Upcoming Events
First Annual Grumpy Fish Award Ceremony Held March 12, 2010 in Woodstock, NY Honoring Pediatric Integrative Health Practitioners
Killian Mansfield was 11 years old and in his first year of cancer treatment when he created the cartoon character Grumpy Fish. He drew the character because he felt the cheerful cartoon characters he’d seen so prevalently displayed in clinics and hospital rooms were out of touch with his discomfort. Killian saw Grumpy Fish as a relatable alter ego—a character who could address the subject of discomfort with honesty humor. “This was Killian’s way: to express how it felt to suffer, but in a way that didn’t evoke pity. Grumpy Fish is the perfect symbol to honor practitioners dedicated to relieving suffering,” said KMF president Barbara Mansfield.
Grumpy Fish Awards will be given to Integrative Health practitioners who provide their services free of charge for pediatric oncology patients. Each year, several types of practitioners—from acupuncturists to nutritionists—will be honored. This year’s Grumpy Fish Award recipients are Diane Rooney from the Integrative Therapies Program for Children with Cancer at Columbia Medical Center in New York City (for aromatherapy); Joy Pierson of Candle Café and Candle 79 Restaurants in New York City (for nutrition education); Maurice “Buzzy” Tischler of Tischler Dentistry of Woodstock, NY (for holistic dentistry); Kathryn Haber of Mariposa Bodyworks of Phoenicia, NY (for massage therapy); and Josh Paynter of West Shokan, NY (for acupuncture). Killian Mansfield Foundation congratulations these individuals for their innovative work and determination to provide care for pediatric oncology patients, regardless of their ability to pay.
