An adult's cancer diagnosis affects the whole family.

We partner with cancer centers to inspire emotional support for children and teens.

This is why...

Alex

When his parent was diagnosed, Alex needed to develop positive coping skills. CLIMB® provided practical, usable tools that he was able to carry into his day to day life.

Amy

Amy was 9 when she joined CLIMB®. Her mother had been diagnosed when she was two years old. After attending one CLIMB® session, Amy’s mother passed away. Seven years was too long to wait for family support services.

Kayce

At 12, Kayce wasn’t sure she wanted to join CLIMB®. At 24, she remembers it as a powerful source of support during her mothers cancer journey and beyond.

“CLIMB® made me more emotionally aware, and more emotionally intelligent.”

Our Mission

To ensure that every child whose parent is diagnosed with cancer is given the early tools and emotional support to develop positive coping strategies.

Many parents dealing with cancer acknowledge they don’t know how to talk to their children about their diagnosis and treatment. This breakdown in communication not only heightens the stress and fears of the children, but also isolates them and precludes them from being an active member of the family.

We are committed to help fill this need.

Our Vision

It’s a given. Cancer affects the entire family. Yet in too many situations, the undeniable psychosocial impact on the children whose parent has cancer goes unattended.

Our vision is to support the overlooked emotional needs of children whose parents or caregivers have cancer.

We are a family looking for support

Does your cancer center offer CLIMB®?

Want to learn more about how CLIMB® can support the children in your life?

We are here to help!

I am a health care professional looking for support programming

A partnership with the Children’s Treehouse Foundation provides access to training, resources, and a license to provide CLIMB®.

I am a donor who resonates with your mission

Our program, CLIMB®, helps to normalize feelings of sadness, anxiety, fear and anger of the children, while stimulating improved communication between the children and the parents.

Our Books

Our founder, Peter van Dernoot, has written two books to help fill the void in resources for children whose parents have cancer and for the parents themselves. One is an activity book for children, the other is stories from parents who have been through it.

Our History

Founded in January of 2001*, 20 years ago, in Denver, Colorado, we are the nation’s only organization providing group-based, manualized and internationally delivered, psychosocial intervention developed specifically to support the emotional needs of children with a parent or caregiver who has cancer.

This often overlooked aspect of cancer treatment now has a program that kids, parents and oncology professionals all rave about, the CLIMB® Program.