Nonpro t
BY JOVANNA AGUILAR
Children with terminal cancer were able to receive visits from movie icons through the organization.
Cancer Kiss my Cooley helps grant wishes to children ages 0 21 with terminal cancer.
PHOTOS COURTESY CANCER KISS MY COOLEY
Cancer Kiss my Cooley grants young patients’ wishes
When Carter Kettner, a 5-year-old boy, was diagnosed with inoperable brain cancer, his family created a list of wishes to grant him. After reach- ing out to organizations that granted wishes to patients with cancer, Carter said he wished to have it rain gum balls. When he was told this wasn’t possible, Carter made a wish that all wishes could come true. His parents founded the nonprot Cancer Kiss my Cooley in 2011 to help make this happen. The nonprot oers nancial support to children with terminal cancer by creating special moments and lasting memories, as well as funding cancer clinical trials, said Anthony Martin, presi- dent of the nonprot. The action taken The organization was named after a frequent phrase Carter used, “Cancer, kiss my cooley,” which originates from an Italian slang term and translates to “Cancer, kiss my behind.” Before Carter’s death, his family took it upon themselves to make his original wish come true. Family and friends hid on the roof and tossed gum balls from the sky, making it rain gum balls. After Carter died in 2010, his parents started a nonprot organization in his name to grant wishes to children ages 0-21 with a terminal cancer diagnosis, Martin said. “That’s when they decided to create this orga- nization to carry on his mission, helping families
take their minds o the nancial burden and the stress of seeing their child go through all of that by creating these memories or moments for them,” Martin said. In 2018, the organization started providing funds towards clinical trials. The nonprot started in Illinois where Carter and his family lived and relocated to The Woodlands in October 2023. About the project Through fundraising events, Cancer Kiss my Cooley funds wishes, with $0.92 of every dollar donated going toward the wishes, Martin said. Ranging from meeting celebrities to riding in helicopters, Cancer Kiss my Cooley operates with ve volunteer board members. The organization works closely with supporters throughout the community and is in need of more volunteers, Martin said. Martin said Cancer Kiss my Cooley has granted wishes for about 111 children, and it was serving ve children as of Aug. 14 as well as oering ongoing support to families. The nonprot also partners with several businesses and organizations including Interfaith of The Woodlands, Waste Connections and Texas Children’s Hospital. What’s next The nonprot’s next fundraiser will be a 5K run on Oct. 26 at Paradigm Brewing in Tomball.
Cancer Kiss my Cooley helps children with terminal illness see wishes come true.
Cancer Kiss my Cooley provided Lamborghini rides for children through its program.
Volunteer needs • Photography • Musicians and singers • Mailings • Transportation • Deliveries • Of ice and phone work • Child care • Sales For more information visit https://ckmc.org
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THE WOODLANDS EDITION
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