Meet The Charity: The Chloe Belle Foundation Of Northport Brings Joy To Those With Cancer

NORTHPORT, NY — Local charities are the unsung heroes of our communities. Nonprofit and not-for-profit organizations strive to create lasting change and positively impact the lives of those around them.

Some people start organizations as a way to cope with grief, some see an issue they want to tackle, and some want to bring lasting change. Sometimes, all those reasons apply.

Patch wants to highlight your local charity and connect it with community members who want to help and do good, so that way, more people can benefit. Here is just one of many charities doing terrific work in your community.

What is your name?

Remi Lindberg

What is the name of your charity?

The Chloe Belle Foundation

What is your position within your charity?

President

What community is your organization based in?

We are currently in Northport, NY. Our drives and events are in/for the Long Island/New York City area but we ship out care packages to people all over the country.

Link to your website

TheChloeBelleFoundation.org

What is your mission?

Our mission is to help and bring joy to people with cancer. Our focus is on young adults but we are always doing things for people of all ages.

What does your charity do to further its mission? Please list examples.

We are fairly new right now and always thinking of new ideas to further our mission, but we mainly do drives (such as toy drives for children's hospitals and care items/gift card drives for the adult cancer centers/hospital cancer floors), fundraisers and send out care packages/gifts to people of all ages undergoing cancer-related medical treatments.

We have something we are working on that is a little different but is so exciting to me because it really is something that has become important to our family and Chloe's story. Chloe's leukemia went into her CNS (spine), and she needed lumbar punctures/a strong mix of chemotherapy drugs injected into her back. She was ultimately paralyzed from her neck to her feet and lived paralyzed for about 5 months before she died.

During COVID, Chloe had to travel to Stony Brook Cancer Center in Southampton because the one in Stony Brook was closed. My sister LOVED the beach. It was almost a spiritual experience for her. My parents would drive her every day for those months, and they would walk on the beach. And when my sister became sicker and unable to walk/eventually became paralyzed, she couldn't experience the beach anymore. My dad actually had the idea for the foundation to work with a company that could build incredible beach wheelchairs where people like Chloe will have access to the beach in the utmost comfort, convenience, durability and style (for both the person in it and the person pushing it). It's still in the beginning stages but these wheelchairs are superior to anything out there and most of the proceeds will go to The Chloe Belle Foundation. My dad also made the name Chloe's Beach Buggies. They can come in any color and will have amenities such as cupholders, an umbrella and storage space. Companies and individuals will be able to purchase them and customize them, but we will also have TCBF ones that donors can donate, and they will be sent to individuals/places who need them. My dad's a genius with this stuff — meaning the design/creation — and as a family this is something that we lived so we have the experience. We know what is needed for the person in the wheelchair and the caretaker.

There are many reasons why someone would need a beach wheelchair but many people with cancer become very weak, suffer with neuropathy, or like Chloe, become paralyzed for a multitude of reasons, etc. which leads them to have trouble walking.

To have more accessibility for people with cancer and people in general to do things like go to the beach is an important part of Chloe's story and furthers our mission: to help and bring joy to people with cancer. It's something very unique to TCBF. Everything we do, there is thought behind it and it is done because it is something related to Chloe. Chloe is behind everything we do. I'm really excited for this future endeavor.

What inspired you to start your charity?

My inspiration came from grief (mine as well as my entire family's grief - who are the other members of the TCBF - Doug/Chloe's dad, Donna/Chloe's mom, Ruby/Chloe's other older sister and Taylor/Chloe's younger brother - and our dogs Gryff and Oscar/Chloe's furry nephews).

I lost my younger sister, Chloe, to leukemia cancer 2 years ago. She was my best friend and is my soulmate. My entire being changed and my old life (my old dreams, goals, etc. - which all included Chloe) was gone so I had to make a new life and I wanted that new life to actively have Chloe in it still. When something like this has never happened to you, you are in a sort of ignorance is bliss state because when something like this has happened to you, you are in a constant state of awareness that there is someone out there in the world who is going through hell. And you can't just sit there and do nothing.

I also started it because I had such a fear that no one would ever meet my sister again and now through the foundation, everyday someone hears my sister's story and learns about her life and essentially "meets her."

Lastly, my sister was truly the kindest, most caring, sweetest person who genuinely loved life. We could have done a few things to continue her legacy, but it was a nonprofit, helping other people (and animals), that was really my sister.

How can people help you accomplish your organization's mission or get involved in events?

Right now, the most helpful things are donations - whether it is in the form of items (such as toys or care items) or money. And even simply sharing our story/website with other people - that means so much.

What is the most memorable moment you've had since starting your organization?

Every moment is memorable for me.

What else would you like people to know about your charity?

We are a small nonprofit and every penny donated is used to further our mission and goes directly to a person or organization/hospital.

What are your organization's social media pages or handles?

Instagram: TheChloeBelleFoundation

Do you help run a charity?

Nominate it here or share this link with someone who does.