Save the Date – 2024 Ice Cream for Breakfast Day, a Childhood Cancer Awareness Event

February 19, 2023February 19, 2023 ~ EICFBD Team

Save the date for a childhood cancer event, that started in Minnesota.

Virtual Event, February 18, 2024 (based out of Scandia, MN)

To join us – like and follow the Facebook Page!

Overview

Since 2013, the annual Eat Ice Cream for Breakfast Day has been bringing fun into the lives of children fighting childhood cancer and awareness the general public through this online, virtual, free annual event.

Eat Ice Cream for Breakfast Day honors all children who have fought or who are fighting a battle with cancer, because kids get cancer too.⁠

We invite people to post a selfie of yourself enjoying ice cream for breakfast on February 18 to one of our social media platforms, tag #kidsgetcancertoo and then hang around and hear stories of kids who have or are currently fighting cancer.

Our little MN event is now celebrated in over 83 counties and has received international press.

Boilerplate + About us

Malia Grace Peterson is the inspiration for this event. She was born on February 18, 2001 and left this earth for the joy of heaven while sleeping on December 7, 2010, after a 14-month long battle with childhood cancer. The 9 years in between those dates was a lifetime in which she touched countless lives with her energy, humor, laughter and hugs.

Eat Ice Cream for Breakfast Day falls on Malia’s birthday and is run by her Mom and Aunt. We do what we do for the love of Malia.

What started out as a birthday celebration for one loved girl, has turned into a day that many amazing families claim as their own. This worldwide day of encouragement means SO much to SO many, and we are delighted at all this day has become.

Because of Eat Ice Cream for Breakfast Day, kids all over the world, and their families, feel loved, supported, and seen. That is why we do what we do, Simple. Special. Sweet.

With your help, our mission to support the fighting, remember the resting and party on with the survivors, can be amplified to reach more children, families and bring more humanity to the world of childhood cancer.

Graphics, Quotes + More

Graphics, videos, childhood cancer statistics: https://eaticecreamforbreakfastday.com/contact/
Quotes: https://eaticecreamforbreakfastday.com/history/
More about Malia: https://eaticecreamforbreakfastday.com/malia/

Contact information

Alisa Matheson
Eat Ice Cream for Breakfast Day
eaticecreamforbreakfast@gmail.com

2023 Eat Ice Cream for Breakfast Day!

Featured ~ EICFBD Team ~ Leave a comment

Thank you!!!!

THANK YOU for being a part of encouraging those whose lives have been impacted by childhood cancer by participating in Eat Ice Cream for Breakfast Day. These families need it more than there are words to describe, and having their fight acknowledged, even in this small and silly way, means a lot to them!

To those of you who went above and beyond by using this event as a platform for fundraising to help in a tangible way, we are so grateful! That is something we did not anticipate when we started this crazy party and it brings tears to our eyes to see how your heart’s generosity is making a difference worldwide! We heard stories of you helping individual families, funding cancer research for kids, gifting wish organizations, bolstering child life programs and bringing ice cream smiles into inpatient pediatric oncology units.

This day is both wonderful and difficult for most childhood cancer families… the emotions surrounding their kid’s circumstances are complex, but our sincere prayer is that it brought a little light into their dark places and some smiles to them for a day.

We also hope that this event was a day that created some sweet memories for YOU and whoever you were with!

See you again next year…. Feb 18th, 2024!

With much love from your Eat Ice Cream for Breakfast Hosts,

Malia’s family #EatIceCreamForBreaskfastDay #kidsgetcancertoo

In-Person Events

All had a slightly different theme, but ALL were focused on childhood cancer, and raising awareness, gratefulness, and community.

News/Articles

Featured Kids

2023 Featured Kids

January 15, 2023February 14, 2023 ~ EICFBD Team ~ 1 Comment

Sign Your Child Up To Be Featured

Each year we feature kids who are fighting, celebrating, or resting. If you’d like your story or your child’s story to be featured, please complete the form below. All rights to photos & your child’s story remain yours and will be removed at your request anytime.

Examples of past featured kids – Website, Facebook & Instagram

Eat Ice Cream for Breakfast will take place virtually on February 18.

**We can only accept submissions from parents or legal guardians if the child is under 18 or the individual sharing their own story if over 18 years old.

*Spaces will be limited to Ten (10) in 2023

Sign Your Child Up To Be Featured

2022 Featured Kids

February 12, 2022February 13, 2022 ~ EICFBD Team

If you would like your child to be a featured kid, APPLY here: https://form.jotform.com/200135618778156.

2022 Ice Cream for Breakfast Day, a Childhood Cancer Awareness Event

February 19, 2021February 21, 2022 ~ EICFBD Team

Thank you!

