Lucy's Love Bus | spectrum-newspaper

Lucy's Love Bus: Delivering Comfort, Until a Cure

By Molly McKenna

Lucy's Love Bus is a non-profit organization that helps children with cancer find the comfort and quality of life through different innovative therapies. Lucy Grogan was just 8 years old when she was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia. Lucy is the founder of the Love Bus, she was 11 when she decided that she wanted to help other kids with cancer. While Lucy was battling with this horrible illness, she had access to therapeutic massages, acupuncture and horseback riding, all to help her feel more comfortable. She wanted to help other kids get these therapies for free. She told her mom, Beecher, about her idea and did just that. Sadly, Ms. Lucy did not win her fight and passed away in 2006, but her amazing mom knew she had to keep Lucy’s dream going. Now, almost 11 years later, the Love Bus continues to help children. There are three hospitals in New England that provide integrative therapies, Floating Hospital for Children located here in Boston, where Lucy was treated, Barbara Bush Children's Hospital, in Portland, and University of Vermont Children's Hospital, in Burlington. They offer many different activities, like music therapies, massages and yoga all to help kids feel more comfortable while going through their treatments.

In just the United States, 46 children are diagnosed with cancer everyday. Parents with children who are diagnosed with cancer have to pay an average of 34,000 dollars on different treatments, some that can last up to two and a half years. While these children go through these treatments, their families witness the pain they are in. Most times, they don't have the money to spend on therapies to help their kids feel more comfortable, so that's where the Love Bus comes in. Love bus is based all on donation, and families never have to pay out of pocket. The Lovebus works to get these children the best of the best, to make their hard times a little bit easier. Love Bus also makes sure the families do not have to stress about the money because the therapy places are paid directly.Overall, Love Bus is an important charity, helping to make tough times a little easier for these poor children and to put a smile on their face!

Why is it called the Love Bus? Well because that's what it is! The bus is an old fashion volkswagen bus that has been redone, painted, and filled with love. There is space in the back for kids to relax, draw and enjoy themselves. It is painted beautifully like a butterfly, containing a small portrait of Lucy inside, so it's like she's always with you when you're in the bus.

I strongly think Lucy’s Love Bus deserves this donation. No child deserves to suffer and this donation could really help them through their fight. So please, consider the Love Bus, and help these children win their battle.