Guiding Principles: The Why Me organization was conceived and created by 13-year-old Sherry Shepherd during her four year battle with cancer. She was the very first patient at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center when they first opened their pediatric oncology department. Sherry found many wonderful ways to lift the spirits of her fellow cancer patients as a means to ease their suffering. During her struggle with cancer, she became an inspiration to all who knew her, especially the other children being treated for cancer that she met. In the last months of her life, Sherry became determined to do something that would have a lasting value in the community to help children with cancer. With the help of her dad, she founded the non-profit organization WHY ME, which stands for Worcester Help for Youth, Memories Everlasting.

Today, the organization is still managed by families who have had a child with cancer and wish to help others who now face the same devastating challenge. This deeply felt, personal perspective serves as a compassionate and guiding light in delivering services that are essential and life-affirming. Since 1985, Why Me has been dedicated to improving the quality of life for all Massachusetts and New England area families struggling to overcome childhood cancer. Why Me provides families with social, emotional, logisitical and financial support to help them successfully fight childhood cancer. The organization is Worcester-based with no national affiliation. All funds are raised to use locally. No funding comes from our medical partners and we receive no state or federal funding. In the past three years alone, 41 newly diagnosed children and their families have sought the assistance of Why Me. During these same three years, 19 of our brave children have lost their battle with cancer. All together, Why Me has served more than 465 families.

Lifting Children's Spirits and Creating Memories Everlasting - Why Me strives to help children reconnect to their innate sense of childhood wonder as a means to ease suffering. The main goal of Why Me's services and programs is to alleviate the isolation, desperation and contstant stress a child and their family faces as they cope with childhood cancer. Individualized program components are adjusted to best serve the specific, immediate and long-term needs of each child and each family. Daily visits to the children's cancer clinic with teddy bears, toys, games, puppets, refreshments and laughter help clinic visits go by a little bit faster. Why Me provides birthday celebrations, treatment milestone celebrations and fun loot from our treasure chest at the hospital when a painful procedure is completed. The Why Me Sibling Support Program is dedicated to helping brothers and sisters cope with the many changes and challenges that childhood cancer brings to a family. Why Me has a lasting and personal relationship with each child and their family. Why Me is also proud to report that 87% of all families served since 1985 remain actively involved with the organization today.

 Why Me Brochure in PDF format