NORTHGLENN, Colo. (KDVR) — The Rocky Mountain Children's Health Foundation helps thousands of pediatric patients and their families every year.

One of the ways the foundation helps is through The Stink Bug Project. Some of the families taking part in the project came together in Northglenn to connect, build community, and celebrate.

Jessica Mittelstaedt was critically ill when she and her family adopted Princess Peach. She was calling her tumor her "stink bug."

"I was facing pancreatic cancer and I had to get four of my organs removed," said Mittelstaedt. "Because of how ill I am, I got Princess Peach. And she helps me get out of bed, she helps me go for walks and stuff, and she does, you know, she kind of just takes care of me a little and motivates me. She was also able to visit me in the hospital."

The Rocky Mountain Children's Health Foundation runs The Stink Bug Project. It pairs kids going through difficult medical situations with companion dogs. Families adopt the dogs as pets, not as service animals.

"We match those dogs with families who have children who have medical concerns or behavioral health concerns who need just a friend, somebody who's that unconditional love, or that special sauce, for when you get home and you're feeling kind of bullied or your feeling kind of defeated and tired and don't feel very good," said Lee Shaughnessy of the Rocky Mountain Children's Foundation.

In 2009, cancer patient Allison Winn started the project. Her pet name for her illness and treatments was her "stink-bug." When she started the project, the name stuck.

"When she got a dog, she knew how much her dog Coco made her feel better," said Shaughnessy.  "And she really wanted to pass that forward to other kids, especially kids with cancer at that point."

As of June 2025, it's been passed forward 178 times. Including Jessica Mittelstaedt and Princess Peach.

"She's made a very, very big difference," said Mittelstaedt.  "She's also known as the neighborhood dog in our neighborhood. Everybody is like, 'Oh, I want to come say hi to Peach, and come see her, and pet her.' I could never imagine my life without her."

For more information on the foundation and the project, visit this link.