Hello Jerome Swim Families,

The holidays are right around the corner. As we all prepare for our own special celebrations we thought it would be an impactful experience for our swim team to give back to others during this holiday season.
Nellie’s Champions for Kids (NC4K) has been especially meaningful to the Davis family over the past six years. NC4K provides support for kids fighting cancer through financial assistance and fun events that let kids be kids. The Davis’ were especially touched by this organization when their son, Alex, your teammate, was diagnosed with Burkitt’s Lymphoma in August 2014. Alex is 6 years cancer-free this December!!! NC4K was there in so many ways: hospital meals, snack bags at the hospital, fun events that make you forget all that you’re going through, but more than anything...friendship. They were there to give hope through a very uncertain and scary time.

During the holiday season, NC4K collects donations from the community to help give a holiday to families going through financial, physical and mentally difficult times. This year, more than ever, these families need our support and love. Three years ago, our swim team helped to load Christmas gifts into the U-Haul for the annual Holiday Party. For the past two years, our swimmers participated in NC4K’s Adopt-A- Family program by raising over $1000 to help make the holiday season magical for a childhood cancer family. NC4K’s unique holiday program makes a huge impact on each family involved by giving them peace of mind and joyful memories.

This year our team has pledged to adopt the Santos Family.This is a completely optional activity. If you chose to participate, please sign up on the Sign Up Genius included in this email by Sunday, November 22nd so we can be sure all items are being purchased. Bentley Santos, now age 7, was diagnosed at the age of three with lymphoma. After six months of treatment he was in remission, however; after his six month scan the doctors noticed that the cancer had come back. This time around he got a bonemarrow transplant and thankfully he has been nearly two years cancer free. With our donations, Bentley and his two siblings will each receive a gift they can wear, a book, a wanted gift and a needed gift. The family will receive a gift card(s) for a family dinner.
In a typical year, we would gather as a team and go shopping with the donations that are collected. Due to COVID precautions, we are unable to shop as a team. However, COVID cannot stop us from spreading love and generosity. A sign up genius has been created for the Santos Family gift requests. If your family would love to participate, please choose which item(s) you would like to purchase for the Santos family. Your family/swimmer will do the shopping on their own and bring all donations to lifting on Monday, November 30th. Alex will collect any donations there. You can also drop off to the Davis home (5753 Courtier Ct) any time before November 30th. You are welcome to sign up for as many items as you want. Santos Family Sign Up Genius If all gift items are taken (which is a great thing!!) please consider donating:

• Grocery or Gas Gift Cards
• Teenage Boy Gifts
• Stocking Stuffers
• Hats and Gloves

Please be sure:

• All gifts are new with tags
• All gifts are unwrapped (parents are given wrapping paper to wrap their own gifts)
• Keep the original receipt for your tax records
• Give gift receipts to NC4K
• Make copies of all receipts to include with your gift
• Becky will deliver all gifts to the NC4K office on Wednesday, December 2nd.

In addition, the NC4K Holiday party is on Sunday,December 6th. We have 4 spots available for swimmers to help with this drive-thru style party. Please use the sign up genius to register. Becky Davis will be there to help as well. Like the past two years, our team will be supporting families by loading gifts into their cars. This is a great opportunity to earn volunteer hours, and more importantly, will expose swimmers to an experience that can be life changing.If the sign ups are full for volunteering, please email Becky and let her know that you would like to volunteer. We may be able to split the 4 hours time period or sign up for additional volunteer support closer to the party date. *Important Note* Please note that many of these children are immuno- compromised. If you are not feeling well, showing and symptoms of illness, or have a temperature exceeding 100 degrees the day of the party we ask that you kindly not attend to avoid putting the children at risk. Temperatures will be taken, masks are required, and frequent hand washing and sanitizing is required.

We hope that giving back in this capacity will raise awareness of pediatric cancer and expose our children to life- changing experiences.

If you have any questions please contact Becky Davis at (480) 620-3726 or [email protected]