For over 40 years, HISKIDS Inc has been building a vast family out of the families that have endured childhood cancer. Marcia Miles was diagnosed with leukemia in 1981, at age 10. She battled her disease with courage, strength, a sense of humor, and much compassion for the other children she met at the hospital. After a year fighting cancer, Marcia wished to see the ocean. Her family and community rallied around her and Marcia did make it to Florida and to her dream come true. After her brief frolic by the sea, 11-year-old Marcia announced with all the authority she could muster ‘I’m going Home tomorrow!’ And indeed she did. On August 3, 1982, Marcia Rene Miles died of cancer in a hospital in Venice, FL, surrounded by a family who loved her very much. 

 

Afterwards, Jim and Connie Miles built HIS KIDS: Happiness Is Serving Kids In Distress Situations. As a 501(c)3 organization, we serve approximately 2000 people annually with events and client services operating year-round, including Camp His Kids.

 

HISKIDS has been an important part of Mark's cancer journey. His brother, Matthew, passed away in February 2025 from cancer. Mark and Matthew went to camp as boys, then volunteered together, and Matthew was one of the directors at camp right up until the end. Mark says, "Camp is the first place where I learned how to really articulate the words "I love you" to Matthew.

 

In 2025, Mark asked for permission to build a satellite organization, called HISKIDS in IOWA. This “little brother” organization seeks to spread the culture, service, and love of HISKIDS to the state of Iowa.