Supporting the Cancer Community and Serving Up Hope... Family Style!

Short Folks For Hope Foundation started out as a fundraising charitable organization in 2012.  Kristen and the Short Family have been active participants in the annual Dempsey Challenge, fundraising event for cancer support care organization, Dempsey Center (formerly The Patrick Dempsey Center For Cancer Hope & Healing.  The Dempsey Center provides services to cancer patients and their families free of charge.  From 2011 to 2019, the Short Family and their small youth-majority Team Short Folks For Hope raised over $80,000 for the Dempsey Center with their own fundraising plus the Positive Tracks 50% matching donation (granted for teams comprised of at least 50% youth for the 2011 through 2017 events).   

With our Youth Ambassadors For Hope project, we are motivating, guiding and providing opportunities for youth to be compassionate, creative, hope-fostering members of our communities, and we recognize outstanding charitable efforts by youth. 

Cool Treats for Charity is a nonprofit frozen treat mobile pushcart business owned and established in 2013 by Kristen Short and operated by The Short Family at community and charity events and private functions.  Proceeds from the sale of our frozen treats, snacks and beverages benefit local charity.  Since our first event in the summer of 2013, Cool Treats For Charity has donated over $5,000 to Short Folks For Hope and other local charities (Dempsey Center, Cancer Resource Center of Western Maine, Androscoggin Hospice House, American Cancer Society/Relay for Life, Team Hailey Hugs, Community of the Resurrection, Responsible Pet Care, and Camp Sunshine at Sebago Lake), and have also donated to fundraisers for families with loved ones going through cancer treatment.   For more information and/or to book Cool Treats For Charity at an event, see our website at https://www.cooltreats.org. 

Vivian St. Onge (1959-2014) was an energetic and kind philanthropist, oncology nurse, political activist, entrepreneur, crafter and adept cyclist who lived life to the absolute fullest despite a three-year battle with stage IV breast cancer.  Vivian was a dedicated supporter and independent fundraiser for The Dempsey Center/Dempsey Challenge.  Even though she was in active cancer treatment, Vivian courageously completed the 50-mile Dempsey Challenge cycling event in 2011.   She was a beloved board member of the Short Folks For Hope Foundation. 

Due to her increased health challenges, Vivian was not able to ride in the 2013 Dempsey Challenge, but she was there at the finish line enthusiastically cheering all the cancer warriors on.  Anyone who knew Vivian knew how much she loved cycling and how her heart longed to be on the road again. 

After a valiant battle, Vivian earned her angel wings February 28, 2014.  She is forever in our hearts and the hearts of those who had the great fortune of knowing her.  Before Vivian passed, she spoke to her family, Kristen and other friends about several cancer warrior empowering wishes of hers that she wanted to see to fruition.  Short Folks For Hope Foundation is honored to have helped make one of Vivian’s wishes a reality in 2014, The Vivian St. Onge Memorial Rickshaw Project at the Dempsey Challenge Cycling Event.  This project enables cancer warriors who are unable to cycle in the Dempsey Challenge cycling event the opportunity to ride on Vivian's Rickshaw Team with a team pedicab driver from Flow Pedicab Company.  They experience the joy and exhilaration of riding in the event and crossing the finish line, where they are showered with cheers, hugs and hope and are donned with a team medal. The Vivian St. Onge Memorial Rickshaw Team presented by Short Folks For Hope Foundation is an annual project at the Dempsey Challenge cycling event since its debut in 2014 and is operated, funded and managed by the Short Folks For Hope Foundation.  For more information about The Dempsey Challenge, see http://www.dempseycenter.org. The Vivian St. Onge Memorial Rickshaw Team ​rode for its  sixth year in the 2019 Dempsey Challenge cycling event and plans to participate in additional charity rides in the future.  

Meet our hope-fostering friends, Hobart, Hailey, Cam, Angel and Mama Bear the Hope Bears!  With Short Folks For Hope Foundation's Hope Bear Project, we give our Hope Bear Encouragement Packs to patients with life-threatening illnesses to bring comfort and to be cheery friends and travel buddies on their courageous adventures.  The Hope Bears have our Short Folks For Hope Foundation smile logo on the front and the Short family's hugging trademark, "HGH - Hugs Given Here."  

Shining star Cancer Warrior Karen was our first cancer warrior to receive a Hobart the Hope Bear in June 2016.  The name Hobart means "bright shining one," and he accompanied Karen to her medical appointments, treatments and hospital stays, and family adventures throughout her cancer journey.  Hailey the Hope Bear and Cam the Hope Bear are namesakes of two courageous young cancer warriors who are an inspiration to us and actively help other families who are dealing with a cancer diagnosis.  Mama Bear the Hope Bear (also known as Kalliope) is the namesake of our founder, Kristen, who has the determination to fight cancer, raise a family, help others, and never gives up hope. 

Want to help?  A $30 donation sponsors a Hope Bear Encouragement Pack for a cancer patient.  Online donations for our Hope Bear Project can be made here:   https://donorbox.org/hope-bear-project  Want to request a Hope Bear/Encouragement Pack for a loved one in cancer treatment?  Contact Short Folks For Hope Founder/Executive Director Kristen Short at (888) 522-6987, email info@shortfolks.org.  

Short Folks For Hope Foundation has been creatively fulfilling little wishes for advanced stage cancer warriors since 2016.  Some of the wishes we've granted include:

* a special helicopter flight for a military veteran over his hometown; 

*  a season's pass to an amusement park for a pediatric warrior; 

* a horseback ride for a cancer warrior who hadn't been able to ride in years; 

* a horseback ride for a cancer warrior who wanted to take her first ride; 

* a lovely wig for a young mom with long hair who was losing her hair to cancer treatment; 

* planting wished-for flowers in a cancer warrior's garden; 

and more. 

Our Furry Ambassador, Lagoona the Dutch Angel Dragon, arrived in 2017, and she has been bringing smiles to kids with life-threatening illnesses and supporting charitable efforts in our communities ever since.  Lagoona is an energetic and fun character who visits cancer warriors in treatment, respite camps, cancer centers and charity functions, and she is loved by children and adults alike.

The Furries For Hope Project is founded and managed by Youth Ambassador Allie Short. ​The Dutch Angel Dragon species was created by Deanna Biesemeyer.  Lagoona character was created by Allie Short with Craig Ames of CCS Mascots.  

Short Folks For Hope Foundation's Supers For Hope project is founded and managed by Youth Ambassador Ian Short.  Our superheroes and special characters encourage kids (and adults)

to “Stay Strong!” and support charitable efforts in our communities.  

Our "Supers" include Spider-Man, Captain America, Captain Marvel, Spider-Gwen and Batman, with additional characters coming soon.