Why Me & Sherry's House

CONTACT:

1152 Pleasant Street
Worcester, MA 01602
508-757-7734
www.whyme.org

Terence Shepherd, Executive Director

DESCRIPTION:

Why Me is a modest charity, providing not a single "wish" or big-ticket item, but day-in, day-out, 24-hour emotional and financial support to families whose children are living with cancer, and parents who have just lost a child to the disease. It was started in 1985 by Terence and Annie Shepherd, and their 13-year-old daughter, Sherry, who only once asked her father that question during her 4-year struggle with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Sherry herself had suggested many small but significant ways in which children like herself might be helped.

For example, Why Me provides, free of charge, such things as birthday parties, toys and celebrations for special occasions; tickets to concerts and other entertainments; family outings, visits from parent advocates, trained assistants during frightening clinic appointments and hospitalizations; home recuperation expenses; even massage and acupuncture therapy to ease a child's pain.

In 2003, Why Me opened Sherry's House in Worcester, where the families of children with cancer can go for respite, at no charge. It provides activities for the children and a wealth of information and support, supplied by staff volunteers.

Nearly all of its expenses are met through innovative fundraising events, so most of your donation will go directly to support services for children and their families.

(1998: HUMAN SERVICES: Health and Aging: Disabilities and Children's Disease)