How The Dreaming Tree Lodge Was Born
Our Story
How One Girl’s Mission Became a Community for Families Facing Pediatric Cancer
Sami Curtis’s story begins long before her own cancer diagnosis.
Having lost her biological mother to cancer when she was just three years old, Sami spent much of her childhood involved with the St. Lawrence County Cancer Fund and the Edward I. Moses Walk/Run for Life. Giving back wasn’t just something she did—it was part of who she was. So when Sami was diagnosed in 2015 with glioblastoma, a rare and aggressive brain tumor, she did what came naturally: she looked outward.
Rather than focusing attention on herself, Sami used her diagnosis as a platform to help others. She organized a fundraiser called the Help Sami Kick Cancer event at a local farm. In one unforgettable day, her efforts raised over $100,000, which she donated entirely to the St. Lawrence County Cancer Fund to support other families navigating the same terrifying path.
This act of selflessness was the spark that would later grow into something much bigger.
After Sami passed in 2017, her family and friends knew her mission couldn’t end with her. They founded the Help Sami Kick Cancer Foundation—not in her memory alone, but in continuation of her work. The foundation’s original goal was simple: provide financial support to families affected by pediatric cancer. But that was only the beginning.
A Turning Point: Mason’s Wish
In the spring of 2018, Sami’s father, Jim Curtis, received a call that would forever shape the future of the foundation.
Mason Smith, a 12-year-old boy from Pennsylvania battling a rare blood cancer, was having a wish granted through the One Wish Foundation. His request was simple, beautiful, and uniquely his own: he wanted to hunt a turkey.
The wish led Mason and his family to the Curtis farm in upstate New York, where the Mountain Hollow Game Call team joined as guides. On the one-year anniversary of Sami’s passing, Mason bagged a Tom turkey—his wish fulfilled.
What no one expected was how deeply that weekend would resonate.
Meeting Mason and his family became a turning point for the Help Sami Kick Cancer Foundation. For the first time, the team witnessed the power of giving families space to step away from the constant weight of cancer— to simply be together—breathing fresh air, making memories, and remembering what life feels like beyond the hospital walls.
At the same time, they recognized how much strength and stability they were able to offer Mason’s family, just by showing up and sharing their story. In that moment, they saw clearly what Sami had always known: that families fighting pediatric cancer need more than treatment—they need connection, community, and hope.
The Dreaming Tree Ranch: A Place to Heal
Energized by this new clarity of purpose, the foundation launched a whirlwind fundraising effort that culminated in the purchase of a property in the foothills of the Adirondack Mountains in January 2019. They called it The Dreaming Tree Ranch.
At the heart of the property stands The Lodge—a place built to give families a chance to be together - resting, reconnecting, and remembering that they are more than a diagnosis.
The very first family was welcomed in October 2019, and since then, the Dreaming Tree Ranch has become a sanctuary for over 20 families—and counting. Each visit is tailored to the unique needs of the child and their loved ones, creating space for horseback rides, bonfires, hikes, and quiet conversations under the stars. More than just a retreat, it’s a place to breathe again.
Where We Are Now
The Help Sami Kick Cancer Foundation continues to grow in size, reach, and impact—but its heart has never changed. Everything we do is rooted in the values Sami lived by: compassion, strength, generosity, and joy.
We are here to support families through every step of their cancer journey—with financial relief, emotional support, and a community that understands.
This is Sami’s mission. This is Mason’s legacy.
This is the story of what happens when love becomes action.
Because No Family Should Face Childhood Cancer Alone