Often, there's near-fanatical commitment. That makes events like Sunday's all the more valuable. Though she did not survive, her name lives on in the work of Lee's Friends. Before she died, she created the Lee Harkins Endowment with Filer, her father, the late George A. Harkins, and other family and friends. Filer, who serves as executive director, said the group helps families of all types of young cancer patients.
All services are free.
All volunteers go through a 25-hour accredited training course before being matched with a client. More than 900 have completed the course and about 400 volunteers are currently active. Filer said, referring to parenting a child with cancer. She wishes there had been such a support group for her.