Children suffering from cancer and other grave illnesses are no
different from healthy children. They want to learn, play, and live with dignity,
just like any other child. Radio personality Don Imus and his wife Deirdre have
seen how illness has stripped away the self esteem from these kids and they
wanted to make a difference. In 1999, they founded The Imus Ranch. This
sprawling ranch in Ribera, New Mexico is a working cattle ranch where children
with cancer or serious blood diseases and children who have lost a sibling to
these illnesses can have a sense of fulfillment and achievement. At the ranch,
the children are treated like any other healthy child. They do chores, play,
and are taught how to be responsible for themselves and others through various
activities around the ranch.
Because these children have special needs, especially in terms of
nutrition, their food is supplied by Imus
Ranch Foods which produces organic and healthy food and snacks. Imus Ranch
Foods and organic cleansers are also sold online with 100% of the proceeds
going to the ranch.