Help and Hope Happen Here

Just 1 day after her son Jacob passed away from Medulloblastoma in 2009, Nancy Goodman started the Non Profit KIDS V CANCER.  Nancy will discuss this non profit, whose objective it is to find new methods and medicines to help in the fight against Pediatric Cancer. Nancy is one of the leading advocates on Capitol Hill for these kids, and her advocacy has produced a number of initiatives along with legislation that has produced successful results and promises to produce even more successful results as time goes on.

After hearing that a fellow high school classmate was diagnosed with Non Hodgkins Lymphoma, High School seniors Cole Stabnick, Luke Reynolds and five others created an event to honor his cancer fight. This event became a non profit called BALL 4 A CURE. This non profit is anchored by a 3 on 3 basketball tournament along with a recently added golf tournament and has raised over $100,000, which has been donated to the Connecticut Children's Medical Center to help in the fight against Pediatric Cancer.  

This non profit is only in its infancy as there are plans to expand both the number of events as well as hopefully working directly with pediatric cancer patients to help make their difficult lives easier and happier. 

Both Cole and Luke are vey passionate about giving back which is always a great thing to see, especially from two young men that are simultaneously trying to advance their own blossoming career paths. 

Emily Hein is a Registered Nurse, and a mother of two children who fortunately have never been diagnosed with Pediatric Cancer. After her friend's 5 year old daughter passed away from Neuroblastoma, Emily, who was a long time volunteer for different causes, decided to concentrate solely on helping kids and their families navigate their way through the most difficult path imaginable as they fight their individual cancer battles.

Emily will talk about her advocacy work and her relationships that she has developed with many children and their families who are going through this process. 

Jayne Vinson's grandson Jayden was diagnosed with colon cancer when he was 11 years old, a from of cancer that normally strikes adults in their middle age years or even later. Jayden went through an excruciating 17 hour surgical procedure  which cost him his colon, spleen, gallbladder, and part of his liver and pancreas in the process. Jayden passed away of July 17th of this year. As rare as this cancer is when it comes to children, it unfortunately may not be as rare in the years to come.

Dr. Tabitha Cooney joined the Dana Farber Cancer Institute in 2019 as a Pediatric Neurooncologist as well as the Director of  the Pediatric Neuro Oncology Survivorship Program. Dr. Cooney will talk about those roles as well as discussing the clinical trials that she has been working on and the difficulties that Pediatric Brain Cancer survivors face as they move  through their lives into adulthood. 

After her daughter Sydney was diagnosed with Neuroblastoma in the spring of 2020, Jenna Brown decided to start a Non Profit called LOVE SMILES. This non profit invites Children's Authors, Illustrators, and Publishers to share their works with Pediatric Cancer patients through an app, and also allows parents to share stories of their children's individual cancer battles on the Love Smile website.

Fortunately Sydney has been in remission since June of this year and this non profit, started in November of 2020, is making great headway with authors who know how to put a smile on the faces of children. 

Regina Karchner was finally diagnosed with a Pediatric Brain Tumor when she was 16 years old, 2 years after her symptoms were dismissed by her pediatrician, who suggested that Regina's mother , who was insisting on a more thorough examination, go for psychological help.
As is always the case, her mother proved to be correct and Regina has since dedicated her life to helping other Pediatric Brain Cancer survivors through her position as the West Region Social Work Coordinator for the Children's Brain Tumor Foundation.

When Derek Zinser's father passed away on January 1st of 2009, Derek decided he needed to become involved in the fight against cancer, and chose Pediatric Cancer as his outlet. Five years after his father's passing in 2014 Derek started Mascots For a Cure, a non profit to help cheer pediatric cancer patients up during their treatments in hospitals around the country. This non profit featured the Chubby Checker Twist Challenge, which became a signature part of helping these kids.

Not to be content , Derek has recently completed a book entitled Sir Roland's Big Adventure which he hopes will be a New York Times Bestseller,  and will be released to the Public on January 1st of 2022, exactly 13 years to the day his beloved father passed away. 

Derek is also planning on becoming a Pediatric Oncology Nurse, as he continues his limitless passion to do what he can to make the lives of pediatric cancer easier and as meaningful as possible. 

Lauren Bendesky was diagnosed with Stage 4 Neuroblastoma when she was 14 years old in 2012.  This diagnosis is rare for a teenager as this form of Pediatric Brain Cancer is usually found in children much younger.
Lauren will talk about her successful battle against Neuroblastoma and becoming an Honor Child for the St. Baldrick's Foundation when she was 16, followed by her becoming an Ambassador for St. Baldrick's. 
Lauren is now a medical student at the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University and is focusing on a career in Oncology .

Maya Collins  was diagnosed with Acute Myleoid Leukemia in 2011 and passed away in October of 2017 at the age of 14. Her mother Bonnie will talk about the life of giving that her beloved daughter chose  during the 6 year period that she was battling this difficult form of Leukemia.   Bonnie will also discuss the Live Like Maya Foundation and the Third Eye Brewing Company that were started after Maya's passing, and how both organizations have Maya's influence embedded in everything that each are trying to accomplish.