CURE Childhood Cancer Archives

Mark Myers In Children, CURE Childhood Cancer, Family & Patient Support

Forever in Our Hearts

Jonathan’s bright smile could light up any room. An energetic, happy child who loved playing soccer and building Legos, he was just three years old when his world changed forever. In August 2016, after complaining about headaches and then throwing himself on the floor in pain, Jonathan’s parents knew something was terribly wrong. Their instincts led to a devastating discovery – a mass the size of a golf ball on Jonathan’s cerebellum, a rare high-grade brain tumor.

The family’s journey began with a nine-hour surgery that his mother describes as “gut-wrenching” – the first of many difficult days ahead. During the following year of treatment, Jonathan seemed to improve, offering a glimmer of hope. But in December 2017, the tumor returned, twice its original size. Jonathan maintained his sweet nature throughout his treatment, even while missing the cherished family tradition of playing soccer.

When Jonathan passed away in October 2020 at just seven years old, the void seemed impossible to fill. They endured the unimaginable pain of watching Jonathan’s friends reach milestones he never would.

“It’s a bittersweet feeling,” his mother, Rosa, shared. “On one hand, I love seeing them grow up and do things a child should do. But it also reminds me that Jonathan will never get to accomplish those milestones.”

But in their darkest moments, CURE Childhood Cancer remained by their side, changing from an organization that supported them during treatment to a lifeline in grief. At CURE’s Hope & Healing retreat, Jonathan’s parents found a community that understood their trauma.

“At first, I wasn’t sure about talking about my pain,” Rosa admitted. “But the others there knew the same hurt. That helped me to open up. We bereaved parents can talk, relate, and have nobody judge us.”

CURE’s Healing Hearts events also became a source of comfort and strength for Rosa. Every quarter, mothers come together to share, connect, and support each other after the loss of a child. Their bonds extend beyond scheduled gatherings, with messages of hope and support when someone is struggling.

“Those are my ladies,” Rosa said of the other mothers who’ve lost children to cancer. “We meet somewhere quiet so we can talk and have a meal or do an art project. It doesn’t matter what we do; it’s the company.”

Even as time passes, CURE ensures families know they aren’t forgotten. Their child’s memory lives on, and they remain a part of the CURE family forever. Through bereavement events, CURE creates spaces where families can honor their children while finding strength in community.

Jonathan’s family takes comfort in knowing they are never alone on their journey through grief. In this way, Jonathan’s legacy of courage continues – not only in his family’s hearts, but also in the compassionate community that continues to walk alongside them day after day.

Mark Myers In CURE Childhood Cancer, Family & Patient Support

How Emergency Financial Aid Helps Childhood Cancer Care

A childhood cancer diagnosis rearranges everything overnight. Parents leave jobs to sit at a bedside. Siblings move in with grandparents. A family that was managing fine on two incomes suddenly finds itself down one paycheck, driving hours to a children’s hospital, and paying for gas, meals, and a hotel room they never budgeted for. This is where emergency financial assistance for childhood cancer families becomes critical for families in treatment. As a recognized leader among childhood cancer charities, CURE ensures no family faces pediatric cancer alone. We provide targeted financial assistance, in-hospital meals, counseling, and long-term care. We also provide direct financial and emotional support to parents and siblings navigating diagnosis, treatment, and survivorship across our partner healthcare systems.

The Hidden Costs of Pediatric Cancer Treatment

When people picture pediatric cancer treatment costs, they usually think of hospital bills and insurance co-pays. Those matter, but they’re only part of the picture. The costs that quietly threaten a family’s stability are the ones insurance never touches:

Travel and lodging expenses for families who live an hour from the nearest pediatric oncology center
Meals eaten in hospital cafeterias or takeout ordered during long inpatient stays
Lost income, when a parent has to cut hours or quit a job to become a full-time caregiver
Everyday bills such as rent, utilities, and car payments don’t pause just because a child is sick

Research on families navigating pediatric cancer consistently shows that these non-medical costs are among the most common reasons treatment gets disrupted. A missed appointment because a family couldn’t afford gas isn’t a small thing; in pediatric oncology, treatment adherence (sticking precisely to a chemotherapy or radiation schedule) can meaningfully affect outcomes. Financial strain, in other words, isn’t just a hardship. It’s a clinical risk.

