The Valerie Fund Blog

I was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's Burkitt lymphoma and so began my journey at The Valerie Fund Center in Goryeb's Children's Hospital. I felt spoiled most days, as the nurses, mind and body team, doctors and other people at the center would always go above and beyond to make sure I was comfortable, even though at that point that was impossible. They would book me massages, reiki treatments and aromatherapy sessions. I was able to play with the service dogs too.  My nurses encouraged me to focus on getting better however that may have looked. My doctors rallied around me as I would shave my head and put new symbols in it every time. We would discuss my education and what I planned to do with it down the road. My team at the Valerie Center in Morristown became my best friends.

Fall of 2012, I was a typical 21-year-old college student in Burlington, Vermont. I lived on my own, worked hard at school and managed a busy life, out with friends or at concerts when not in the classroom or at work. As such, being a bit more rundown and exhausted than usual did not strike me as anything to worry about. As Christmas break drew near, I wasn’t just tired but in pain. My stomach stopped cooperating. Every time I took a step, my stomach would hurt so bad I would stop moving. I had a large lump under my chin on one side, but not the other. I also found myself sweating even with the windows open at night in my apartment in Vermont.

The Valerie Fund 31^st Annual Thanksgiving Ball Gala was held November 18th at The Grove 

 in Cedar Grove, NJ. The evening showcased the talent of our Valerie Fund kids, with a beautiful musical performance given by River. Abigaël did an amazing job as MC, and gave a moving speech sharing her Valerie Fund journey.

The Valerie Fund was proud to honor The New Jersey Coalition of Automotive Retailers and New Jersey's Franchised New Car and Truck Retailers and Team Stoma, Midlige & Brown. for their extensive efforts on behalf of the families of The Valerie Fund. We are grateful for their support and proud to call them Valerie Fund partners.

The  31st Annual Thanksgiving Ball Gala is coming up on November 18th and we can't wait! Each year, The Valerie Fund chooses a group of ambassadors to represent the wide array of patients receiving treatment at one of our seven Valerie Fund Children's Centers. These ambassadors share their stories of courage and perseverance.

Join us as we take a look at the second group of ambassadors who will be showcasing what being a Valerie Fund kid is all about.

The 31st Annual Thanksgiving Ball Gala is coming up on November 18th and we can't wait! Each year, The Valerie Fund chooses a group of ambassadors to represent the wide array of patients receiving treatment at one of our seven Valerie Fund Children's Centers. These ambassadors share their stories of courage and perseverance.

Join us as we take a look at the first group of ambassadors who will be showcasing what being a Valerie Fund kid is all about.

The Valerie Fund Walk & 5K is one of our favorite days of the year. It's a magical day where our kids and families get to come together in the spirit of supporting one another as their families and friends cheer them on. The 2022 Walk & 5K was held on September 17th so let's take a quick look back at the day.

One of our truly unique events each year is the American Express Golf Tournament and we look forward to it each summer. 

Jersey Mike's and The Valerie Fund are partnering to Help Jersey Mike's Help Jersey Kids! Find out what Jersey Mike's is doing for Valerie Fund families in our area and how you can help.

September is a very important month for The Valerie Fund. In the United States, September has been designated both National Children's Cancer Awareness Month and National Sickle Cell Awareness Month. The healthcare heroes of The Valerie Fund Children's Centers are dedicated to supporting the children who battle both pediatric cancer and blood disorders so we want to share a little bit more about these two special designations as well as what we can all do during this time to maximize the support for our kids.