Love Bus

06/08/2026

🎗️ Yesterday we honored National Cancer Survivors Day — and June is National Cancer Survivors month, because survivorship deserves more than one day.

For many, the end of treatment is the beginning of a whole new chapter — one that often comes with late effects, new routines, and the strange disorientation of figuring out what comes next. For many survivors and their families, the journey simply changes shape.

Self-advocacy after childhood cancer treatment is one of the most important skills a survivor or caregiver can build — learning to communicate needs, ask informed questions, and take an active role in medical care, educational planning, and emotional well-being long after treatment ends.

Our friends at the Coalition Against Childhood Cancer(CAC2) just published a really valuable read on exactly this — from navigating aftercare clinics and school accommodations to finding your voice in medical settings and helping your child find theirs. We highly recommend it. You can find the full article here: https://lovebus.org/news-resources/news.html.

And a reminder: at Love Bus, anyone diagnosed with cancer before the age of 21 is eligible for our free integrative therapies and holistic support for as long as they need us — during treatment, in remission, in hospice, and long into survivorship. Because childhood cancer support shouldn't have an expiration date.

06/07/2026

🎗️ Today is National Cancer Survivors Day — and we honor cancer survivors and acknowledge their strength, resilience, and their ongoing journeys.
Survival is everything. And it's also just the beginning.

More children are surviving cancer than ever before — and that is definitely worth celebrating — but with that, they may also face a profound new reality: the treatments that saved their life can leave lasting marks. Survivors may navigate chronic health challenges for years, even decades, after their last treatment — physical, emotional, and everything in between. For many, the journey doesn't end with remission. It simply changes.

That's why Love Bus walks alongside families not just through treatment, but through every stage that may follow — during active treatment, in remission, in hospice, and long into survivorship. Anyone diagnosed with cancer before the age of 21 is eligible for our free integrative therapies and holistic support for as long as they need us - and as long as we have funding available.

We stand with cancer survivors through treatment and beyond because we believe that support shouldn't have an expiration date. 💛

If you believe that too, consider making a gift today to help us keep showing up for every family, every stage, for as long as they need us. Follow this link: https://secure.qgiv.com/for/lucyslovebus to donate and help us support survivors today!

06/04/2026

✨ What a night! What a community! What a celebration! 🦋

One month ago, you showed up — and you showed OUT — for the 4th Annual Butterfly Benefit, and we are still glowing from the warmth of it all.

We laughed, we danced, we bid, we celebrated 20 years of Love Bus surrounded by the most incredible community! Every dollar raised helps support children with cancer and their families across New England. 💛

We're so grateful to our incredible photographer Ross McLane for capturing every beautiful moment (check out the photos here ➡️ https://bit.ly/BB2026Photos), and to LMV Productions for the stunning recap video! Relive the magic and share it with someone who needs to see what this community is all about.

Thank you to every single person who attended, sponsored, donated, and cheered us on. You made it possible. Here's to the next 20 years! 🎂🦋

06/03/2026

06/02/2026

🌈 June is Pride Month — and we stand with the LGBTQ+ community, today and every day!

Pride is a celebration, a remembrance, and an act of courage all at once. It honors those who fought — and continue to fight — for the right to live and love authentically. That history deserves to be recognized, and that community deserves to be celebrated.

To everyone in the LGBTQ+ community: we see you, we celebrate you, and we're grateful you're in the world. 🌈💛

06/01/2026

💛 Today is Global Day of Parents — and we want to take a moment to hold space for the caregivers in our community.

Parenting a child with cancer is one of the most demanding journeys imaginable. You advocate, you comfort, you show up — and you deserve somewhere to turn too.

Through Ilene's Caregivers, all New England-based childhood cancer parents are invited to join our free programs:
🤝 Weekly peer support group for mothers/female caregivers
👨 Monthly peer support group for dads/male caregivers
🗣️ Monthly peer support group in Spanish
📞 1:1 calls with program manager Colleen Tierney — a cancer parent herself
🌿 Virtual integrative therapy sessions including Tong Ren energy healing, restorative yoga, and EFT tapping

A one-time grant is also available for massage, counseling, respite retreats, and more.

A powerful moment that we recently witnessed in our Dads Group happened when a father joined a call while his daughter was in brain surgery. He reached out — and a room full of dads who truly understood showed up for him. What became clear is that peer support moves in both directions: being supported eases isolation, and showing up for someone else walking the same path can be just as healing.

