5 minute read
Nonprofit Spotlight: A Kid Again
Making memories
BY SUSAN GRAHAM
Serving over 1,000 Hoosier families, the Indiana chapter of A Kid Again provides free, year-round adventures for families who have a child with a life-threatening condition Brooke Gee, the Program Coordinator, loves meeting new families and highlighted that “The entire family is part of A Kid Again Siblings get to do the same things as the child who qualifies because they feel the effects of life-threatening conditions too We want families to come and have fun together ” A Kid Again’s primary goal is to “give illness a time out.”
A Kid Again Indiana generally plans 4 adventures a year, such as Dream Night at the Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo, Pajama Night at The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis, a King’s Island Day, and a Holiday Adventure! They thoughtfully plan each Adventure to be accessible and fun for all ages. Adventures generally include multiple activities ranging from woodworking to dance parties to snacks, or meeting special guests One year, the guest of honor was a 7-foot python named Banana!
Raising a child with a lifethreatening illness can be expensive, which is why Adventures are designed to be relaxing and cost-free The King’s Island Day includes tickets for the entire family, food, drink vouchers, and a special A Kid Again-only access area with ice cream and Peanuts characters! This Adventure incorporates the Indiana, Ohio, and Kentucky chapters, connecting families around the Midwest. Parents swap tips and kids have spontaneous wheelchair races while they wait in line.
It’s such a popular event that this year, King’s Island offered a choice of two days to make sure everyone has a great time! The Saturday event will include all the regular park rides but will have extra thrilling hours for the older kids who enjoy Halloween spooks Sunday will be for those who prefer to keep their thrills limited to amusement park rides.
Attending Adventures not only provides memories for families but also community Kids with lifethreatening conditions are often one in a million, making it difficult to find other families who can relate. A Kid Again Adventures are a connection point for parents, kids, and siblings. Stephanie Greenwald, who participates in the Indiana chapter, observed “The Adventures organized by A Kid Again have been transformational for our family. Not only do we get to escape the daily grind of medical appointments and treatments, but we also get to meet other families who truly understand our journey It’s like finding a second family that we never knew we needed ”
Children who use wheelchairs and attend traditional school don’t usually have other wheelchair-using peers to play with. A Kid Again Adventures provides space for them to play with similarly abled peers Watching eight-year-olds connect over cool crutches or uniquely decorated wheelchairs is an amazing experience for both parents and volunteers Last year, a group of elementary schoolage wheelchair users convinced volunteers to dismantle one of the balloon sculptures so they could play “keepy-uppy ” There were balloons and giggles everywhere.
The Holiday Adventure is another A Kid Again favorite While the location changes yearly, families can always count on a memorable day Last year, special guests Mr and Mrs. Claus were joined by The Grinch and almost all of the Disney Princesses. While legendary guests are fun, the Holiday Adventure also includes activities, food, and presents! Children who attend the event love the gift room where they get to pick out an early holiday present, just for them. Because of A Kid Again’s philosophy that illness affects the entire family, siblings are never left out and also get to pick out a special treat.
Each year, dozens of volunteers staff the Adventures so Indiana families can take pictures, laugh, and make memories These volunteers are often connected to the sponsor. Sponsor employees dress up, plan games, and add their flare to the adventure. However, they aren’t the
only ones who get to have fun. Greek alumni organizations love to volunteer as well as individuals and not-for-profit groups. If you belong to an organization that would like to volunteer, A Kid Again is always looking for groups that want to join in the fun
Families interested in being a part of A Kid Again can apply on their website at akidagain org There’s still time to sign up for the Holiday Adventure! Events are held around Indiana so families don’t always have to drive long distances to participate and sign-ups happen a month in advance, giving plenty of time to plan.
