AURORA - Gabby Krause made the original "Bag of Fun." It went with her every time she had to go to Children's Hospital for treatment of brain cancer.
The bag kept the 6-year-old girl busy and happy during the long hospital visits. The one thing Gabby could not get out of her mind was why other children didn't have books or toys to keep them busy as well.
"The Bags of Fun program is because of Gabby," her mother, Tammy Krause, said. "It was her wish for other children at the hospital to have their own bags."
Shortly after her death in 2004, The Gabby Krause Foundation began. Ever since, more than 1,500 bags have been delivered to unsuspecting kids who have to spend time at Children's Hospital in Aurora.
Sarah Krick remembered the day a bag arrived for her son Myles.
"It was literally overflowing with things. We were blown away. We were like 'what is this? Who did it come from?'" Krick said.
That was two years ago. Myles is now facing another round of brain cancer. Since he's a big 9-year-old now, he recently received another bag that had more age-specific toys.
"The first thing Myles grabs for is the Nintendo DS. He also shares some of the goodies with his little brother and best friend, Ben. His bag is well organized. There's the Lego game for the Xbox, UNO cards, my notebook, trading cards, pencils, markers and my cancer book," Krick said.
The "Cancer Book" consists of a on-going story of a superhero named Myles who is fighting cancer with his partner Ben.
The elementary-aged penmanship and doodles are adorable. The storyline is precious. Here is a quote:
"The cancer struck again at the brain bank and was stealing money in bags. Myles and Ben get there just in time but Cancer had a multiply gun and he multiplied himself so there were 20 cancers cells to fight. Myles and Ben fought and fought and they were gone."
It is this kind of imaginative play that is the goal of the Gabby Krause Foundation.
"It gives everybody a minute to breathe," Tammy Krause said. "It gives the kids something to do and the parents a minute to realize 'Ok, someone else knows what I'm going through and it's going to be ok.'"
The parents of recipients are grateful to have had The Gabby Krause Foundation enter their lives.
"That bag has been with him everywhere. It comes to clinic," Myles' mother, Sarah Krick, said. "It makes it easier. It is almost like he's playing so it makes the appointments more easy."
9NEWS anchor Kyle Dyer accompanied Krause on a recent visit to Children's. A 6-year-old girl undergoing kidney dialysis was stunned when we entered her room with a backpack that was packed with goodies. Krause took each gift out of the bag to show her because she was too weak to do so herself. However, the girl's smile was strong.
Twelve-year-old Dane Pearce of Parker heard that Krause was in the building and asked for her to come to his room to thank her for his bag.
"I got it when I was just diagnosed with leukemia. I had been here for a few days and it was after I got all my treatments and stuff. I was super excited to get it," Pearce said.
The "Bags of Fun" program is now brightening the lives of children in other states as well. It has expanded to hospitals in Oakland, California, Indianapolis, Indiana and Kansas City, Missouri.
Krause worked with families in those other states who wanted to bring "Bags of Fun" to their communities.
"It's amazing because you deliver a bag in Kansas City and it's the same reaction. They're going through the same thing. It's the same experience," said Krause.
Here in Colorado, Krause has a team of volunteers who assist her as well as sponsors. Samsonite supplies the bags. Razzle Toy Store comes up with the contents.
Every Friday, Krause receives a list from Children's Hospital about some deserving kids. The next week, she delivers the bags directly to the boys and girls.
On the first weekend of June when school is out for the summer, The Gabby Krause Foundation hosts its annual fundraiser for the bags. Since the program is all about children and having fun, it is a carnival-style party for the entire family. Some of the children who have received bags come to celebrate. Hundreds of kids fill the party. There is a lot of laughter amongst all of the "kid food," face painting, games, crafts and dancing.
The Seventh Annual "Bring Out the Bags" party is this Saturday, June 4: 5:30 to 10 p.m.. It is in Englewood at the Centennial Promenade. The party is in the space formerly occupied by Loehmann's.
For more information about the party of the foundation: www.bagsoffun.org.
On a personal note, I can attest that it is a party that any child would love.. just by watching my girls over the last 4 years at the event. I first met Tammy Krause in 2006. My 16-month-old daughter was headed to Children's to have her trachea reconstructed after a year of respiratory issues. The Gabby Krause Foundation gave Eliza a "Bag of Fun." There are some "keepers" from the original group of toys that she still plays with. The bag itself (which is decorated like a turtle) serves as her suitcase or overnight bag on every trip away from home.
(KUSA-TV © 2011 Multimedia Holdings Corporation)
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