In the News
Read stories written by local newspapers and media outlets showing how ThinkBIG is helping families of pediatric cancer patients by providing financial support for unexpected out-of-pocket expenses related to the child’s care.
ThinkBIG Snowman Challenge Sees Great Success
With a winter storm in early February bringing large amounts of snow to our local area, Benefits Quarterback from the Yardley, PA area decided to partner with ThinkBIG on a new kind of challenge. They pledged $10 per snowman built, up to $10,000. Please see the news coverage below for more!
Mifflinburg family receives help from ThinkBIGIn late August, Casey Snook’s 3-year-old daughter, Finley, began complaining about leg pain. The first thought was growing pains but in another week, Finley’s pain worsened.
Casey and her husband Colby of Mifflinburg took Finley to the local hospital, where she was examined and tested for leukemia. Her bloodwork came back normal and she was given an appointment to see a rheumatologist. A few days later Finley’s pain got worse. Her parents brought her to the emergency room at Geisinger Medical Center in Danville. After more testing, the diagnosis was made of pre b-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia. The prognosis for this type of cancer is good for kids Finley’s age, but the treatment is a lengthy process and can involve many hospital admissions. Casey decided to take off work to be with Finley during her battle. |
|
'Golden sock' football game to honor Scranton boy, boost child cancer awarenessCarmine Monacelli wanted to be a Marine, a professional wrestler and the first American pope.
No goal seemed unreachable. When he died in 2012, two months shy of his 10th birthday and six months after a diagnosis of bone cancer, his mother knew her son’s dreams could not end there. “I’m not letting him die and just go on. Something has to come out of this,” Larissa Monacelli told Colby Wesner, D.O., one of her son’s doctors. Shortly after Carmine’s death, his mother, Wesner and other volunteers formed the nonprofit ThinkBIG — inspired by the Scranton boy’s spirit. |
|
Volunteer effort benefits pediatric cancer patientsInspired by a 9-year-old cancer patient, a Geisinger pediatrician founded
an all-volunteer organization which has dolled out nearly $100,000 over the past two years to the families of children battling cancer. “ThinkBIG came about, just recognizing there wasn’t any financial support for pediatric cancer patients in our area…who are treated at Geisinger,” Dr. Colby Wesner, ThinkBIG founder, said. “Other hospital systems have funds that help support those patient populations. There was a void for the families that go through this in our region. We wanted to help fill that void.” |
|
Helping Children with Cancer by "Thinking Big"Pool noodles and giant chop sticks covered the grass at Kirby Park in Kingston Sunday for a fun 'run'. Eyewitness News Reporter Lauren Hensley has our story,
It benefits the "Think Big" project- a program helping families whose children have been diagnosed with cancer. The program has helped numerous families including one little boy in Wilkes-Barre. Nathan Gray was diagnosed with a cancer that attacks his kidneys. |
|
