News – Sheridan Media
On September 2, Mayor Rich Bridger will proclaim September 2025, as Childhood Cancer Awareness Month in the city of Sheridan. The proclamation was initiated by Jason’s Friends, a Casper-based organization that exists to assist Wyoming families whose children suffer from cancer and brain or spinal cord tumors by providing financial assistance, advocacy and encouragement.
Ali Pousha, Family Support Coordinator, explained how Jason’s Friends started.
Jason’s Friends Foundation not only provides organized community support but also financial support for Wyoming families to ensure that they will not lose everything they own simply because they’ve had the misfortune of having a child with cancer.
Pousha said that there are no pediatric oncology centers in Wyoming, so families have to travel out of state. Most families travel to Denver or Salt Lake, but every child has to travel some distance for their treatments. This can be a huge financial burden, and Jason’s Friends are trying to offset some of these costs so families can focus on being together and getting their child well.
Jason’s friends accept donations to help with these costs. They are totally privately funded, and those wishing to donate can go to the website listed below. At Jason’s Friends, 90% of all dollars received by Jason’s Friends Foundation goes directly to the financial support of Wyoming families enrolled in our program. “We pride ourselves as being good stewards of these funds and making sure we are giving as much of it back as possible to the Wyoming residents we serve,” Pousha said
To quality for the assistance, families must be Wyoming residents, and they do serve families with children up to the age of 21. This past year, more families have reached out to Jason’s Friends for help.
Pousha said that most years the numbers are pretty steady, with somewhere between 17 and 20 Wyoming families reaching out for the help they provide, but this past year there have already been 23 families in need of their services.
For more information on donating to the Foundation, or anyone needing help for their child, contact Jason’s Friends Foundation. There are several helpful links on the website.
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Last modified: August 29, 2025