Why Financial Aid Programs Matter for Treatment Adherence

Emergency financial aid programs exist to close that gap between what a family can afford and what treatment actually requires. When a family can count on help with a hotel bill near the hospital, a tank of gas for the drive back for a follow-up scan, or a utility payment during a month when nobody in the house is bringing home a paycheck. CURE helps keep a child’s cancer diagnosis from creating a financial crisis with consequences that can last long after treatment ends.

This is especially true for single-parent households. A single parent facing a childhood cancer diagnosis doesn’t have a second income to fall back on, and often doesn’t have a second set of hands to help with siblings, meals, or the logistics of hospital life. Whether that’s direct bill payment, gas cards, or grocery assistance, meaningful financial support can be the difference between a family staying afloat and a family falling into debt they’ll carry long after treatment ends.

How CURE Childhood Cancer Supports Families Through Emergency Assistance

CURE Childhood Cancer built its family support programs around exactly this reality: that the financial side of a cancer diagnosis can be as destabilizing as the medical side.

Family Emergency Fund. CURE’s Family Emergency Fund provides emergency financial assistance to families of children with cancer, helping cover the unpredictable costs like travel, lodging, and urgent bills that pile up during treatment. Families in Georgia, or families being treated at a Georgia hospital, work through their child’s social worker to apply. CURE also extends assistance to families outside Georgia, funds permitting. Because every application is routed through a social worker who already knows the family’s situation, help reaches the families who need it most without adding another burden to their plates.

Open Arms Meal Program. Feeding a family during a hospital stay, or feeding siblings back at home while a parent stays with a hospitalized child, is its own daily challenge. CURE’s meal program helps take that particular stress off the table, literally.

Counseling and Coping Resources. Financial stress and emotional stress feed each other. CURE’s counseling services give parents, patients, and siblings a place to process what they’re going through, alongside the practical help.

Family Resources and Outreach. Beyond emergency funds, CURE connects families with broader resources and stays engaged with them through outreach, so that support continues throughout the treatment journey and into survivorship or bereavement care, if needed.

What This Means for Your Family

If your child has been diagnosed with cancer and your family is feeling the financial squeeze of travel, lodging, meals, or lost income, know two things. First, you are not alone. Isolation is one of the most common and least talked-about parts of a childhood cancer journey. Second, help exists, and it’s designed specifically for families in your position.

The first step is filling out our New Patient Form so we can connect you with our resources.

Next, talk to your child’s social worker about what’s available through CURE Childhood Cancer’s Family Emergency Fund and other family support services. That conversation costs nothing, and it’s often the first step toward relieving a burden you shouldn’t have to carry alone.

Mark Myers In Children, CURE Childhood Cancer

The Front Seat

Jacob’s son, Caleb, had been complaining of back pain and tiring easily for about a week, which was unusual. Then came the night he dropped a piece of paper and couldn’t bend to pick it up. He cried out in pain. By the next morning, Caleb had spiked a fever of 104. Jacob and his wife, Katie, immediately took him to the hospital, thinking it could be a kidney infection. They soon learned it was something far worse.

“We were shocked,” Jacob said. “I knew something was wrong when several doctors filed into the room.”

Caleb had leukemia. What followed was two and a half weeks in the hospital with both parents present around the clock. Caleb underwent surgery and procedures to begin chemotherapy to fight his leukemia. He had complications from treatment that caused him to struggle to breathe at times. The family was finally discharged, and Caleb continues treatment on an outpatient basis for now. Through it all, Jacob hasn’t missed a single appointment, and he’s learned a lot about himself.

“In the South, it’s instilled that you have to be strong for your family,” he said. “You’re not supposed to be emotional. But Caleb and his brothers need to see their dad process emotions. They need to know it’s okay to be scared; that mommy and daddy are sad too, and that we can do hard things together with the help of God. They need to know that courage doesn’t always mean silence.”

The good news is that Caleb’s leukemia is a favorable-risk, highly treatable form, and it was discovered early. He is responding to treatment and is in the interim maintenance phase of his initial treatment. Caleb’s energy has returned and he is back to his playful self, which brings a great deal of comfort. As his immune system has been stronger, he’s even been able to take swimming lessons recently.

