March 5th, 2015 | cancerfit
Potential benefits for the child & family:
The MVP Sports Draft provides regular access to high-grade socialization in a socially safe environment where the child is accepted and embraced as an integral member of the team.
Quality of life for the child and family may see a positive impact in the following areas:
Reduced levels of stress and anxiety
Instills hope and a brighter sense of future (talk about the next game, visit or season)
Provides an active and exciting social calendar
Creates an exciting distraction from medial realities and the associated stress and anxiety that goes along with treatment
Improves skills, confidence, and experience in initiating and receiving social interaction
​Provides opportunities and inspiration for physical activity
Commitment required by the participating family:
As with most things the more time and energy you put into them, the more you get out of them. This is absolutely the case with a MVP Sports Draft relationship. Accordingly, our request and recommendation is that the child is able to physically get to the campus in order to spend face time with his or her team at least twice a semester.
Beyond that, much of the commitment involves following and supporting your team. This is typically achieved through a variety of social media (texting, Caringbridge pages, Facebook, Twitter, email, phone calls etc).
As the entire program is centered around enhancing the child’s quality of life and filling their lives with more friendship, positive experiences and laughter, we don’t have stringent requirements. However, we do want to make sure that a reasonable level of effort is being made to cultivate the relationship.
Additionally, everyone involved understands that based on the child’s situation there are important medical considerations and commitments in the child’s life, and that often they will take a higher priority.
Eligibility criteria for participation:
Participants in the MVP Sports Draft are childhood cancer survivor’s between the ages of 8 & 18 who are within five years from completion of their treatment.
The child is a resident of Southern California (between Santa Barbara and San Diego).
Specific eligibility is further determined during the introductory phone call with a Cancer Fit staff member.
Eligible participants are required to be cleared by their pediatric oncologist.