2021 Ribbons for Research

Cash Central is very excited to announce our parent company, Community Choice Financial (CCF), has renewed its fundraising commitment with Nationwide Children’s Hospital through a program called Ribbons for Research! All money raised through this fundraiser will be used to support children’s cancer research. If we are going to find a cure for children with cancer, we must think big, work smart, and fund research that helps them thrive and survive.

How can you help?

The fundraiser will be held at the Community Choice Financial stores: Community Choice Financial, Cash & Go, First Virginia, California Check Cashing, Cash One, CheckSmart, and EasyMoney.

At each CCF store location, customers can purchase a ribbon, for either $1 or $5, to support the fundraiser and children’s cancer research. All ribbons purchased will be proudly displayed in the store. If you’d like to be part of this great cause and purchase a ribbon, click the link below to find a store near you.

https://www.ccfi.com/locations/

How Donations Have Helped

In 2019, 100% of the money CCFI raised was able to cover close to half the annual budget for the Psychosocial Services department at Nationwide, whose main focus goes beyond medicine to support and care for the whole child.

When a child is sick, it can be hard for both the family and the child to understand what is happening, to make decisions, and to juggle family responsibilities. At Nationwide Children’s, the Psychosocial Services Team helps the child understand what they are going through, assist them in coping with their new diagnosis, minimize stress and fears about medical procedures and treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation or surgery, and help siblings understand what is happening to their brother or sister. They also work closely with the child’s school to ensure they stay on track and assist their peers in better understanding why they are not in school. They know one family member’s illness impacts everyone else, so they create an environment where the child can achieve their best health and the family can receive the support to positively cope with your child’s treatment and care. Through art and music therapy, therapeutic recreation, and other similar services, the money you raised ensures patients and families have every resource needed socially, emotionally, and psychologically. See Alea’s story for an example of what type an effect the department can have on a child.

Meet Alea

Age: 15

Diagnosis: Osteosarcoma   

When Alea was 13 years old, she was diagnosed with Osteosarcoma, a type of bone cancer. Alea received her diagnosis four days after her 13th birthday. She was excited to begin her teen years with a penguin themed birthday party and photo shoot. Within a week, her family went from a busy family with four kids, three dogs, two turtles, and one hedgehog to a family devastated by one word they couldn’t even pronounce. Osteosarcoma. 

Alea was referred to Nationwide Children’s Hospital where an MRI and biopsy revealed she had Osteosarcoma that had moved to her lungs. She immediately started chemotherapy and underwent multiple surgeries to remove the tumor in her bones and lungs. 

“Our minds were spinning. Our daughter was just spinning in her dance recital outfit. Our family was led through each door, each infusion, each round of chemo, each surgery, each recovery by dedicated doctors, nurses, physical therapists, counselors, Pastor Ron, and volunteers. The Nationwide Children’s team saved our daughter’s life. Nationwide Children’s helped us take little steps until we were ready for great strides. That hope at the end of that tunnel, that long hallway, that’s what Nationwide Children’s is. They give hope when cancer comes,” said Janette.

After nine months, Alea started dancing and smiling again for the first time. She enjoys working with her music therapist, creating art, and building robots. Alea has always dreamed of being a biomedical engineer and creating prosthetics for people with handicaps. She has even asked one of her doctors if she could use the 3D printer at the hospital for her designs while she receives chemotherapy. 

Alea is a fighter and her family has never lost sight of what is most important. Janette says, “We focus on Alea beating cancer. That’s all we have done since her diagnosis. It is all we will do until she is declared cancer free.”