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Anna's Angel Fund

Anna Hanger was an extraordinary young woman, wise beyond her years and generous beyond words. In June 2003, Anna was diagnosed with a brain tumor. Her treatment was long and hard, and she suffered many complications which caused her to be hospitalized for the better part of a year. While she achieved remission in 2004, it was short lived, and her cancer returned just months later. Doctors told her family there was no further treatment for Anna and urged her parents to quickly take a Make-A-Wish trip due to Anna’s poor prognosis and their concern that her quality of life would begin to decline quickly.

Anna and her parents did take a “final” trip. Anna was scheduled to have surgery two days after they returned. Prior to surgery Anna had an MRI. With tears in her eyes, Anna’s doctor shared the incredible results: Anna’s tumor was shrinking. Anna’s tumor continued to shrink over the next year and for many years, Anna remained cancer-free, although the brain cancer took a toll, and Anna faced many challenges in her young life. In June 2019, Anna’s cancer returned, and she passed away in August 2020.

No one would have blamed her if Anna became sad and angry as a result of her limitations and very serious challenges caused by the brain cancer and treatment. But that just wasn’t Anna. From the time she was diagnosed and received an outpouring of love and support, including gifts and cards from family and friends, Anna became very aware of the other children at the hospital who were not getting the same kind of support. It touched Anna deeply and was very hard for her to accept. In spite of the fact that Anna was almost completely deaf, had severe scoliosis from radiation treatments, significant balance issues, loss of feeling on one side of her face, and many other permanent disabilities, she became obsessed with finding a way to help the other children with cancer.

The idea of Anna’s Angel Fund was born. When people would ask what they could do for her or what gifts they could bring her, Anna would ask them to make a donation to her Angel Fund instead. The Angel Fund gave Anna a way to help the children who touched her heart and also became something positive for her to focus on while facing her own battles every day. Anna maintained this fund for years, and of course, she insisted that all of her financial aid/gifts be made anonymously. Over the years, Anna raised and gave away more than $600,000 to children and families whose lives have been devastated by pediatric cancer. Anna found joy every day in making her gift of life count for other children. The fund was eventually retired, but Anna never stopped caring about and working to make life better for children with cancer.

The idea of Anna’s Angel Fund was born. When people would ask what they could do for her or what gifts they could bring her, Anna would ask them to make a donation to her Angel Fund instead. The Angel Fund gave Anna a way to help the children who touched her heart and also became something positive for her to focus on while facing her own battles every day. Anna maintained this fund for years, and of course, she insisted that all of her financial aid/gifts be made anonymously. Over the years, Anna raised and gave away more than $600,000 to children and families whose lives have been devastated by pediatric cancer. Anna found joy every day in making her gift of life count for other children. The fund was eventually retired, but Anna never stopped caring about and working to make life better for children with cancer.

Purpose of the Fund

Reviving Anna’s Angel Fund is what Anna would want, and it will continue her legacy of caring for and helping families of children with cancer. To that end, all funds given to this fund will be directed to CURE’s patient and family support programs.

DONATE TO ANNA'S ANGEL FUND