Rancho Santa Fe, Calif. (Oct. 25, 2024) – Each October, Helen Woodward Animal Center’s Humane Education Department welcomes kids and their parents to partake in spirited Halloween-themed activities including hands-on animal encounters, trick-or-treat stations, crafts, and other spooky delights. This Saturday, the Center’s Howl-O-Ween Harvest Family Day is honored to welcome a very special group – eight pediatric cancer patients and their loved ones – coordinated by Joey’s Wings. The special gathering is dedicated to the memory of Joey who found joy in the love of animals throughout his short lifetime.
In 2013, 9-year-old Joey Xu was diagnosed with a rare form of kidney cancer. Despite his parents’ incredible efforts to find the very best treatment options available throughout the country, Joey lost his battle with cancer a year and a half later. To honor her beloved son’s memory, Kathy Liu created the nonprofit Joey’s Wings, dedicated to funding research focused on kidney cancers affecting children and young adults, as well as raising awareness and providing support to families affected by childhood cancer.
Joey’s Wings first began partnering with Helen Woodward Animal Center’s Pet Encounter Therapy (PET) program in 2019, prior to COVID-19. Joey had greatly benefitted from the family dog Addie, who was with him in the hospital throughout his final days. Although Rady’s Children’s Hospital had a therapy dog, at the time it was only available to patients in hospital. A considerable goal for Joey’s Wings was to secure animal therapy for families outside the hospital, including childhood cancer survivors and outpatients.
“Animal therapy helps reduce stress and feelings of loneliness,” said Kathy. “Interacting with animals provides emotional support and improves overall wellbeing, creating a calming environment and enhancing the healing process.”
PET was honored to welcome Joey’s Wings to the Center to connect families with the healing power of animals but when COVID-19 reorganized most healthcare programs, the visits ended.
This Saturday, October 26th, marks the first time Joey’s Wings will return to Helen Woodward Animal Center. The Humane Education Department is delighted to welcome eight families dealing with pediatric cancer, to a very special Howl-O-Ween Harvest, between 2:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. The private festivities will include all the Fall frivolity associated with the annual event, surrounded by animal ambassadors dressed in spook-tacular attire. Additionally, a pre-party will include snacks, origami-making, and the Mainly Mozart youth string orchestra, performing in Halloween costumes, in honor of Joey who played with a youth orchestra and loved the art of origami.
“We are incredibly honored to welcome this group of families,” said Helen Woodward Associate Director of Humane Education Haylee Blake. “Joey’s Wings plays a crucial role in providing comfort and support to these children who are facing the life-altering challenges of cancer. The strength and resilience of these young patients are truly inspiring. Animals, with their unconditional love and ability to lift our spirits, help create moments of joy and healing, giving children and their families the courage to keep fighting.”
The media is invited to join us for this very special Howl-O-Ween Harvest Family Day, honoring the families of Joey’s Wings. To attend, please reach out to Helen Woodward Animal Center PR Director Jessica Gercke at (619) 977-0999 or PR Manager Mike Makie at (619) 884-4799.
For more information on Helen Woodward Animal Center’s Howl-O-Ween Harvest Family Day, call 858-756-4117 x 318 or visit https://animalcenter.org.
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About Helen Woodward Animal Center
Helen Woodward Animal Center is a private, non-profit organization where “people help animals and animals help people.” Founded in 1972 in Rancho Santa Fe, Calif., the Center provides services for more than 90,000 people and more than 10,000 animals annually through adoptions, educational and therapeutic programs both onsite and throughout the community. Helen Woodward Animal Center is also the creator of the International Home 4 the Holidays pet adoption drive, the International Remember Me Thursday® campaign and The Business of Saving Lives Workshops, teaching the business of saving lives to animal welfare leaders from around the world. For more information, go to: https://animalcenter.org.