No one should walk this journey alone. To learn more about our Ilene’s Caregivers programs, and other programs, visit: https://lovebus.org/what-we-do/

05/29/2026

🌊 Love Bus Families: June is almost here — and summer is on its way, even if the weather hasn't quite gotten the memo yet! We're so excited to share these upcoming programs with your family. Here's what we have lined up for Group Programs this June:

🗓️ June 10th – Grupo de apoyo entre iguales virtual (en español)
🗓️ June 13th – Equine Experience at Ironstone Farm (ages 6+)
🗓️ June 17th – Monthly Online Support Group for Fathers
🗓️ June 24th – Grupo de apoyo entre iguales virtual (en español)

We're grateful to offer programs that bring adventure, connection, and meaningful moments to your family. For more info or to register (Love Bus families ONLY), visit: https://lovebus.org/what-we-do/groupprograms.html

05/25/2026

Happy ✨Heavenly✨ Birthday, Lucy!

Today, we celebrate Lucy — co-founder, guiding light, and the heart behind everything Love Bus does. She would be 32 years old today.

Lucy faced childhood cancer with courage and wisdom that left everyone around her in awe. Through years of treatment, remission, relapse, and everything in between, she always knew what her body needed — and that knowing became the foundation of everything Love Bus stands for today.

She left us with so much wisdom. Including these words:
"When you are looking at sick children, follow them to a place they can speak to you in. Notice their bodies are two things; love and illness. Help those children remember the love and not the sadness. The healing is in knowing who you were and not what you might be."

Lucy’s vision - her dream - became Love Bus. And her guiding principles still light our path:

👧 Kids come first, always. We follow the child's lead, listen deeply to what each family needs, and adapt our support to meet them exactly where they are. No two journeys are the same, so neither is our care and support.

🦋 We ask "how?" not "if." We don't ask "if we should help" or "if this is possible." We ask "how can we help?" and "how can we make this possible?" With moral courage and innovation, we push boundaries to find new ways to bring healing and hope.

🎗Helping is healing. We don't walk away when treatment ends — we stay for the long haul. We're here to be the bright spot, bringing lightness and levity through the darkest times.

Happy birthday, Lucy! Decades later, we are still following your lead. 💛

Read Lucy's full story: https://bit.ly/MeetLucyLoveBus

05/22/2026

We're honored to be featured in Northshore Magazine this month, as we mark 20 years of delivering free integrative therapies and holistic support to children with cancer and their families across New England.

Reporter Alexandra Pecci captured the heart of what Love Bus does, sharing the story of Ruby, who received music therapy, massage, and yoga throughout years of treatment beginning at age three. It's a testament to the impact integrative care can have alongside medical treatment. Ruby is now 12, cancer-free, and thriving!

As Executive Director Jackie Walker shares in the piece: "We know that the effects of cancer don't end when treatment does." That's why Love Bus continues to serve families whether a child is newly diagnosed, in active treatment, in remission...or beyond.

Thank you to Northshore Magazine and Alexandra Pecci for helping us share our story as we step into the next 20 years!

Read the full article online or in print with NSM!

Fighting cancer is never easy, but for children, it’s even harder. “There’s no guidebook when your daughter has been diagnosed with cancer,” says Nichole Millea of Swampscott, whose daughter, Ruby, […]

05/19/2026

🐴 What a morning at Ironstone Farm !

Love Bus families showed up and showed OUT at our latest Equine Experience — part of our Riding Together group programs — and the energy was just pure magic from start to finish.

Our kids led their horses through mazes and around cones, mastered grooming skills, learned the proper way to clean a hoof, and even got to ride the trail — twice! From first-timers to seasoned riders, every child found their confidence and their stride.
There's something quietly powerful about working with a horse. It asks you to slow down, communicate without words, and trust — yourself and your partner. Equine-assisted activities may support emotional regulation, build confidence, and create a sense of calm — and moments like these remind us why we do this work every single day.

A huge thank you to the incredible team at Ironstone Farm for welcoming our families so warmly, and to every child and family who joined us! 💛

For more info on upcoming Riding Together programs or to register (Love Bus families ONLY), visit: https://lovebus.org/what-we-do/groupprograms.html.