Over two decades ago, Mariann Kuttler stood by her daughter Marci’s side as she became a widow, losing her 30-year-old husband, Pete, to testicular cancer.
Marci shared Pete’s wish of forming a nonprofit that would provide respite to families facing cancer, named For Pete’s Sake Cancer Respite Foundation (FPS).
Marci launched the nonprofit with a note in Pete’s obituary and utilized her mom’s skills as a nurse to help build the Travel Respite program.
At that time, Mariann and her husband, Herb, also owned and operated Maryanne Pastry Shoppe, with locations in Doylestown, Pa., and Sea Isle City.
Their bakery provided donated goods and sponsorship for many of the foundation’s first fundraising events, another way Mariann helped the vision of FPS come to fruition. The bakery is still in the Kuttler family and supports FPS today.
FPS Foundation honored Mariann’s leadership and sacrifice at a Philadelphia Phillies game on June 7, where she threw out the first pitch. This celebration was witnessed by over 500 FPS supporters, mostly patients and caregivers served by the FPS Travel Respite program.
FPS enables cancer patients and their loved ones to strengthen, deepen and unify their relationships by creating unforgettable and lasting respite experiences.
Working with oncology professionals at over 100 hospitals and cancer centers, FPS provides transformative respite experiences to cancer patients (ages 21-55), their caregivers and their children and offers families emotional support that assists them as their journey with cancer continues.
FPS was established by Marci Schankweiler in 1999 in memory of her husband, Peter R. Bossow, Jr., who’s heroic, 15-month battle with cancer ended on Sept. 1, 1999. Since its inception, FPS has served over 10,000 patients, caregivers and their children.
For more information about FPS visit www.takeabreakfromcancer.org. FPS is an organization funded entirely by charitable donations.
