Every September, we recognize Childhood Cancer Awareness Month and honor the children and families who face unimaginable challenges with courage and resilience.
For Erin Shields — known at Camp Ronald McDonald for Good Times as “Counselor Grubs” — this work is both professional and personal. By day, she is a Child Life Specialist at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, walking alongside children with cancer and their families through some of the hardest moments of their lives. Off the clock, she’s a devoted Camp counselor and active Walk for Kids participant, helping raise the funds needed to support families across Southern California.
When asked why she has been an advocate for family-centered care for nearly a decade, Erin shared that she’s witnessed firsthand the power of connection, joy, and community in helping families heal together. She recalls one camper proudly sharing that she and her mom climbed the camp’s challenge tower side by side. “It wasn’t about reaching the top,” Erin said. “It was about the way her mom was supported by the community, and how powerful it was for her daughter to witness that.”
That same spirit of healing is alive at the Ronald McDonald House. Erin has seen parents return from a meal or a short rest looking lighter, re-centered, and ready to face another day beside their child. “Any time together, even away from the hospital sounds and stress, is so impactful in the healing process,” she explained.
This Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, we celebrate Erin, and the families she supports, because stories like hers are only possible thanks to you. Your generosity ensures that all families facing medical crises are surrounded by comfort, hope, and community, not just in September, but all year long.
