"This was very helpful!" - parent
Earlier this summer, we launched "Berni's Face Mask Tips for Parents Campaign" in helping children to get comfortable with wearing a face mask. Parents found these tips to be helpful. Wearing a face mask is one of the most important things we can do to protect each other, especially those most vulnerable - children with cancer from COVID-19. #maskup
A Special THANK YOU to the Helpers!
Fred Rogers famously said in an interview that his mother would tell him to "always look for the helpers" when a catastrophe occurred. "There will always be helpers," he said, citing medical workers and others who come in to a troubled situation. "Because if you look for the helpers, you'll know there's hope." - Tom Hanks
Berni & Murcer - Friends for Life expresses its HEARTFELT THANK YOU to all the "HELPERS" who are working tirelessly to care for others and our communities. Stay healthy, safe and care for one another!
Fred Rogers famously said in an interview that his mother would tell him to "always look for the helpers" when a catastrophe occurred. "There will always be helpers," he said, citing medical workers and others who come in to a troubled situation. "Because if you look for the helpers, you'll know there's hope." - Tom Hanks
Berni & Murcer - Friends for Life expresses its HEARTFELT THANK YOU to all the "HELPERS" who are working tirelessly to care for others and our communities. Stay healthy, safe and care for one another!