Caleb is part of a very close-knit family, and Jacob isn’t the only man involved in his care. His grandfather, Tim Adams, has spent much of his adult life fighting childhood cancer, just not this close.

A high school football and track coach for his entire career, Tim created Coaches for Curing Cancer in 2015 to support CURE. The organization has raised more than $75,000 since it started. His motivation was the memory of his nephew, Penn Mobley, who died of a central nervous system tumor.

“We were a little more in the back seat during Penn’s treatment,” Tim said. “I never thought we would move to the front seat.”

Now he and his wife, Anna, are fixtures at Caleb’s clinic days, steady presences in a world of waiting rooms, port accesses, and lumbar punctures. Tim watches his daughter navigate this. He watches Jacob hold Caleb’s hand through every difficult moment. And he finds himself face to face with something he cannot coach his way through.

“The hardest part for me is being absolutely powerless,” he said. “Caleb has taught me lessons about patience and taking life head-on. This has been humbling, but it has brought us all closer together in some ways, too.”

This Father’s Day, Jacob and Tim represent so many dads and granddads who have been forced to learn what it means to be in the front seat with their child. Sometimes, showing up is all that can be done; sitting in the waiting room, or holding a hand through a port access. It might not be what the world calls strength. But it is the kind of strength that matters most.

Mark Myers In CURE Childhood Cancer, Research

How CURE’s Research Funding Complements Federal Grants

The gap CURE exists to fill

Only about 5% of federal cancer research funding is allocated to childhood cancers — even though cancer remains the leading cause of death by disease among U.S. children after infancy, with roughly 15,000 children and adolescents diagnosed each year (NCI, “Cancer in Children and Adolescents”). Federal agencies like the National Cancer Institute (NCI) fund a broad, rigorously vetted research portfolio, but competition for that funding is steep — NCI’s own Budget Fact Book shows how few research project grant applications are funded within a given fiscal year, meaning many promising, early-stage pediatric cancer ideas never reach the point where they’re competitive for a federal grant.

CURE exists in that gap. We don’t duplicate NIH and NCI funding — we fund the stages of research that come before it, alongside it, and immediately after it, so that promising ideas don’t stall for lack of a funding mechanism built for their stage.

Where CURE sits on the funding continuum

Pediatric cancer research moves through stages, each suited to a different kind of funder:

Early discovery → Translational bridge → Federal-scale trials → Clinical application → Survivorship research

Federal funders (NIH/NCI) are best positioned to fund large, well-powered studies once a concept has strong preliminary data — but that data has to come from somewhere first.
CURE funds the “somewhere first.” Our grants support the early-stage, high-risk work that is often too preliminary for NIH’s data requirements, and the translational work that moves a validated lab finding toward first-in-child application — work that falls between what NIH will fund and what a clinical trial requires.

Our two award types, and the specific gap each one fills

CURE offers two named research grants, each targeting a distinct point in that continuum:

Early Investigator (EI) Award

Open to beginning scientists and physician-scientists at the Instructor or Assistant Professor level. This award is designed for researchers who are not yet competitive for an NIH R01 — it funds the pilot work and preliminary data that early-career investigators need before they can successfully apply for federal funding. An EI award is often the first outside funding a young pediatric oncology researcher receives.

Translation to Clinic (T2C) Award

Open to investigators at any career stage (Assistant to Full Professor), funded up to $150,000/year in direct costs for two years ($330,000 total award). The T2C award targets the translational gap: promising, often federally funded discovery research that has established scientific evidence but has not yet advanced to a clinical trial or clinical application. Where NIH funding proves a concept works in principle, T2C funding helps move it toward a child’s bedside.

Both awards are reviewed using an NIH-style peer review process: proposals are scored by an independent Peer Review Committee of pediatric oncologists and researchers, using the same scoring approach the NIH uses, before the Board of Directors makes final funding decisions.

