FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Compass to Care Childhood Cancer Foundation Reaches Milestone of Supporting Children on 1000 Trips for Cancer Treatment
Chicago, Illinois – November 11, 2013 – Compass to Care, The Mike and Sandy Ernsdorff Childhood Cancer Foundation today announced they have reached the significant milestone of supporting children on 1000 trips for cancer treatment. This announcement comes just three and a half years after the not-for-profit charitable organization launched in Chicago.
Every year, approximately 12,500 children are diagnosed with cancer. The foundation estimates that 40% of these children must travel a distance of 60 miles or greater to reach the closest medical center that provides pediatric oncology care. Compass to Care works to ensure that families with a financial need can access this life-saving cancer treatment for their children by scheduling and paying for travel necessities from their homes to the hospital.
Since its March 2010 launch, 92 children have received Compass to Care’s cancer travel support. On average, these children traveled 250 miles, roundtrip, to access treatment and stayed in the hospital between one day and 120 days.
“In our first year, we helped 5 children on just 13 trips to the hospital for cancer treatment. We are thrilled to have reached such a significant milestone of 1000 trips since that first year,” commented Michelle Ernsdorff, Compass to Care’s founder. “This would not have been possible without our donors continuously opening their hearts and their wallets to support our mission. They should all be so proud of the impact they have made for the 92 children who have directly benefitted from their generosity.”
Compass to Care was founded in March 2010 in honor of Ernsdorff’s parents, Mike and Sandy. In, 1974, they traveled over 200 miles from their Iowa home to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN to access cancer treatment after Ernsdorff’s kidney cancer diagnosis.
“Michelle heard us talk about how difficult those trips for her cancer treatment were for us both emotionally and financially. She decided to create Compass to Care so other families would have a source of relief to make their journeys a little less difficult than our own,” commented Sandy Ernsdorff.
“We are ecstatic about what the future holds for Compass to Care. As we continue growing to ease the travel burden for more families, we will also get to see many of the children we have supported grow up to live long and healthy lives. We cannot thank our supporters enough for making this possible,” Ernsdorff concluded.
Compass to Care is funded by individual donations, grants and corporate sponsorships. To learn more and to make a donation, visit the foundation’s website www.CompassToCare.org/donate
About Compass to Care, The Mike & Sandy Ernsdorff Childhood Cancer Foundation
Compass to Care, The Mike & Sandy Ernsdorff Childhood Cancer Foundation is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization that ensures under-served families can access life-saving cancer treatment for their children. We carry out this mission by scheduling and paying for travel arrangements from home to where the children are being treated for cancer. Visit us at https://www.compasstocare.org
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PRESS CONTACT:
Michelle M. Ernsdorff
Phone: (312) 515-9490
Email: Info@CompassToCare.org
www.CompassToCare.org