Christyn Taylor, President of Rebecca‘s Wish, has been elected to the Executive Board of Directors of the National Pancreas Foundation. Founded in 1996, this groundbreaking nonprofit pioneered the nation in promoting advances in pancreatic research and patient care.
“It is an honor to accept this board position. Rebecca’s Wish and the National Pancreas Foundation (NPF) form a powerful team. For the first time, this partnership will identify and support nationwide Centers of Excellence that will specialize in treating not just adults but children with pancreatitis,” Christyn stated.
National Pancreas Foundation CEO, David Bakelman, said, “Christyn’s leadership on the National Pancreas Foundation Board of Directors will be invaluable. She will add a level of expertise to focus NPF on the needs of children with pancreatitis. The partnership between Rebecca’s Wish and NPF has no limits in impacting youth suffering from this disease.”
In July 2022, NPF teamed with Rebecca’s Wish to launch Camp Hope, an unprecedented initiative that brought children with pancreatitis from across the United States to attend overnight camp for the first time. “When a camper told me she felt at home at Camp Hope on her second day, I knew we had done our job right – to provide a safe space for children with pancreatitis to connect, play, and have a true summer camp experience,” stated NPF Program Director Sokphal Tun. “We could not have done this without the partnership of Rebecca’s Wish. This has been a dream for both organizations for many years and we look forward to growing the program and reaching more campers and families.”
Pancreatitis can be a lonely journey for children. They miss out on school, play dates, birthday parties, team sports and so many milestones of childhood. During their medical journey, thousands of pediatric patients will spend more time in a hospital room than a classroom. Rebecca’s Wish is the first organization to address the financial, physical and emotional issues specific to pediatric pancreatitis patients and their families.
Christyn stated, “It is so important to have allies who understand our children, and who can advocate for the latest advances for pancreatitis treatment and therapy. We believe we have cultivated a powerful partnership with the NPF, and we look forward to the evolution of our extremely critical mission. Together, Rebecca’s Wish and the National Pancreas Foundation will change the world of pediatric pancreatitis.”