From your hosts of this day of encouragement, we simply want to say THANK YOU.

To the amazing kids and families who have shared a piece of their story with us today: we pray that you felt: Seen. Encouraged. Loved. Remembered. We know how hard and long the journey feels. You are not alone. We hope in this crazy day you found reasons to SMILE! The JOY is our why!

To those who showed up as an encourager we thank you from the bottom of our hearts!

It seems like such a little thing, eating ice cream for breakfast. Clicking on a like or love button. Posting a photo. On the surface it can feel silly and superficial; but I promise you that to the families you supported today… it didn’t feel that way. Actions don’t have to be something grand to make a difference in their world. They just need to know they are not forgotten. Small acts done with great love matter to them. A card in the mail, A message or text. An unexpected hug. Chocolates left on a doorstep. A shoveled walk. A hot meal. A funny joke. A shared song.

To those who go above and beyond… you are our heroes. Children’s Oncology Programs, Doctors, Nurses, CNA’s, Child Life Specialists, Social Workers, PT, OT, Wish Organizations, Childhood Cancer Foundations, Childhood Cancer Researchers, Childhood Cancer Support Groups, Awareness Groups, and individuals who volunteer their time, talents and treasures in support. Your knowledge, passion, purpose and care is so needed! God bless you all as you press in and press on to improve outcomes and experiences for these little warriors.

Finally, Happy 21st birthday, Malia. Thank you for teaching us to find JOY in all things! Hugs from us to you in heaven.

Events

Everyone is invited to join us ONLINE on our FACEBOOK PAGE for updates throughout Feb 17 + 18th (timezones are fun)! Eat your ice cream, share a picture and stick around to encourage childhood cancer kids and their families!
Kelly’s Homemade Ice Cream, with five locations in Orlando, OVIEDO and WINDERMERE Florida has created some amazing ice cream flavors in honor of Eat Ice Cream for Breakfast day with 50% of each pint going to benefit Give Kids The World, an amazing organization in central Florida, USA.
A Virtual event by The Microvolunteering Collective out of New Zealand is hosting an live event learning about childhood cancer, featuring our own Annette Peterson (Malia’s Mom). They will also be creating Love Letters for kids (a letter placard which child cancer patients and other children in hospital can use to brighten the walls of their room).
Relay For Life of Tacoma and the American Cancer Society are hosting an in person event in Tacoma, Washington on February 19! With 50% of all sales 9AM-Noon going back to Relay For Life of Tacoma and the American Cancer Society!
Do you know of another in person or virtual event?! Let us know!

News Coverage + Articles

Will update as they happen.
Did you see a story we don’t have listed yet? Let us know!

2022 Featured Kids!

This year our featured kids hail from three different nations, Canada, New Zealand and Australia!

7 Things About Eat Ice Cream for Breakfast You’ll Kick Yourself for Not Knowing

February 3, 2021January 28, 2022 ~ EICFBD Team

We’ve always been virtual, since before virtual was cool (or necessary).

People have participated from drive-thrus, place of work, hospital bed, cafeteria, restaurants and most often their very own home at the beginning of the day. No need to share germs, just share your picture (and a bit of your heart).

You can eat things other than ice cream.

No need to feel that you can’t participate if you are dairy-free, vegan or have food allergies. Get creative and find a way to embrace your inner child during the morning of February 18th. Here are some ideas for alternatives to ice cream.

It all started with one little girl who loved life.

Malia Grace left us far too soon, and that isn’t fair. But Eat Ice Cream for Breakfast is about her ALIVE. It is celebrated on her day of birth, and captures a few of her favorite things – silliness, a good party and frozen convections. Now, we just need to get her family, friends and unicorn poop in there somehow.

We’ve been celebrating since 2013.

I know, it’s hard for us to believe too… but this whole crazy idea started way back then and hasn’t stopped since. Each year is different, but each year is special. This year will be too.

We have no paid staff, or budget.

One of Alisa’s brushes with fame was when she talked to Kevin Bacon’s manager on the phone. He asked how big the EICFBD staff was and our annual budget. She laughed out loud, zero to both questions. Just two Minnesota sisters who love one kid.

*And if inquiring minds want to know, Kevin DID virtually eat with us in 2015 and 2016

We don’t raise any money.

Most childhood cancer organizations and events are about fundraising, because childhood cancer gets less than 4% of all cancer research dollars… but we wanted to keep focused on awareness, gratefulness and community. However, we do hope that once you participate your brain starts thinking, because we know that awareness leads to knowledge and then to action.

It’s free, easy to participate.

Just buy your ice cream and take a selfie while you are eating and let your friends know WHY you are eating. If you have a connection to pediatric cancer, let people know. If you don’t tell people about one of our featured kids.