Supporting NCI’s national data infrastructure

Federal investment isn’t limited to individual research grants. NCI’s Childhood Cancer Data Initiative (CCDI) is building a national infrastructure to collect, standardize, and share clinical and molecular data on children and young adults with cancer — a resource meant to speed diagnosis and treatment across every institution, not just the largest ones. Private, investigator-level research that CURE funds — new datasets, biomarkers, and hypotheses generated at individual institutions — is exactly the kind of raw material that makes a national data resource like CCDI more useful over time. The two efforts reinforce each other: NCI builds the shared infrastructure, and privately funded discovery work feeds it.

Building the pipeline back toward federal funding

The relationship runs both directions. A CURE-funded pilot study can generate the preliminary data an investigator needs to compete for an NIH R01 or equivalent federal grant — meaning CURE funding often becomes the on-ramp to larger federal awards, not just a substitute for them. Over the past two decades, CURE has also funded 24 pediatric oncology fellowships at Emory University School of Medicine, training clinician-researchers who go on to run federally funded labs of their own — most past fellows are now practicing pediatric hematologist-oncologists.

The numbers

CURE invests more than $5.7 million annually in childhood cancer research, and $48 million over the past decade — including $18 million specifically in precision medicine.
In 2025, CURE awarded 13 grants totaling $5.6 million, concentrated in high-grade brain tumors, aggressive leukemias, solid tumors, and metastatic disease — diagnoses where survival after relapse can fall below 10% for some subtypes.
Every proposal goes through the same NIH-style scoring process used by federal reviewers, ensuring CURE-funded research meets the scientific rigor federal funders expect — which is part of what makes CURE-funded pilot data usable in later NIH applications.

Sources

National Cancer Institute, “Cancer in Children and Adolescents” — cancer.gov
National Cancer Institute, Budget Fact Book — Research Project Grants — cancer.gov
National Cancer Institute, Childhood Cancer Data Initiative (CCDI) — cancer.gov

Mark Myers In Childhood Cancer, CURE Childhood Cancer, Family & Patient Support

Bereavement Support for Families

Losing a child to cancer changes everything. The world feels different, time moves strangely, and the pain can seem impossible to bear. You may feel lost, wondering where to turn or how to take the next step. CURE Childhood Cancer walks alongside bereaved families through this journey, offering support that continues long after treatment ends.

This guide covers everything you need to know about pediatric cancer bereavement support—from understanding grief to finding counseling resources, sibling programs, and community connections. You don’t have to face this alone.

Key Takeaways: Pediatric Cancer Bereavement Support

Grief after losing a child to cancer is unique and deeply personal. There is no right or wrong way to grieve.
Professional counseling, peer support groups, and community programs help bereaved parents process their loss.
Siblings need specialized support to navigate their own grief while watching their family change.
Finding support early and staying connected to others who understand helps families move toward healing.
CURE Childhood Cancer offers dedicated bereavement programs, including Weekend of Hope and Healing and Legacy of Love events, as well as professional counseling.

What Is Pediatric Cancer Bereavement Support?

Pediatric cancer bereavement support refers to the emotional, psychological, and practical resources available to families after a child dies from cancer. This support addresses the specific grief that comes with losing a young life to illness.

Unlike general grief services, pediatric cancer bereavement programs understand the unique circumstances families face. You’ve already spent months or years in treatment, forming relationships with medical teams and other families. Your grief exists alongside memories of hospital stays, procedures, and hope that didn’t turn out as planned.

CURE Childhood Cancer recognizes that support doesn’t stop when treatment stops. Their bereavement programs connect families with others who truly understand this specific kind of loss.

How Does Grief Differ When You Lose a Child to Cancer?

The grief that follows a child’s death from cancer carries its own weight. You’ve likely experienced anticipatory grief during treatment – the fear and sadness that come with an uncertain prognosis. Now you’re processing both the loss itself and the end of a caregiving role that consumed your life.

Parents often describe feeling disconnected from friends and family who haven’t shared this experience. Well-meaning comments can feel dismissive rather than comforting. This isolation makes specialized support even more important.

What Types of Counseling Help Bereaved Parents?

Several counseling approaches have shown effectiveness for parents grieving a child’s death from cancer. Finding the right fit depends on your personal needs, timeline, and comfort level with different formats.

