Every year thousands of children across the country are diagnosed with cancer. It is the leading cause of disease related death in children under 15. During the month of September we take time to remember those whose lives were taken too soon, we pay tribute to the families battling this disease today, but most importantly we show our support and encouragement to the children who bravely face this disease every day. Battling cancer is a team effort, and the families of cancer patients need all the support we can give them.

A very important part in the battle against cancer is maintaining a positive attitude throughout treatment. That is why Teddy Tank partnered with Drops of Hope and organized a wonderful charity event to help brighten the day for the patients, their families, and the whole staff at the Chris Evert Children’s Hospital’s Pediatric Hematology and Oncology Center.

Teddy Tank, Fish Collections, and Drops of Hope arrived at the pediatric cancer center on September 25^th with pizza, a touch tank, and a Teddy Tank for each child. Neither the staff nor the volunteers knew what to expect, but when the touch tank was set up in the playroom there was no mistaking the delight and wonder in the children’s eyes. The children and staff crowded around the touch tank for their chance to hold and feel different sea creatures such as sea urchins, horseshoe crabs, and starfish.  Ann Fogel, the Child Life Coordinator at the children’s hospital, mentioned that many of these children don’t have frequent opportunities to enjoy these types of activities; “We can go to Sea World whenever we want and we take that for granted” she said. Special care was taken for those children who were not well enough to play with the touch tank, two different Teddy Tanks with betta fish were set up in the playroom and the children were given the chance to dress them up, talk to them, and feed their betta fish.

The highlight of the day was the donation of 21 Teddy Tanks to the children in the Hematology and Oncology Center after having received permission from parents and guardians. “The Teddy Tank” Fogel said “is a wonderful resource that provides sensory stimulation through its multi-purpose avenues … it serves as a night light and it has a recording device so a mother can record her voice and sing to her child when she can’t be there in person. I am hoping many other Child Life programs will be able to take advantage of this wonderful item.” It is no surprise that the children found such soothing comfort in their new gifts. The idea, after all, came to Spencer Grabois, the creator of Teddy Tank, while he was himself in bed rest recovering from an illness.