JoyRx® Mentorship (formerly Chemo Pal Mentor Program) fosters trusted companionship to inspire laughter and distraction. The only program of its kind in the nation, Children’s Cancer Association’s trained, adult volunteer Joy Mentors provide emotional support to young patients in treatment and critical support to parents who endure the hardship of long hospital stays with their children.
A cross between a supportive playmate and trusted listener, Joy Mentors bring lightness. In the hospital, they arrive with bags full of toys, games, and activities and do their best to make their young friends belly laugh and smile ear-to-ear to relieve their stress and anxiety, dispelling feelings of loneliness and isolation. Virtually and remotely, they spend time on chat and Zoom video calls and exchange old fashioned pen-pal letters. Mentorships can last multiple years and often the bonds of friendship are still strong long after the final treatment.
Since 1999, the program has matched more than 1,500 kids undergoing lengthy treatment regimens with a trained and trusted adult mentor volunteer.
During this time of quarantine and social distancing, CCA’s award-winning JoyRx Mentorship program is facilitating virtual matches to provide young patients with a caring and trusted adult mentor during treatment. Virtual matches will meet via video chat to give kids additional support and companionship during hospital appointments, in-patient stays, or while isolating at home.
Request a Virtual Match“When Raul was first diagnosed, he was sad all the time. He felt sick, scared, and treatments were frequent and difficult. When he got to meet his Joy Mentor, Diego, we could see him starting to show glimmers of looking happy again. Diego’s friendship has been wonderful for Raul and provided him a lot of support, which in turn, provides me a lot of support. This has been intense and difficult for our entire family, so when Raul has Diego to play with and distract him, it’s the help I need, too.”
—Marisol, mom to Raul, acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL)
Help fill our JoyRx Mentorship closet with the most requested toys, games, books, and crafts. Please note: Due to children’s compromised immune systems and sanitary requirements, we can only accept donations of NEW toys.
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