'Emotional journey': Portland City Council vote lays groundwork for expansion of non-profit that helps teens with cancer
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — A unanimous vote from Portland City Council marks a crucial step for a Portland non-profit supporting kids with cancer and their families.
At just 15, Sabina McMahon beat bone cancer twice — after a knee replacement and nine months of chemo.
She found support at camp Ukandu, Oregon's largest camp for kids with cancer, all free of charge.
"The second you walk into camp, everybody knows your situation without you having to explain it," McMahon said. "Those kids, like they just get you, and so I can be my authentically, crazy, silly, goofy, self with these other people who are doing the exact same thing and nobody judges us for it."
On Thursday, McMahon and her parents joined Camp Ukandu in front of Portland City Council, pushing for approval to expand. The plan is to transform a property at Southwest First Avenue and Southwest Porter Street into Ukandu Loft.
The year-round resource center is also backed by research from Oregon Health and Science University's Knight Cancer Institute.
After hearing about their experiences, Portland City Council Preisdent Elana Pirtle-Guiney thanked McMahon and her family.
Ultimately, Portland City Council approved demolishing the adjacent house in histrocic Lair Hill, already owned by Ukandu.
The organization said the new space will expand services, including therapy, support groups, workshops and mental health care.
"It's an emotional journey to be a part of and to witness and this is an emotional moment," said Camp Ukandu CEO Jason Hickox.
Hickox explained it's been a long-held dream ever since he's been volunteering as a teen to do more to help children with cancer.
"We're ready to stick shovels in the ground and get to serving this community in ways that are needed and are not today available," Hickox said.
Though the loft is still in the design phase McMahon can't wait to see it take shape and dreams of volunteering when it does.
"I am not planning on leaving ukando, I never will," she said.
The Historic Preservation Program also approved the project, confirming it aligns with the area's historic value.
Though the city vote was unanimous, two councilors were absent. A final vote is set for Feb. 5.