Wednesday morning, nine year-old Dade Cannon, a participant in vacation Bible school at Great Bend First United Methodist Church, shared with his fellow campers his appreciation for their work to raise money for Kans for Kids.  Cannon has personally benefitted from the services provided by the charitable program during his five-year long battle with Leukemia.

“Kans for kids helps kids with cancer go on trips to neat places, and they run Camp Hope, where kids with cancer can escape from it all,” he said.  Cannon said his family was able to take a trip to Disneyworld in Florida a year and a half after his diagnosis, thanks to the program.

When he was first diagnosed, it took the family by surprise.  An active boy, Dade would jump off the bed onto his bean bag several times a day.  But one day, his leg began to hurt, and it only got worse over the next day.  His parents took him to the hospital, expecting to learn he’d fractured a leg perhaps, but instead learned their son had cancer.

“Leukemia is something that hooks onto your bones,” Cannon said, “they have to do surgery on your legs.”  He travelled to Kansas City for treatment, and Kans for Kids helped with the travel expenses. Treatment is long and boring, but his mother lets him bring toys and coloring books to keep him busy, he said.

Cannon is in remission now.  He is an active, polite boy, who enjoys having fun.  He returned to Camp Hope just outside of Great Bend earlier this summer and looks forward to more trips in the future.

“We’re so glad Kans for Kids is taking over Camp Hope,” his grandmother said.

The campers will continue to collect cans for Kans for Kids through the end of the five-day VBS on Friday, and they welcome donations of cans from the community.  The collection trailer is located on Stone Street near the west entrance of the church.