This giving season, Texas State students are giving back by launching a chapter of the national cancer care organization Kesem, which will kick off with a couple of in-person events.
Kesem believes all children facing a parent’s cancer deserve the chance to fully experience the joys of childhood and be their best selves. They provide free summer camps, day programs and virtual meet-ups for youth and adolescents facing a parent’s cancer to connect with peers, process their experiences, and have fun.
Current Texas State students Alysen Sherburne, Sadie Martin and Kamille Martinez are the founders of Kesem Texas State, where they’re giving back to the organization that gave so much to them as they were growing up with a parent with cancer. All three students attended Camp Kesem together throughout their childhood. They felt such belonging and warmth and understanding at Camp Kesem, which is run out of college campuses and led by student camp counselors, that they felt they had to start a program of their own when they all ended up in undergraduate school together.
On Giving Tuesday, held on Dec. 3, Kesem Texas State is hosting multiple events in San Marcos with the hopes of raising $15,000 for their programming. During the day, Kesem student leaders will be on the quad of Texas State, passing out QR codes, selling friendship bracelets, encouraging donations and recruiting volunteers who want to be a part of Kesem magic. Then, the evening of Dec. 3, the college students will host a fundraiser at Cane’s Chicken in San Marcos, where a portion of the proceeds will go directly to Kesem Texas State. The students are on their way to amassing partnerships with organizations including the local Lion’s Club and area hospice centers.
Kesem Texas State’s inaugural outing with kids will be on Jan. 25, when they hope to go to laser tag or do arts and crafts with children in the greater area.
