Our Story
On May 29, 2013 my grandson, Brody, was diagnosed with Leukemia and admitted to the St. Louis Children’s Hospital to begin his long battle. During his 34 day stay in the hospital, Brody received an enormous amount of get well cards. One of the cards contained $1000 from an organization in Dexter, Missouri to help with immediate money needs while he and his family were staying at the Hospital. This organization was started in 1999 by five high school friends that graduated high school together.
It was while Brody’s card and the story of this organization were being read aloud in his room that I knew I wanted to be a part of an organization that could help provide support to families that have kids fighting major illness in East Central Illinois. From Brody’s room, I texted 3 of my high school friends and asked them to join me in being a part of an organization in our area that could provide support to local families that have children that are facing major illness or injury, just like the support our family received. Their reply was immediate over- whelming YES. This is when Friends FORE Life began.
Todd Hitt
Our Mission
We are a group of parents who have been blessed with healthy children and a deep awareness of those who are less fortunate. It is our mission to raise awareness and funds in support of children and their families residing in the Central Illinois area who are fighting life threatening illnesses or injury. Friends Fore Life conducts an annual fund raiser along with the support of donors through social media sites. All donations are strictly managed and quickly distributed in the form of a monetary love offering (check) to families of children who are hospitalized due to illness. Monthly board meetings provide leads of needy children in the area, and the board will make nominations and unanimously approve all recipients.