Local boy fights cancer through Power of Play  

A Gainesville boy named Kolby battling cancer received a playset from State Farm and the Roc Solid Foundation. (Courtesy State Farm)
A Gainesville boy named Kolby battling cancer received a playset from State Farm and the Roc Solid Foundation. (Courtesy State Farm)
Courtesy State Farm

State Farm recently teamed up with Roc Solid Foundation to provide playsets to six kids fighting cancer in Florida, including Kolby, a 3-year-old boy from Gainesville who is fighting Leukemia. 

State Farm sponsorship supports the nonprofit’s Roc Solid On Demand program, which provides playsets to families fighting pediatric cancer anywhere in the U.S. Kolby’s family received all the materials and hardware, as well as play kits of Roc Solid. 

Roc Solid Foundation’s mission is to build hope for families fighting pediatric cancer through the power of play. The organization believes that “play defeats cancer,” because when kids are playing, cancer is the farthest thing from their minds. 

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Additionally, with compromised immune systems during treatment, kids fighting cancer often cannot visit public places or interact with other children, so a backyard playset provides them with a safe, germ-free place to play. 

“State Farm has been an amazing partner to us,” says Roc Solid Foundation founder and pediatric cancer survivor Eric Newman. “We are so grateful for their continued support as this new program has evolved, so we can continue to provide play to kids during a very difficult time.” 

Roc Solid has been building backyard playsets since 2009, but since Roc Solid On Demand launched in 2020, the organization’s reach has expanded tremendously. They plan to provide at least 700 playsets to kids fighting cancer throughout the U.S. this year. 

“Giving back to communities where we live and work is a big part of who we are at State Farm,” said Jose Soto, State Farm corporate responsibility analyst. “We are excited to partner with Roc Solid and give Kolby a safe place to play and make memories with his family. Seeing Kolby’s smile as he plays on his new playset is what this program is all about.” 

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