24 | MARCH 4 • 2021 

B

right sunshine helped 
mitigate the winter 
chill for volunteers 
and staffers of Kids Kicking 
Cancer, who braved tempera-
tures in the low-20s on Feb. 
14, during the nonprofit’s 
Valentine’s Day Drive-By 
event for pediatric oncology 
patients. 
Founded more than 20 
years ago by Rabbi Elimelech 
Goldberg, the organization 
serves the needs of children 
battling cancer through its 
Martial Arts Therapy pro-
gramming. According to 
KKC officials, nearly 160 
children and their parents 
attended the drive-by.
“The kids and families 
each received brand new 
toys, games, books and 
more,” said Cindy Cohen, 
director of global program-

ming for KKC. “We were 
also able to give away socks, 
thanks to Bombas, masks 
provided by Love Your 
Melon, winter hats, puffy 
coats, heart-shaped cookies 
and s’mores kits.”
The program, made pos-
sible in cooperation with 
Impact100 Oakland County, 
concluded later that day 
with a collective Zoom call 
when families gathered to 
play games and make s’mo-
res.
“I liked getting to give 
the kids a bunch of toys 
and books,” said 12-year-
old Evan Bronstein of 
Huntington Woods, who 
volunteered at the drive-by 
with his mother, Lisa. “I 
think KKC is really nice and 
they do great things for kids 
with cancer.” 

The only thing better than receiving gifts at the Drive-By was when 
7-year-old Ember Miller of St. Clair Shores had the chance to see 
Sensei Michael, one of KKC’s martial arts therapists, live versus on Zoom.

Huntington Woods residents 
Lisa Bronstein and son, Evan, 
a seventh-grader at Hillel Day 
School, volunteering to distribute 
gifts at the KKC Drive-By. Evan has 
chosen KKC as his mitzvah project 
for his bar mitzvah later this year. 

Rehan Taria, Paige Girdley and Brittney Silverman, all medical stu-
dents at William Beaumont School of Medicine at Oakland University, 
volunteering at the KKC Valentine’s Day Drive-By event.

BRYAN GOTTLIEB CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Kids Kicking Cancer welcomes kids 
to Valentine’s Day Drive-By.

Feeling the 
Warmth Despite 
the Cold

Mother-daughter volunteers, Becky and Mackenzie W., of Rochester, 
working one of several gift stations at the KKC event.

Volunteer Mariah Shaver, 16, from 
Highland, Mich., helps distribute 
gifts to the kids.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF KKC

Lena Kaczur and her younger sister, Stana, came to the event with 
their parents, Amanda and William, from Canton to receive gifts and 
see friends.

FACES&PLACES