2021 EICFBD Pediatric and Childhood Cancer Awareness Event

February 26, 2020February 19, 2021 ~ EICFBD Team

Dear friends, that’s a wrap on another beautiful year of: SUPPORTING the fighting REMEMBERING the resting and PARTYING ON with the survivors of childhood cancer.

Our Facebook Page is really just a launching point. The majority of what is happening out there in the world cannot be seen on this page, but rather is personal support going directly to the kids and families who need it most through their own social media platforms.

We had a record number of prominent childhood cancer organizations sharing this day with all their kids this year, and public media platforms inviting the masses to join this party. We also had news coverage from Hawaii and posts in German and Swedish (see below).

No matter how you engaged in this day, we want to thank you for joining with us in the encouragement and support.

These kids everywhere around the world with cancer, their parents, and their siblings desperately need to be seen and have their story known. Thank you for letting them know they are not alone, and for bringing your light into the dark parts of their lives. Showing up by EATING ICE CREAM FOR BREAKFAST my seem like a small thing, but it’s truly impactful to those on the receiving end.

Until next year, please continue to participate in acts of kindness and encouragement for all those directly affected by childhood cancer. The effects of their experiences last long past the time when treatments end. God bless you all. Go shine bright in the world! Happy birthday, Malia Grace.

All our love, Mom, Dad, Madi, Marissa, Auntie Alisa & Rosie

LIKE our Facebook Page to stay in the know all year long and see you next February 18!

Some Highlights from the Day

Childhood Cancer Research Fund Blog Post: “We interviewed Alisa, Malia’s aunt, about Eat Ice Cream for Breakfast Day’s mission and her niece’s legacy. Alisa describes her niece, Malia, as a “firecracker” who loved her friends and family fiercely, and continued playing soccer even during chemotherapy to treat her Wilms tumor. When the 9-year-old from Forrest Lake, Minnesota passed away in 2010, it was her determination and her boundless love for life that her family wanted to remember most. They remembered one day during Malia’s Make-A-Wish trip when they threw convention to the wind and ate ice cream for breakfast. So in Malia’s honor, her family started “Eat Ice Cream for Breakfast Day” on Malia’s birthday to raise awareness of childhood cancer and celebrate her life.” Read more

Ice-cream for CHICA: Namibia Media Holdings held an “eat ice cream for breakfast day” to commemorate World Cancer Day.

The ice cream was donated by Polar Ice Cream and all proceeds went directly to Children Fighting Cancer in Namibia (CHICA).

Here NMH’s Shareen Mwelwa handing over the N$1460 contribution to Rolf Hansen of the Cancer Association of Namibia.

WAKE UP 2DAY, HONOLULU HAWAII: Posted: Feb 18, 2021 / 06:00 AM HST / Updated: Feb 18, 2021 / 06:00 AM HONOLULU (KHON2) — Social Scene: Ice cream for breakfast: If you feel like eating ice cream for breakfast this morning, go for it!

https://www.khon2.com/wake-up-2day/social-scene-ice-cream-for-breakfast/

https://www.instagram.com/p/CLbZkRlHgwR/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

2020 Featured Kids and Adults

January 15, 2020January 27, 2021 ~ EICFBD Team

In 2015, a new tradition began of featuring childhood cancer kids and those who love them, in the “Featured Kids” section, we have now added adult survivors of childhood cancer as well.

If you don’t have a personal connection to childhood cancer, we encourage you to pick one of the featured kids or adults and eat “for” them. Childhood cancer is deeply personal to those who it has touched and we want our awareness to be deeply personal too. Yes, “kids” get cancer, but more specifically… these kids.

Watching their family’s stories evolve has been one of the joys and struggles of doing this year after year. Some of our featured kids have gone on to live full lives, some are still fighting and some have passed away since they were featured.

No matter what happened, the hope is they had more moments of joy because we joined their fight.

Meet the featured kids and adults for 2020’s Eat Ice Cream for Breakfast Day: Jacob, Reese, Eleanor, Daisy, Jake, Mia, Dylan, James, and Maddie.

2018 Featured Kids

January 23, 2018January 26, 2021 ~ EICFBD Team

Meet the featured kids and adults for February 18, 2018’s Eat Ice Cream for Breakfast Day: Laney, Audrey, Dylan, Bella, and Kaitlyn.

2017 Featured Kids

January 22, 2017January 26, 2021 ~ EICFBD Team

Meet the featured childhood cancer kids for 2017’s Eat Ice Cream for Breakfast Day: Hope, Josiah, Dominick, Aaron, Abby, Alex, Karli, Trenton, and Adrian.

aaron-abby-fb — Aaron & Abby are Celebrating