Kids With Cancer Gain Powerful Allies

If you are a parent, you have more than enough to think about when it comes to your kids. For thousands of parents helping their child fight cancer though, parenthood can be even more physically and emotionally challenging. The survival rate for pediatric cancer has increased dramatically over the years, but cancer is still the chief cause of death by disease in children between the ages of 1 and 14. In fact, one in every 330 Americans develops cancer before age 20.
But kids with cancer have some powerful allies. Recognizing the alarming statistics of pediatric cancer, a number of companies have stepped in to help children with cancer by donating money to pediatric cancer research, and to organizations that help support families of children with cancer. Today, three out of every four children facing cancer are now being cured. And, corporate donations are helping to pave the way for more cancer research and more support for these families.

Hyundai Motor America, HomeGoods, Dunkin’ Donuts, Jiffy Lube and Taco Bell are some of the companies that have designed philanthropy programs to support pediatric cancer research and increase awareness of the disease. The way they do this also allows the rest of us to help, through special campaigns and even sales dollars.

Hyundai Motor America and its more than 600 dealers concentrate their philanthropy dollars towards making a difference in pediatric cancer research. As a result of dealer and corporate donations, Hyundai has raised almost $6 million for pediatric cancer since 1996. Every September, during Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, Hyundai also sponsors the Annual Boston Marathon Jimmy Fund Walk. Thousands of cancer survivors, patients, their families and friends march along the 26.2-mile Boston Marathon route to raise imperative research funds.

A number of other companies contribute in their own way, as well. Dunkin' Donuts has a five-year campaign to raise $2.5 million for cancer research, and prints the Jimmy Fund logo on its hot-beverage cups to promote awareness. HomeGoods stores encourage customers to make $1 donations during September. Even Jiffy Lube and Taco Bell have partnered in the past to offer a Value Card for customer purchase, giving consumers $5 off oil changes and $1 off combo meals.

Brands like the ones mentioned above support some of the most well-known pediatric cancer research centers in the world, including the Jimmy Fund Clinic at the Dana-Farber Institute in Boston, Duke Children's Hospital and Health Center, Chicago Children's Memorial Hospital, and Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center for Children's Cancer Research. These institutions provide everything from chemotherapy to support and guidance for the families of children being treated. This concentration of services has made these hospitals ideal places for companies to support financially, and to know they are making a difference.

Contributions to the Jimmy Fund and other care centers have raised the chances of survival by more than 60 percent. At one time, more than 90 percent of children diagnosed with cancer lost their battle with the disease. Last year, 13,000 children under the age of 20 were diagnosed with cancer in the United States, but about 75 percent were cured. Although these are remarkable statistics, there is still much work to be done.

Little is known about what causes various types of childhood cancer. Chromosome disorders account for most leukemias, and high levels of exposure to radiation, such as the use of X-rays during pregnancy, have been linked with one or more childhood cancers. Other possible risk factors may include parents' diet, smoking and alcohol consumption before the child was conceived. Environmental causes have also been long suspected as causes of childhood cancer. The most common childhood cancers include leukemias; and tumors of the brain and nervous system, the lymphatic system, kidneys, bones and muscles.

With increased awareness and increased attention to pediatric cancer by companies and the public, a greater fight can take place against this disease. Bet you never realized that new car or your morning coffee and donuts could give you the power to help a child with cancer, in your own small way.