Individual Grief Counseling

One-on-one sessions with a licensed therapist give you space to process emotions privately. A counselor trained in grief and loss can help you work through guilt, anger, sadness, and the complicated feelings that don’t fit neatly into categories.
Individual counseling works well if you prefer privacy or have specific concerns you want to address. Some parents find it helpful to start with individual sessions before joining group programs.

Couples and Family Therapy

Partners often grieve differently. One person may want to talk constantly while the other retreats into silence. Family therapy creates a space where everyone can express their needs and learn to support each other without judgment.

Children remaining in the family may have questions or fears they haven’t voiced. A family therapist can facilitate conversations that strengthen relationships during this difficult time.

Meaning-Centered Grief Therapy

This approach helps you find purpose and meaning after loss. Rather than focusing solely on pain, meaning-centered therapy explores how your child’s life continues to influence your own. Many parents find this shift in perspective helpful as they move forward.

How Do Peer Support Groups Help Bereaved Families?

Peer support groups connect you with other parents who have lost children to cancer. These groups offer something professionals cannot: shared lived experience. When another parent nods in understanding, you know they truly get it. CURE Childhood Cancer hosts regular bereavement support groups for both mothers and fathers. These informal gatherings allow you to share your story, listen to others, and feel less alone in your grief.

What Support Exists for Siblings Who Have Lost a Brother or Sister to Cancer?

Siblings experience grief differently from parents, and their needs deserve focused attention. A child who has lost a sibling may feel overlooked as parents navigate their own pain. They may also experience survivor’s guilt, fear about their own health, or anger that life has changed so dramatically.

Young children often express grief through play, art, or behavior changes rather than words. Age-appropriate programs are designed for children to use creative activities to help them process emotions they may not yet have the vocabulary to describe. Through CURE’s Counseling Program, siblings can be connected with counselors trained to facilitate these types of programs.

How Can CURE Childhood Cancer’s Bereavement Programs Help Your Family?

CURE Childhood Cancer offers multiple bereavement programs designed to meet families where they are in their grief journey. These programs recognize that healing isn’t linear and that support needs change over time.

Weekend of Hope and Healing

This intensive program is designed for families who have lost a child to pediatric cancer within the last three years. The weekend brings together bereaved parents for support, guest speakers, breakout sessions, and time to celebrate the lives of children who are no longer present.

The Weekend of Hope and Healing creates space to grieve openly while connecting with others who understand. Many parents describe these gatherings as turning points in their healing journey.

Legacy of Love

For families further along in their grief who lost their child more than three years ago, Legacy of Love offers a gentler reconnection. This special day includes a meal, a candle lighting ceremony, and a guest speaker in a relaxed environment.
Grief doesn’t have an expiration date. CURE Childhood Cancer ensures that support remains available for as long as families need it.

Events for Bereaved Fathers and Mothers

CURE hosts separate quarterly events specifically for moms and dads who have lost a child to cancer, creating a space where they can connect with other fathers who understand.

What Should You Look for in a Grief Counselor or Therapist?

Finding the right grief counselor makes a significant difference in your healing journey. Not all therapists have experience with child loss or cancer bereavement specifically. Here’s what to consider when searching.

Specialized Training and Experience

Look for counselors who have worked with bereaved parents or specialize in grief and loss. Ask about their experience with families affected by childhood cancer. A therapist who understands the medical journey you’ve been through can connect more quickly with your experience.

Therapeutic Approach

Different counselors use different methods. Some focus on talk therapy, while others incorporate creative techniques like art or writing. Some take a more structured approach, while others follow your lead. Ask potential therapists about their style to find a good match.

Comfort and Connection

The relationship between you and your counselor matters more than any specific technique. During initial conversations, notice whether you feel heard and respected. Trust your instincts about fit.

What Role Does Community Play in Bereavement Support?

Community connections, whether through organizations, religious groups, or informal networks, play a vital role in healing. Isolation intensifies grief, while connection eases it.

Memorial Events and Remembrance Activities

CURE Childhood Cancer hosts events throughout the year, creating opportunities for families to honor their children’s memories together. These gatherings let you publicly remember your child, surrounded by others who understand why remembering matters. Please contact Karen Rutherford at [email protected] for more information about these events.

