Each year for the past nine years, the alumnae have sponsored “A Chance for Children 5K/10K Run Walk,” which generally includes 250 to 300 participants. In the last two years, the organization has provided more than $19,500 to the KU Kids Healing Place.

Beth Roller co-directs the run with Lisa Lucas, who was her pledge daughter at the Tri Delta Chapter at Baker University. Lucas founded the race in 2005 to support Tri Delta’s national philanthropy focus on childhood cancers.

“We decided to continue this philanthropy as alumnae by hosting an annual run to benefit the KU Kids Healing Place, which serves childhood cancer patients at KU Medical Center,” said Roller. “Our Tri Delta Alumnae Association has supported KU Pediatrics for over 20 years.”

Kathy Davis, director of KU Kids Healing Place and associate professor of pediatrics, expressed appreciation for the support.

“The Delta Delta Delta Alumnae organization has provided steadfast support for children at KU Medical Center for many years, most recently helping children and families at KU Kids Healing Place, our palliative care program,” said Davis. “Lisa Lucas, Beth Roller and the rest of the Delta Delta Delta team show incredible commitment and support to the children and their families. Their support is essential to the quality of services which we provide and we are very grateful for their caring and amazing effort.”

The KU Kids Healing Place provides services for the child and family in all environments, including the child’s home, school, day care, activities, etc. Care for the child and family is initiated at KU Medical Center and continues in the child’s community.

Tri Delta’s commitment to children’s cancer charities represents the effort of chapters across the United States and Canada who continue to donate goods, volunteer time and host fundraisers for research and treatment of children with cancer. Since the early 1970s, Tri Delta has raised more than $40 million for children’s cancer hospitals and cancer research.

The gift counts toward Far Above: The Campaign for Kansas, the university’s comprehensive fundraising campaign. Far Above seeks support to educate future leaders, advance medicine, accelerate discovery and drive economic growth to seize the opportunities of the future. The campaign is managed by KU Endowment, the independent, nonprofit organization serving as the official fundraising and fund-management organization for KU. Founded in 1891, KU Endowment was the first foundation of its kind at a U.S. public university.