When the spring semester started, a group of West Virginia University students came together with a goal of starting an organization that could make a difference in the lives of West Virginia children affected by pediatric cancer.

Now, with the semester coming to a close, the members of Students Optimistic for Curing Kids can celebrate raising nearly $2,000 to help offset the cost of pediatric cancer for affected families throughout the state.

In addition to its fundraising efforts, the organization aspires to spread awareness of a disease that affects 175,000 new children each year. It also offers support by sending comfort kits and members visit hospitals to spend time with patients.

S.O.C.K.-IT President Layne Veneri said the organization has a unique mission that sets it apart from other groups which raise money for pediatric cancer efforts.

“There are a lot of existing charities that give their fundraising proceeds to research efforts,” Veneri said. “We wanted to do something that would directly benefit the families of the children affected by cancer and offset the cost for them.”

The organization partnered with Emma’s Touch, a Princeton-based nonprofit formed in 2001 by the family of Emma Vannatter, who lost her battle with leukemia at age 2. The organization provides the families of children diagnosed with pediatric cancer with direct financial support.

“Many people don’t realize that the financial impact of cancer on a patient’s family is more than just medical costs,” said Veneri. “They have fuel, toll, meals and other expenses associated with traveling to different doctors and hospitals, too. We hope that we can give $500 to every family affected by this disease in West Virginia through Emma’s Touch to make a difference.”

S.O.C.K.-IT was by inspired by fundraising efforts at other colleges—namely, Penn State’s THON, which has raised $115 million since 1977 to benefit their children’s hospital through an annual dance-a-thon. Veneri is hopeful they will build an organization over time that will yield similar results.

They’ve started building the foundation by reaching out to Morgantown businesses such as Insomnia Cookies and Tailpipes to encourage them to give a portion of their proceeds on certain days to S.O.C.K.-IT Veneri said they’ve received overwhelming support and haven’t been turned down yet.

“We are so inspired by the number of people who care and who want to get involved, whether it’s the 50-plus students who have joined us this semester or the local businesses who are willing to lend their support,” said Veneri.

They also have the support of WVU’s Division of Student Life. Dean of Students Corey Farris commended Veneri and the members of S.O.C.K.-IT for their commitment to philanthropic engagement.

“S.O.C.K.-IT is just another example of how WVU students reach out and help their community and state,” said Farris. “They saw a need and jumped on board to help. They’re off to a great start; they should be proud of what they’ve accomplished this semester.”

In addition to partnering with local businesses, they also hosted a March Madness fundraiser in the Mountainlair where participants were eligible to win a signed basketball from the WVU Men’s Basketball Team.

One noteworthy supporter they have is WVU President Gordon Gee, who came to a Super Bowl fundraiser held at Veneri’s apartment in January.

“President Gee was so supportive of what we were doing when we met him at a basketball game in January that we invited him to our fundraiser,” said Veneri. “He showed up and we gave him a cake in celebration of his birthday the following day. He made it fun and it really gave us the boost of support we needed as we were getting the organization off the ground.”

As Veneri looks to the organization’s future, he hopes that this semester’s successes are just the beginning of a statewide effort to raise awareness and support for pediatric cancer.

“We want to engage the students and make this a state issue to help the children and families who really need it,” said Veneri. “It’s so important that we offer our support and fight to let these kids still be kids.”

-WVU-

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hr/05/07/15

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