Giving Back and Finding Purpose

Some bereaved parents find meaning through advocacy, fundraising, or supporting other families facing childhood cancer. This isn’t about “moving on,” it’s about channeling love for your child into action that helps others. Organizations like CURE Childhood Cancer welcome volunteers and advocates, offering structured ways to get involved when you’re ready.

What Resources Are Available for Financial Help During Bereavement?

The financial strain of childhood cancer doesn’t end with death. Families often face funeral costs, medical bills, and lost income while simultaneously coping with grief. CURE Childhood Cancer delivers emergency financial aid to families fighting childhood cancer, and support continues through the bereavement process for families who need it.

Finding Your Path in Bereavement

The death of a child to cancer leaves a permanent mark on your life. Bereavement support doesn’t erase that loss; it helps you learn to carry it while still finding moments of peace, connection, and even joy. CURE Childhood Cancer believes that bereaved families deserve ongoing support for as long as they need it. Whether you’re newly bereaved or years into your grief journey, resources exist to help you.

Your child’s life mattered, your grief is valid, and you don’t have to walk this road alone.

Mark Myers In CURE Childhood Cancer, News

Building Hope: A Home That Helps

Alex and his daughter, Sydney

Alex is a home builder and a proud native of Effingham County, Georgia. As a husband and father of eight children, Alex has a vested interest in the future provided to our youth. He has always had a philanthropic spirit and recently started a new venture to support children with cancer.

In March, Alex and his daughter attended a local event by CURE Childhood Cancer called Catie’s Gathering. The event honors the life of a local child, Catie Wilkins, who passed away after a battle with a brain tumor. Attendees decorate their tables with a theme and dress up to match. While it offers a festive atmosphere, it raises money to fuel childhood cancer research and support local families fighting the disease. After the event, Alex approached Catie’s mother, Jenny, with a desire to help.

“As a parent, seeing the children at Catie’s Gathering really hit home,” Alex said. “I realize that people fighting cancer are going through the hardest time, and CURE provides a beacon of hope during that time. I want to be a part of that.”

Build for CURE was born out of that desire to make a difference. His goal was for his company, Lawrence Alexander Homes, to build a quality home and donate every dollar generated from its sale to CURE. With this in mind, he began securing suppliers and tradesmen to work with him by donating materials and labor.

On June 19, 2024, the company hosted a groundbreaking ceremony for the initial Build for CURE home in the Pinebrook subdivision of Rincon. More than seventy people attended, including many of the suppliers who will be involved in the home’s construction, most of whom have generously donated their services and supplies. Two special guests, leukemia fighter Myles and his brother Bryce, took turns with the shovels at the ceremony.

As construction began, many people visited houses in the subdivision, including a woman from Statesboro named Barbara Lynch. Barbara was planning a move to Rincon to be close to her daughter and grandchildren. She liked the subdivision and was prepared to offer a home under construction until she heard about the Build for CURE home.

“When I heard the story and purpose of the house, I felt like it was perfect for me,” Shared Barbara. “I lost my husband to cancer, and I’m absolutely tickled that money from the sale will go towards cancer research.”

Barbara will be moving into her special new home later this month, knowing she isn’t just buying a home. She’s a part of something much bigger – an idea brought to life through hard work, dedication, and a belief in building hope.

“None of this would have been possible without our trade partners,” Alex added. “They jumped on board right away and made it happen.”

Through Build for CURE, Lawrence Alexander Homes has transformed a personal moment of inspiration at Catie’s Gathering into a tangible way to support childhood cancer research. This proves that one person’s compassion can create meaningful change. As the first home nears completion, it is a testament to the power of community, generosity, and the enduring spirit of those who choose to make a difference.

Mark Myers In Childhood Cancer, CURE Childhood Cancer

10 Ways to Help Children Fighting Cancer During the Holidays

The holidays are a time of generosity and goodwill. As you can imagine, trying to celebrate the holidays while managing their fight against childhood cancer can be overwhelming. During this season of giving, there are simple ways you can make the season a little brighter for children fighting cancer and their families.

Many families must travel long distances for treatment – often multiple times a week. To help defray some of the cost, CURE provides gas cards in $50 increments to places like QT, Racetrack, Kroger, and Walmart.

