The Pink Pacers

www.pinkpacers.com and www.getheeled5k.com

2012 Get Heeled 5K
Beneficiary: UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center’s Pediatric Oncology Support Services

Where the money will go: UNC’s pediatric oncology clinic was designed with specific input from pediatric oncology division chief, Dr. Stuart Gold, his staff, patients and families to provide a soothing environment and support for patients and families going through cancer diagnosis and treatment. The waiting area includes soft furniture, protecting little people from accidental bumps, an electronic interactive game on the floor provides waiting patients and their siblings with distraction, and the waiting areas have a wide variety of books donated by the Book Fairy program, as well as games and other distractions.
Support services in the clinic are provided primarily through private donations. These include play therapy and occupational therapy in the Mary Claire Satterly playroom, computers with access to games and online communities for kids with cancer, dedicated tvs and game consoles in the infusion area, and nutrition including snacks, drinks and lunches for patients and families during days where they need to spend a long time in the clinic for infusion or other procedures.
The clinic has a permanent space for the accredited hospital school so children never have to miss class. Translation services are provided for families with Spanish as their primary language. Pediatric patients and families also have all of the resources of the comprehensive cancer support program including pediatric and family counseling, cancer information services, referrals to community services, art therapy and other special programs. The Get Heeled 5K is dedicated to donating 100% of the money raised through registration, fundraising and donations directly to UNC Lineberger’s Pediatric Oncology Support Services.