Photo by Nick Scalera, of NJ.com
Glen Gardner, NJ (Feb. 21, 2020)—Last night, 17-year-old Tyler Cashman of Tewksbury held his annual fundraiser for children with chronic pain, bringing the total raised in five years to more than $110,000. Inspired by his mom, who lives with chronic pain herself, at age 12 Tyler created the “Points for Pain,” which asks fans to pledge donations for children with chronic pain based on the number of points their team scores.
Last night’s basketball game, which took place at Voorhees High School in Glen Gardner, brought in more than $2,500. While the focus of Points for Pain is fundraising, it’s also a great chance to raise awareness about pediatric pain.
“These children face challenges every day that you and I could not even imagine,” Tyler told the crowd. “They truly show us all what a warrior is and have strength and willpower that I couldn’t even imagine having. Every day they get up and choose to fight.”
All proceeds from Points for Pain benefit the Pediatric Pain Warrior Program, which offers services like weekend retreats, educational resources, a magazine highlighting pediatric patient stories, and a pen pal program.
“The Pediatric Pain Warrior Program has grown exponentially in the last two years, thanks in huge part to Tyler’s hard work,” says Nicole Hemmenway, interim CEO of U.S. Pain Foundation, which oversees the program. “Last year, 327 kids with health issues and their family members attended weekend retreats. These events mean the world to families who are struggling to cope with life-altering diagnoses.”
You can watch a video about the last retreat here: https://youtu.be/87qnw-9yjpM.
For his efforts, Tyler has been honored by the New York Yankees and the New Jersey state government.
While Tyler began the program to help others, he is no stranger to adversity. He lives with a condition that is causing him to gradually lose his vision. But even his own personal challenges can’t get in the way of his dedication to helping others through Points for Pain.
To learn more or donate, visit https://pediatricpainwarrior.org/pointsforpain/.