Our mission at Holden’s Hope Train is simple: to bring a smile to kids and families on the most difficult journey of their lives, and to let everyone know that kids get cancer too. Our work is inspired by the memory of our son, Holden Kai Bikichky, The Little Boy That Could.

Time to Smile events are a Success!

Much to our regret, we never had a family portrait taken with Holden. We’d like to make sure that every hematology/oncology family has this opportunity. Together with fellow hem/onc parent and photographer, Kristin Farrand, we began the Time to Smile event in December 2004. Since then, we have given hundreds of families facing life-threatening illnesses two framed 8x10s and a cd of all the photos taken during the session free of charge. This simple bi-annual event may seem insignificant, but to families facing an uncertain future, the impact lasts beyond a lifetime.

We host two events a year - Spring and Fall. Our upcoming event is Saturday-Sunday, April 24-25, 2010 at CHLA. Please contact Susan Gantan at 323-361-2508 for an appointment or email Caroline to volunteer.

Thank you, thank you to everyone who participated and supported our recent fundraisers at Hamburger Mary's this past August and with Keller Williams Cares in October. Legendary Bingo was a night none of us will ever forget. The exciting and hilarious evening raised enough funds to sponsor a year of Time to Smile events at CHLA!

SPECIAL THANKS TO:

Computers
We also raise funds to purchase computers for the use of Childrens Hospital Los Angeles Hematology/Oncology in-patients and their families. This will give patients and their parents the ability to communicate with friends and family via internet access. (Our own email correspondence with family and friends provided tremendous emotional, psychological, and social support.) Kids can complete homework, do research or play video games. Parents will have an opportunity to work out of the office at their child’s bedside.

Wifi is finally available to patients and 8 laptops for patient/family use are currently being ordered for the hem/onc inpatient floor. Yay!

ON THE HORIZON

Parking Passes
Often times families end up going to the hospital half the month. In the case of Bone Marrow Transplant patiens, parents are not allowed to stay overnight yet kids are in the unit for three months. Providing parking passes will help offset this additional cost.

Computers for every hospital bed
Construction on the new in-patient tower at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles is scheduled to be completed in 2008. Our goal is to provide a computer for each hospital bed!