Welcome to Christmas Without Cancer

Welcome to Christmas Without Cancer

Our Mission

Christmas Without Cancer identifies need by providing gifts and necessities to southland families who are struggling with the devastating impact of cancer.  Our hope is to provide each applicant with support allowing them to focus on treatment.

Our Mission

Christmas Without Cancer identifies need by providing gifts and necessities to southland families who are struggling with the devastating impact of cancer.  Our hope is to provide each applicant with support allowing them to focus on treatment.

Our Vision

Evergreen Park resident Gerri Neylon, a retired oncology nurse, leads a team of local volunteers on an annual Christmas season mission to bring holiday cheer to families affected by cancer. Ms. Neylon is Founder and Executive Director of Christmas Without Cancer, an organization that provides gifts and basic necessities to Chicagoland families with members stricken with cancer. Ms. Neylon knows first hand the burden cancer inflicts on a family.
Since 2003, the organization has quietly identified and adopted multiple families in late fall and by Christmas season supplied them with gift cards for groceries, medications, gas and other “need” items. While all the volunteers are local residents, many come from the healthcare field or have chosen to give their time after their own family was helped by Christmas Without Cancer.

Our Vision

Evergreen Park resident Gerri Neylon, a retired oncology nurse, leads a team of local volunteers on an annual Christmas season mission to bring holiday cheer to families affected by cancer. Ms. Neylon is Founder and Executive Director of Christmas Without Cancer, an organization that provides gifts and basic necessities to Chicagoland families with members stricken with cancer. Ms. Neylon knows first hand the burden cancer inflicts on a family.
Since 2003, the organization has quietly identified and adopted multiple families in late fall and by Christmas season supplied them with gift cards for groceries, medications, gas and other “need” items. While all the volunteers are local residents, many come from the healthcare field or have chosen to give their time after their own family was helped by Christmas Without Cancer.

Christmas without Cancer

Who We Are

Christmas Without Cancer is a non-profit organization that provides holiday gifts, as well as basic necessities to local families that are stricken with cancer. The organization was started, in 2003, by an oncology nurse, working in Oak Lawn, Illinois. She was moved by the struggles of families undergoing cancer treatments and the toll it takes on them emotionally, physically and financially.

Who We Are

Christmas Without Cancer is a non-profit organization that provides holiday gifts, as well as basic necessities to local families that are stricken with cancer. The organization was started, in 2003, by an oncology nurse, working in Oak Lawn, Illinois. She was moved by the struggles of families undergoing cancer treatments and the toll it takes on them emotionally, physically and financially.

Get Involved

Thanks to generous donations and successful fundraisers, the organization has expanded into providing relief for local families diagnosed with cancer all year long. Over the previous twenty-one years, Christmas Without Cancer has helped thousands of southland families fighting the many challenges of cancer.

Get Involved

Thanks to generous donations and successful fundraisers, the organization has expanded into providing relief for local families diagnosed with cancer all year long. Over the previous twenty-one years, Christmas Without Cancer has helped thousands of southland families fighting the many challenges of cancer.

Testimonials

Christmas Without Cancer made a huge difference in my daughter’s battle with cancer. They helped my daughter with her bills, groceries and even surprised her with a check to replace money that was stolen from a fundraising event that was run by a friend. Renee is amazing, she came over to my daughter’s house several times surprising her. I can’t thank them enough. They do so much, and they have the biggest hearts.

Christmas Without Cancer was so generous to our family while my son was receiving his treatment. They provided assistance with bills and repairs for our vehicle to travel to Chicago 5 days a week.  Not to mention the amazing Christmas they provided for our family. The generosity just kept coming. My son will never forget Christmas Without Cancer. Thank You so much for all that you do.

Christmas Without Cancer has provided me moments to catch my breath, while feeling so overwhelmed during the hardest times of my life. They have provided financial support for housing and transportation that would have otherwise gone unpaid. Most importantly, they have offered love and support and a community in which I feel I can lean on during this era of my life and I appreciate it more than I can ever express in words.

CWC assisted our family when our 1-year-old was diagnosed with a rare childhood cancer.  They immediately gave us gift cards and a check to cover household and treatment expenses and adopted our son and his 4 siblings for Christmas that year. Everyone got what they wanted, and it is a core memory for our family now. CWC’s kindness, generosity, and support has continued even after his passing as they honored him at the 5k and other fundraisers. The members of CWC are family!

CWC provided emotional support (at a very low moment for my husband and me) financial support (for expenses we had not even anticipated along with everyday expenses), and they also provided us with so many resources that we did not have. They were our saving grace during my husband’s leukemia treatments and transplant during a time when the word was dealing with a pandemic! We felt alone with no support until CWC helped us and are forever grateful!

CWC was a godsend to me and my three sons while my middle child was going through his cancer battle.  They supported us financially with gift cards, Christmas presents, travel expenses, etc. More than anything, Gerri and Renee have been by our sides for emotional support as we navigated our lives through my son’s battle, after my son’s death, and they continue to stand by us as we continue to fight for a cure for pediatric brain cancer.  We are forever grateful for the day that Christmas Without Cancer came into our lives. They have touched the lives of so many and truly are the GOOD in this world.

Christmas Without Cancer provided tremendous support to me and my family while I was undergoing treatment. The organization’s generosity allowed me to better focus on healing by taking my mind off of several monthly expenses. Knowing I had a team of good-hearted people on my side was valuable beyond words.

Christmas Without Cancer has been an enormous help and source of encouragement during my toddler son’s battle with leukemia. They’ve provided financial assistance, gift cards for groceries and gas, and gave our family the most magical Christmas last year. Their organization not only provides generous practical assistance for the extra demands of cancer treatment, but they also wrap the whole family in encouragement and support. They are angels. Their thoughtfulness to detail in promoting positive memories, building community, and promoting hope and faith are unmatched.