Multiple events support families navigating pediatric cancer at Golisano Children’s Hospital
August 28, 2025 — Many community events are planned during Childhood Cancer Awareness Month in September to support Barbara’s Friends – Golisano Children’s Hospital Cancer Fund.
Clips for Cancer at Bell Tower Shops will be held Saturday, Sept. 20, where pediatric cancer patients and survivors will shave the heads of community members inside Dave & Buster’s. Kicking off at 10 a.m., the event offers free family-friendly activities including games, animal encounters, and a Touch-a-Truck with local first responders.
The community can also get involved and support local pediatric cancer patients at Clips for Cancer by becoming a shavee to have a Barbara’s Friends kid shave your head. Register for $25, set a personal fundraising goal and create a fundraising page to support the cause before the event.
Additional community events benefiting Barbara’s Friends include:
- 3 Pepper Burrito, with eight locations in Southwest Florida, will donate 100% of proceeds from kids’ meals sold in September.
- Perfect Game, featuring the top 14U baseball players in the country, will hold fundraising competitions. The community is invited to the free exhibition game on Sunday, Aug. 31 at 11 a.m. at JetBlue Park.
- Mel’s Diner will be hosting a pancake breakfast on Sept. 19 from 7 to 11 a.m. at their five Southwest Florida locations.
Funds raised during September help families with children receiving cancer treatment at Golisano Children’s Hospital by providing gas cards to make sure kids can get to and from Golisano for daily treatments, paying for medications that insurance won’t cover, or purchasing meals so parents can stay with their children during treatment.
For information about Clips for Cancer, community events and other ways to support Barbara’s Friends during the month of September, visit BarbarasFriends.org or email Justin.Brand@LeeHealth.org.
About Barbara’s Friends – Helping Kids with Cancer at Golisano Children’s Hospital
Established in 1995, Barbara’s Friends provides equipment, staffing and services to support lifesaving cancer care for children from across Southwest Florida at Golisano Children’s Hospital. The Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Program is the only program of its kind in Southwest Florida and has served more than 12,000 patients since opening. No child is denied treatment or turned away as a result of their family’s inability to pay for care. For more information about Barbara’s Friends fund and supporting child patients in your community, please call Lee Health Foundation at (239) 343-6950 or visit BarbarasFriends.org.