The Eslick Family, residents of Plainview, have made fundraising a family effort and given volunteering opportunities to many local kids.

In 1997, 9-year-old Robert Eslick wanted to run a race with his dad, Robert, who often participated in local runs. They were set to run the Long Island Half Marathon and Robert Jr. decided to turn his athletics into a fundraising effort.

The father and son tandem was introduced to a child from Bethpage who was a double-amputee and they raised $11,000 in six-weeks. After running the race, they presented the check to the child at the finish line.

"At that time, there was so much negative press about kids, including Columbine, we decided that if kids do productive things maybe it would create a positive attitude in kids and maybe things like that wouldn't happen," said Robert Sr. "We had this concept of Robert being a kid helping another kid." That was the beginning of what is now known as Kids Helping Kids by Kids Way Inc., a not-for-profit organization.

"The concept of Kids Helping Kids is simply to get kids at a young age to give of themselves unselfishly to help others and to do that at a young age and continue that as they become adults," said Robert Sr., executive director of Kids Helping Kids. "They can make a difference in their lives as well as the lives of others with the benefactor being a child that they are helping along the way."

Robert Jr., now 15 years old, is still actively involved in the organization along with his 13-year-old brother Philip. Robert Sr., and his wife Fernanda also help their sons, whom they are very proud of. Also very involved is board member and co-director Paul Eberena, board member and co-director Steve Battino and board member Gary Burke. Buddy Harrelson, a former NY Met, and Paul Gibson, a former NY Yankee, have attended the events and support Kids Helping Kids. The organization also received support from World Heavyweight boxing champ Evander Holyfield, Fleet Bank of Syosset, and Vytra Health Plans, GLIRC of Plainview, to name a few.

Philip, a student at Mattlin Middle School, is working on getting the POB schools involved with the organization. Many kids are involved with this organization. For some events, there have been over 100 people helping, but more help is always needed and appreciated.

Many other events have been held since that run in 1997 and many children have benefited from the Eslick family's idea. A Kids Helping Kids 5K Race was held in Plainview, wheelchairs were purchased for deserving kids, a race for Health and Physical Fitness is held on Father's Day and a Commack resident received the medications that she desperately needed thanks to the generosity of Kids Helping Kids.

Kids Helping Kids is presently working on fundraising efforts for 18-month-old Bellport resident Gina. She was born with ocular neurofibromatosis, which means tumors grow on her optical nerve, cavernous sinus, carotid artery, cheek, palate and mouth. Gina will need at least ten costly surgeries over the next several years, with her most recent surgery involving the removal of her right eye. She is scheduled for extensive surgery, which should last between 4 and 5 hours, on Feb. 7. Gina is the first child in the United States to acquire this disease as an infant. The cost and intensity of her care is unimaginable.

According to Dr. David Spielsinger of Patchogue, Gina experiences. respiratory problems and requires her bed to be placed in an inclined position at night to prevent sleep apnea and is also at risk for respiratory infections and experiences frequent colds. Gina has visual deficits and requires vision therapy, has gross motor delays and requires physical therapy, demonstrates a greater than 33 percent delay on her gross motor development exhibiting mastery of skills up to the 8 month level. Gina has feeding problems and requires speech therapy, is considered failure to thrive and exhibits inadequate weight and nutrition for her age. Gina's diet consists primarily of liquids with attempts to introduce more solid foods.

Gina is being closely monitored by gastroenterologists and may require a feeding tube. She is also at risk for seizures. Gina is going to require future medical intervention for tumor removal, but unfortunately the tumor portion located on the internal carotid is inoperable.

After speaking to Gina's family, Robert Sr. learned that aside from Gina's numerous medical expenses the family is in dire need of reliable transportation. Gina is currently seeing ten doctors, with her primary care located at The Children's Hospital in Philadelphia. Therefore Kids Helping Kids is fundraising to obtain a new Mini Van for the family to use during these many long but necessary trips for years to come to Philadelphia and elsewhere.

Anyone interested in donating money to Gina and her family, kindly make your donations payable to: Kids Helping Kids c/o The Gina Marie DiMartino Foundation and send to: Kids Helping Kids by Kids Way Inc. at 19 Willow Rd., Old Bethpage, New York 11804-1133.

Those interested in getting involved with the organization, or for more information, can call Robert F. Eslick 917-447-7095. The Kids Helping Kids Mission Statement is "If we as Kids can teach the youth of America to help each other at a young age, Kids Helping Kids, imagine what we can do for each other when we become teenagers and then adults. After all, the youth of today is America's future tomorrow. Kids Helping Kids Making a World of Difference."