Get your company, friends, neighbors, or church together to begin a project by assembling meal bags, snack bags, toiletry bags, or boredom buster bags. These are critical to families who have long or unexpected hospital stays. Click HERE for more information and examples. Our supplies of each vary, so please email Nicolaus Griffin at [email protected] before starting your project to find the greatest area of need.

A recent study indicates that 20-25% of children experience food insecurity during their cancer treatment, and this insecurity can lead to poorer outcomes. Your company or organization can make a difference and provide a meal to children with cancer and their families through CURE’s Open Arms Meal Program. These meals help alleviate the stress and cost of meals for family members during hospital stays while meeting nutritional needs. Click HERE to learn more about sponsoring a meal.

If you have a favorite restaurant and business, encourage them to host a percentage night during the holiday where a portion of the proceeds from your purchase will benefit CURE.

5. Start a Holiday Facebook Fundraiser. This is a great way to share our cause with your friends and family while raising essential funds to help. Click HERE to set yours up.

Visit the CURE Store. We’ve got several products to fend off the cold, like our zip-up sweatshirt and the CURE / Love Your Melon beanie. By buying and wearing CURE products, you are helping us to conquer childhood cancer while sharing the mission at the same time. Shop Now!

Host your own hot chocolate stand, chili cookoff, or other events in your neighborhood. The sky is the limit to what you can do. You can do it all yourself or use our handy DIY Fundraising site! Click HERE to get started.

If you like to exercise, encourage the owner of your gym or fitness studio to host a “give-back holiday class” where the proceeds raised for the class go towards our mission.

Your school or business can host an “ugly sweater fundraiser day” where students, teachers, or colleagues donate $1 or $5 to wear their sweaters that day. You could even make it a competition between grades or departments!

Host a neighborhood movie night with classic holiday movies like Elf, It’s a Wonderful Life, or A Christmas Story. There’s no shortage of holiday music and movies to listen to and watch. Your friend’s ticket to attend is a donation to CURE.

Of course, these are just some of the things you can do for children with cancer and their families. Your only limit is your imagination! If you need any help or direction, please reach out – we would love to talk to you. Please email Kristen Rudio at [email protected].

Mark Myers In CURE Childhood Cancer, Events

What it Means to be a Quiet Hero

On May 14, we will gather in person for A Tribute to Our Quiet Heroes. This special luncheon honors the mothers of children diagnosed with cancer, who guide their families through an unimaginable journey. The last two years have been virtual events, and many mothers whose children have been diagnosed during that time have no idea what to expect. So we sat down with Ramona King, whose son Ezra, was diagnosed with a brain tumor in 2018.

CURE: What is it like to be a mother walking through childhood cancer?

When Ezra was first diagnosed as a baby, I was terrified, mad, and alone. I felt like the only mother in the world having to deal with something so horrific. And in my own little world, I was. However, I soon found out that I am the farthest from being alone. There is a community of amazing mothers who are strong fighters for their children battling these diseases. I still struggle. I feel resentful at times for this being our story. I want so differently for my beautiful little boy. I have to fight so hard for his care, research things I never even dreamed of, and hold his body through things that children should never have to go through. It is traumatizing. However, I am a better person and a better mother for it. My perspectives on life and what is most important have shifted in the best way.

CURE: What was your first impression when you got the invitation to A Tribute to Our Quiet Heroes?

My first impression when I heard about it was to not go. That sounds weird but I felt nervous. I didn’t know what to expect. I felt so alone, and I thought by going and being around that many people, I’d feel even more alone. My husband urged me to go. I was timid when I parked and walked in. I felt overwhelmed. As soon as I put my name tag on, I felt like I was somebody. Not just someone who was hurting inside secretly, but like someone who everyone else with a nametag could relate to. I quickly made friends and saw other moms I had seen in the hospital hallways.

CURE: Did you enjoy the event?

I went to the Quiet Heroes event for the first time in 2018, just weeks after my baby began chemotherapy. I felt overwhelmed at first, but I quickly realized that I was in a room full of mothers who knew just exactly all that I had been through and felt during those horrific months following diagnosis. I wasn’t alone in my heartbreak for the first time. There were hugs, smiles, tears and “I’ve been there’s.” It was incredible. It felt nice to have an event just for me.

