Friends of Karen offers financial and emotional support for children with life-threatening illnesses as well as their families. Founded in 1978, the organization began with Karen MacInnes, a 16-year-old girl with Lafora disease. She spent a year in a hospital in New York City, and her parents traveled 110 miles from Purdys, New York, to see her each day. Karen decided to spend her remaining days at home near friends and family.
Sheila Petersen, a friend of the MacInnes family, garnered community support to help the family with the medical bills from the 24-hour care that Karen needed during her last 11 months of life.
Following Karen’s death, the MacInnes family suggested Sheila use the remaining funds to assist the family of another child with a life-threatening illness. Sheila named the resulting initiative Friends of Karen, which today assists hundreds of families each month.