On February 20, 2018 a spunky three year old girl died unexpectedly from complications of Wilms Disease, a rare form of pediatric kidney cancer that often strikes without any symptoms. On the evening of May 21, the day that would have been her fourth birthday, the Philadelphia skyline will light up pink in honor and memory of Sydney Harper Sandlof, and to launch the Sydney Harper Foundation.
The Sydney Harper Foundation has been created in loving memory of Sydney with a vision of a world where families are offered options for early screening and detection of Wilms Disease and have the emotional and financial support needed to cope with its effects. It is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to provide education and awareness, and to increase knowledge around early prevention and detection of Wilms Disease as well as provide support programs, resources and a sense of community to those impacted by Wilms Disease.
The Sydney Harper Foundation, together with Sydney’s family, is tremendously grateful to CBRE, Brandywine Realty Trust, Fairmont Parks Conservancy, Delaware River Port Authority and PECO who have graciously supported the foundation by turning the skyline pink.
Sydney’s mother Brittany says that “We miss our Sydney Harper horribly. Sydney loved life, her family, bobcats, bacon and the color pink. The one thing we can do, in her memory, is to create this foundation, to ensure that she gave her life for a powerful purpose. I will make it my life’s job, through my precious daughter’s memory, to help raise awareness and help other children and their families fight this horrible disease.”