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The Time For Life Summer Program is open to all families of children
with cancer, between the ages of infancy to 18 years old. The goal
of the program is to increase the quality of life of the children
and of their families, improve coping skills, decrease stress and
anxiety, and provide a safe and relaxing environment in which to
positively strengthen family bonds. Sessions are structured to uniquely
address each family member's specific area of difficulty, as well
the complexity of issues encountered by the family unit. Interaction
with other families experiencing a cancer diagnosis in a child provides
a sense of comfort and belonging that help to ease the sense of
disconnectedness and social isolation that often accompanies living
with a child with cancer.
Summer Program Details
Martha's Vineyard
The Program takes place on the island of Martha's Vineyard. For
additional information about the beautiful island please visit the
Martha's
Vineyard Chamber of Commerce web site.
Tailored Programs
Activities at the Time For Life Summer Program are tailored to meet
the needs of the diagnosed child, parents and siblings. In some
cases, grandparents are identified as primary caregivers and are
serviced in our program.
Housing
The rental site includes housing for an average of seven families
during each of the six five-day sessions.
Total Number of Families
An average of 42 families, or 168 individuals, are able to participate
over all the sessions of the Summer Program.
Pediatric Hospitals
The pediatric hospitals where Summer Program attendees are treated
include, but are not limited to Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Bay
State Medical Center, Boston Medical Center, Connecticut Children's
Medical Center and Yale New Haven Children's Hospital.
Where Our Families are From
Families who have attended hail from as nearby as Massachusetts,
New Hampshire, Connecticut, and New York, and as far away as Bosnia
and Japan.
Diversity
The Summer Program has served boys and girls of a wide variety of
races and ethnicities, and Time for Life is dedicated to continuing
to respond to the needs of all children and families affected by
cancer.
Summer Program Activities
Family Day at the Beach
Families spend a day with one another and participate in relaxing
summer activities.
Parent/Sibling Activities
Parents and the healthy children are provided with free time to
participate in activities of their choice.
Teen Activities
Activities that address the individual and specialized needs of
the teen patient or siblings are offered. These activities allow
for peer interaction and identification among the teens. Some of
the activities include: a teen night out to an under 21 Dance Club,
beach trips and shopping excursions.
Recreational Activities
Activities such as horseback riding, bicycling, tennis, rollerblading,
and volleyball are a sample of what is offered to families. Family
fishing trips, provided by our generous volunteers, are a highlight
of the program.
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