Sunrise Optimist Club Donates Seven Thousand Dollars to AdvoKATE
The Sunrise Optimist Club of Yuma presented a $7,000 check to the AdvoKATE Foundation after a November bowling fundraiser, providing immediate assistance to local families whose children are undergoing cancer treatment. The donation will help cover travel, lodging and food costs, easing a common burden for Yuma families who must leave town to access specialized care.
On December 7, the Sunrise Optimist Club of Yuma handed over a $7,000 donation to the local AdvoKATE Foundation, the result of funds raised during a community bowling event in November. Club leaders said the money will be used to help Yuma families with children facing cancer pay for travel, lodging and food while their children receive treatment away from home.
The presentation emphasized a recurring challenge for families in Yuma County, where specialized pediatric oncology care is often not available locally. Many families must travel to larger medical centers, creating financial and logistical strain on households already coping with a serious illness. The donation aims to reduce that strain by covering nonmedical expenses that can otherwise force families to choose between basic needs and their child s care.
Community volunteers organized the November fundraiser, and photos from the December presentation documented club members, AdvoKATE representatives and supporters gathered to mark the gift. Organizers said the event demonstrated how small local efforts can translate into meaningful relief for families facing long treatment regimens and frequent travel.
Beyond the immediate relief, the donation highlights broader public health and equity concerns. Rural and border communities like Yuma face persistent gaps in access to specialized pediatric services, and those gaps disproportionately affect low income families and those without reliable transportation. Financial assistance for travel and lodging is a critical stopgap, but it does not replace the need for sustained policy attention to build more accessible care networks and to support families through comprehensive services.
For community members who want to learn how to join or support the Sunrise Optimist Club of Yuma, or who need assistance from the AdvoKATE Foundation, contact information is available through the organizations directly. Local volunteers and charitable groups say continued community engagement will be essential to sustaining support for families whose children face cancer treatment away from home.
