The Story:

Waddles For A Cause was started after 2 year old Jackson Corbeau was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia in October of 2018. Jackson’s family was blessed with what they refer to as ‘ the best of the worst situation’ - they had an incredible support system of friends and family, great health care, were located close to Jackson’s treatments and had flexible work schedules to accommodate caring for Jackson during his treatment protocol. 

Through their time at the Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital and Maine Children’s Cancer Program, where Jackson received a majority of his treatments, Jackson’s family saw so many families faced with so many challenges as they navigated a journey no parent or child should ever have to endure. Many families face incredible financial hardships due to loss of income because of the demand level of their child’s treatment needs and the cost of travel too and from treatment. 

In August of 2019, less than a year after Jackson’s diagnosis, Waddles For A Cause was born out of the support of the community and family for Jackson’s journey to help other Maine Families facing Childhood cancer. 

The name ‘Waddles’ For A Cause was chosen because Jackson had become known throughout his treatment for the pink penguin he carried into every treatment & surgery he underwent. Not only does Jackson’s love for his pink penguin run deep, but the lifestyle of penguin colonies felt as though it mirrored the journey of a families traveling the path of a Childhood Cancer diagnosis:

Penguin parents are some of the most devoted in the world. They parent in the darkest and coldest winters on the planet, fasting for months. How is it possible? Because they depend on the whole colony to huddle for warmth and conserve energy.

To date Waddles for A Cause has helped 87 Maine Families with more than $91,000 in needs ranging from gas cards to get too and from treatments, grocery cards, mortgage/rent payments to help offset lost wages, medical devices and proceedures not covered by insurance, insurance premiums to ensure ongoing care coverage, and SO much more. Waddles For A Cause is often the first outreach for the social workers at Maine Children’s Cancer Program as they help families navigate additional state and national resources for ongoing long-term support.

Today Jackson is a spirited, outgoing, athletic and HEALTHY 9 year-old. He enjoys hockey, golf, go-kart racing, and helping with Waddles whether it be attending the annual golf tournament to pay each team a visit (and maybe even show them up with his golf skills!) or getting gift cards ready to be sent out to a family in need. Waddles For A Cause continues to support Maine Families facing the unthinkable in any way possible.

Because of YOUR SUPPORT, families don’t face Childhood Cancer alone!