Zoe Jerke appointed Kans for Kids Ambassador
Eleven-year-old Zoe Jerke, Great Bend, was appointed as the 2014 Kans for Kids Ambassador during the 2014 Kans for Kids/Eagle Radiothon. Zoe was diagnosed with a neuro-endocrine tumor on her pancreas when she was 22 months old and received support from Kans for Kids.
After beating cancer, Zoe has gone on to help other children in the Barton County area who have also been diagnosed with the disease. In the spirit of paying it forward and giving back, she has donated several of her birthdays to Kans for Kids by asking her friends to make a donation rather than giving her gifts. Most recently, she sold lemonade door-to-door, donating all of the funds raised to Kans for Kids.
As an ambassador, Zoe, along with Hunter Donecker, 2013 Ambassador, assist Kans for Kids with events. They also participate in presentations done by the organization, speaking about their experience with cancer. She also attends Camp Hope each summer.
Acquired by Kans for Kids in 2013, the camp is held for one week each summer at Camp Aldrich for children from across the state of Kansas and Western Missouri who are in treatment for cancer or in remission.
Zoe is the daughter of Chad and Kristy Jerke, Great Bend, and a 5th grader at Holy Family School. She has three siblings, Katy, Max, and Noah.
The 2014 Kans for Kids Radiothon, presented by Comfort Pro of Great Bend, was hosted by Eagle Radio on Friday, March 7.
Children of Barton County currently undergoing treatment for cancer as well as future children receiving a diagnosis of cancer are the beneficiaries of money raised during the radiothon, said Debbie Reif, Kans for Kids director. Stories of families who have been assisted by Kans for Kids, along music chosen by the children and their families, were aired throughout the 10 hours of the event.
A portion of proceeds from this event will also benefit Camp Hope, held annually for one week at Camp Aldrich. The camp is for children from across the state of Kansas and Western Missouri who are in treatment for cancer or in remission.
Many volunteers, including the Kans for Kids Board of Directors, families, and members of the Barton Community College Girls’ Golf Team joined forces with members of the Eagle Radio staff to accept donations of cans at four of the aluminum can receptacles around Barton County.
Reif presented a plaque of appreciation to Eagle Radio for hosting the fourth annual event.
“This event has been very beneficial for Kans for Kids by increasing awareness of our organization and the children in our area who are living with cancer,” Reif said. “We are so grateful to Eagle Radio for all of the hard work that goes into making this event the success that it is. Most importantly, we are blessed to live in an area that is filled with people who have ‘a heart of gold’ that want to do whatever they can to help children with cancer.”
For more information on Kans for Kids or Camp Hope, call 620-653-2210 or visit the website at www.kans4kidsfoundation.org.
