Roc Solid Foundation builds playsets for families battling childhood cancer
Children are fighting cancer with the power of play thanks to a Virginia-based nonprofit.
Surprising thousands of families diagnosed with pediatric cancer with custom playsets, Roc Solid Foundation built 30 playsets in 30 days across eight states in their recent inaugural Play Defeats Cancer Tour, building hope for kids fighting cancer.
“We’re relentlessly pursuing the pediatric cancer community and I believe that play can defeat cancer,” Founder and CEO of Roc Solid Foundation Eric Newman said.
“As much as I want to change the fact that these kids have cancer, I can’t, but I can change how they live with it.”
A pediatric cancer survivor himself, Newman was diagnosed at 3.
“I spent a lot of time in hospitals where, really, what got me to start the organization was I felt like I should be outside playing, play got replaced with chemo and hospital visits,” Newman said.
“I hate everything about cancer, everything about it, I’ve seen families torn apart ... my family has been torn apart from it, and if we can allow these families to escape the reality of cancer just for a second, then we’ve done our job.”
Power of play
About 16,000 kids are diagnosed with cancer in the U.S. each year, according to Roc Solid Foundation.
The organization partners with more than 85 children’s hospitals to find local kids and families impacted by childhood cancer and empower their local communities to build.
Though the organization is based in Virginia, playsets have been built for families across state lines thanks to volunteer and community support. More than 500 playsets have been built in the last 12 months.
Following a childhood cancer diagnosis, one of the first things taken away is the opportunity to play as cancer patients often can’t play in public places or with friends due to their weakened immune systems from receiving life-saving treatments.
Backyard playsets provide them with safe, germ-free places to play and an escape from doctor appointments and treatments.
Area kids fight back with play
Out of the 30 families that received custom-built Backyard Discovery Woodland Swing Sets, three reside in the Nashville area.
On May 17, two-year-old Jackson Bruns, who is currently fighting Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, received a playset at his Gallatin home.
“We were so moved by the generosity of the volunteers and Roc Solid. It was incredible seeing such an elaborate playset put together so efficiently and quickly with hardly any difficulty. It’s especially touching to have had all the volunteers sign the playset so we can always remember their contribution,” Jackson’s mom, Courtney Bruns said.
“Jackson absolutely loves climbing the ladder and opening and closing the door to the little playhouse below. He is obsessed with keys right now and uses his own set to enter the door. We know this will be such a huge mood lifter for him because he always wants to be outside. Having this amazing playset out our back door gives us such a sense of relief that Jackson will have a safe place to play when he can’t be around other people. We are beyond grateful to the Roc Solid team and the volunteers.”
Two-year-old Ella Lopez, who is currently fighting an ATRT brain tumor, was gifted her playset at her Columbia home on May 18.
“My favorite part of the build was seeing Amir so excited to build the playset and surprise Ella and seeing so much support. Amir loves it all and Ella loves the swing and the sitting area. It gives our family a safe area for Ella to be able to go out and play even when she’s not able to go out in public much and it gives Amir a place to go out and play,” Ella’s mom, Cecilia Lopez said.
Six-year-old Grayson Sansom, who is currently fighting Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, watched as volunteers constructed a playset at his White House home on May 19.
“Grayson says his favorite part was jumping in the pool together at the end to cool down. I loved the big reveal and the picture that was given to us. Drex (Grayson’s brother) is tall, so he likes to sit on the top and Grayson loves the slide and the swing. We have been so excited for this day and are so grateful that you all took the time to come do this for us. This will be something that we will never forget… I can’t thank you enough,” Grayson’s mom, Casey Sansom said.
Spanning three days and three counties, playsets were constructed by teams of volunteers in about two hours each day.
For more information, visit rocsolidfoundation.org.
Katie Nixon can be reached at knixon@gannett.com or (615) 517-1285.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Roc Solid Foundation builds playsets for families battling childhood cancer
