Creating hope, joy, and connection for families battling childhood cancer.

Ukandu provides year-round, wraparound support for life outside the hospital, 100% free of charge.

Group standing in Ukandu hoodies

Find Your Path

Whether you are learning about Ukandu, looking for family support, ready to give, or interested in volunteering, start here.

Who We Are

Learn why Ukandu exists and how our community supports families impacted by childhood and adolescent cancer.

What We Do

Explore year-round programs, camps, and support created for children, teens, and families.

Give

Help make free programs, support, connection, and community possible for Ukandu families.

Volunteer

Bring your compassion and skills to a community where every volunteer helps families feel welcome.

group camp photo

Bring the Entire Family to The Loft

The Loft is Ukandu’s free, year-round resource center where families impacted by childhood and adolescent cancer can find hope, joy, connection, and comprehensive support.

Collage of Camp Images

Coming Up at Ukandu

The next programs, events, and volunteer opportunities across Ukandu.

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1700+

Families served since 1986

87%

of participants report an increased sense of hope after attending Ukandu programs

200+

Volunteers make our residential camp programs and other year-round offerings possible

7,500+

individual program participants since 1986

85%

of first-time volunteers return for a second year

93%

of eligible participants return for multiple programs

The latest from Ukandu

Read the latest stories about the impact of our work.

Welcome to Holland

Welcome to Holland

Joel Lampert, PsyD |
10/15/2026

Years ago, Emily Perl Kingsley wrote Welcome to Holland, an essay about preparing for one journey only to discover that life has taken you somewhere entirely different. You planned for Italy. You imagined what it would look like. You prepared for it. You pictured the places you would go and the experiences you would have. And then the plane lands somewhere else.

I have thought about that metaphor many times over the years while sitting with families whose lives have been changed by childhood cancer.

The Audacity of The Loft

The Audacity of The Loft

Joel Lampert, PsyD |
10/07/2026

As I walked through The Loft surrounded by families, friends, partners, supporters, and people who have helped imagine this place into existence, I was struck by something one of our parents, Julia Thompson, said in remarks to commemorate the day:

The audacity.

The audacity of Ukandu to believe families affected by childhood cancer deserve something this extraordinary.

A dad and his twin daughters outside

More to the Story than 85%

09/08/2026

Throughout Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, we’re sharing stories about what childhood cancer asks of children and families—not only during treatment, but long after it ends.

This week, we turn to what comes after treatment—and why the word “survivor”, while worthy of celebration, doesn’t always tell the whole story.