CURE: What was your biggest take-away?

It was like I could finally relate to someone face to face. For months in my community, I was the person everyone couldn’t look at, the person they pitied. I was the mother living everyone’s worst nightmare. At Quiet Heroes, I was just a friend. I could look into other moms’ faces and understand what they had been through, too. There were moms fresh in the fight and those that had decades of experience being in these shoes. It was so nice not to be the sad person in the room. We were all strong moms who had all walked similar paths.

CURE: Are you excited about Quiet Heroes being in person again?

I cannot wait to attend this year! I get to see friends that I haven’t seen in a while. I always am so proud to see my son’s sweet face on the screen. It’s a mix of fellowship, friendship, hugs, tears, and feeling so proud of our children who have been through so much.

CURE: What would you tell a mom whose child has recently been diagnosed with cancer?

You feel alone. You are the only person you know in your community who is hurting like this. But I want you to know that you aren’t alone. There are moms who have been where you are, who have had their hearts broken, have had to hold their child through the worst. We want to meet you because you make us feel not alone, too. There are so many of us out here making these tough decisions.

CURE: What would you tell a mom who might be hesitant to go to Quiet Heroes?

Just go. Just try it. You will love it! Just stand tall and be brave for a few minutes and get yourself in the door. Once you find a seat, you will realize you are a part of a friendly, fun, and amazing community of warrior moms.

You are invited to join us as we honor the mothers of children with cancer at A Tribute to Our Quiet Heroes. This luncheon features inspiring speakers, a special musical performance, and an over-the-top silent auction and raffle. It is also a day to raise money to fund critical research aimed at solving cancers that affect children.

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Mark Myers In Childhood Cancer, Children, CURE Childhood Cancer

Nurse Nelson

She is often called “Nurse Nelson” because she will not hesitate to give instructions to her medical team. Since she is only four years old, this confidence may sound surprising. But Jeneva Nelson is the youngest of five children and is used to bossing her siblings around. At her annual visit to the pediatrician last November, her doctor pressed her stomach during the examination and felt nothing abnormal. Two weeks later, Jeneva woke up sick in the middle of the night and was in great pain in the morning. Her mother rubbed her stomach to soothe her and felt a hard knot on her right side. They went to the emergency room, where several scans, an x-ray, and an ultrasound revealed a large tumor on her kidney.

“Our doctor told us it looked like a Wilms tumor and advised us to start her on the standard treatment. That meant several rounds of chemo to shrink the tumor,” recalled Jeneva’s mother, Shauna. “But it was growing so fast that I wanted it removed. They respected my wishes and scheduled surgery a week later.”

During an eight-hour surgery, doctors removed the entire tumor and her right kidney. A biopsy confirmed it was a Wilms tumor and also showed it to have an anaplastic histology. This means that the cells’ nuclei are large and distorted, making the tumor harder to treat. Because of this finding, Jeneva had 30 weeks of chemotherapy and full stomach radiation after recovering from surgery.

“Most Wilms patients don’t have this unfavorable trait,” explained Jeneva’s father, James. “The anaplastic cells grow much faster, and there is a higher chance of recurrence after treatment is over.”

Throughout her treatment, Jeneva has been a regular fun-loving child. There are times she doesn’t feel well, but she seems to bounce right back and will give her family a thumbs-up when she’s ready to play again. Her mother describes her as resilient and strong. While they will be vigilant to monitor Jeneva after treatment, Shauna and James refuse to live in fear.

“I’m hoping and praying that this treatment works, and we have no relapses,” Shauna said. “But because of what I’ve read and been told, I won’t be surprised. That isn’t me being negative – it’s like having a spare tire in your trunk. You don’t want to have a flat, but the spare means you are prepared if it happens.”

Jeneva will have scans every three months, and her parents will be on the lookout for fevers, bumps, and any unexplained sickness. While this journey has involved many hard days, there have also been some beautiful moments.

“It’s been a sad journey, but it has also been heartwarming to receive such love from family, friends, and even strangers,” Shauna said. “CURE is an organization that has been with us from the very beginning. We have never felt that we are alone.”