The Valerie Fund Blog

Each year, The Valerie Fund chooses a group of patient ambassadors representing the patients treated at our Valerie Fund Children's Centers to speak at the Thanksgiving Ball Gala. These ambassadors share their stories of courage and perseverance and how being treated through The Valerie Fund has impacted their lives.

Join us as we meet the second group of ambassadors who showcase what it means to be a Valerie Fund kid. 

Topics: Pediatric Cancer, Blood Disorders, ambassadors

The 33rd Annual Thanksgiving Ball Gala is November 22nd, and we can't wait!

Each year, The Valerie Fund chooses a group of patient ambassadors representing an array of patients treated at our Valerie Fund Children's Centers. These ambassadors share their stories of courage and perseverance and how being treated through The Valerie Fund has impacted their lives.

Join us as we meet the first group of ambassadors who showcase what it means to be a Valerie Fund kid. 

Topics: Pediatric Cancer, Blood Disorders, ambassadors

In keeping with our mission of treating the whole child and family, the caregivers at The Valerie Fund Children’s Centers use every available resource to ensure the well-being of their families. Many of those most vulnerable have benefited from specially designated emergency funds.

Topics: Blood Disorders, caregivers, oncology

September is National Sickle Cell Disease Awareness Month and we would like to share the stories of four truly astonishing children and young adults. They are all Valerie Fund kids and have been treated at a Valerie Fund Children's Center near them. Please read their stories and learn why The Valerie Fund is proud of its role supporting children fighting complex medical problems.

Topics: Blood Disorders, sickle cell, national sickle cell awareness month

The month of September means two things: it is National Sickle Cell Awareness Month and it's time for back to school!

Topics: Blood Disorders, moms, sickle cell, awareness, hematology, patients

There are so many new words and phrases that a family must learn when they begin a journey through pediatric cancer or blood disorders and it can be difficult to keep track of what they all mean. In the coming months we will try to explain what some of these concepts and practices are and hope it can help make this process just a little bit easier. 

We are starting with a discipline that encompasses many tools and practices under one umbrella. Continue reading to learn why integrative medicine can make a difference when battling pediatric cancer or blood disorders. 

Topics: integrative medicine, Blood Disorders, cancer, caregivers, hematology, oncology, centers, science, patients, Center Staff

Logically, I know that a healthy, cancer free body is all that matters… I’m just not 100 percent there yet.

Topics: education, Pediatric Cancer, Blood Disorders, pediatric, cancer, childhood cancer, awareness, oncology, new jersey, nonprofit, advocate, patients

Valerie Fund patient, Olivia’s story continues in this blog post. 

 

2019 is here and I don't really know how to feel about it.

You see, on New Year’s Day of 2018, I was a newly diagnosed cancer patient. I had just underwent surgery, a bone marrow biopsy, several different scans, and was barely conscious from all of the pain medication pumping into my body. I was about to embark on nine months of agonizing treatment, both physically and emotionally. Although most of my memory from those first few days is very hazy; what I can vividly recall is sobbing over the fact that I just didn’t want to do it.  

Topics: Non-profit, education, Pediatric Cancer, Blood Disorders, pediatric, cancer, childhood cancer, awareness, oncology, new jersey, nonprofit, advocate, patients

When a 17-year-old girl receives a cancer diagnosis, she experiences a tremendous loss. A loss of such enormous magnitude that she can’t even comprehend all it is that she’s losing.

A year ago, that girl was me.

Topics: Non-profit, education, Pediatric Cancer, Blood Disorders, pediatric, cancer, childhood cancer, awareness, oncology, new jersey, nonprofit, advocate, patients

The Valerie Fund's Thanksgiving Ball Gala has been the highlight of the organization's fall/winter fundraising season and after 26 years, a change in venue set the tone for an all-out effort to dazzle guests. Close to 350 guests came to the beautiful facility, The Grove in Cedar Grove, NJ and soon realized they were a part of the most memorable evening to date! Towering autumn centerpieces filled the tables in the massive ballroom. But the room couldn't contain the enthusiasm and generosity of the guests in response to the honoree speeches and interactions with our patient ambassadors.

Before the lineup of speakers took to the podium Valerie Fund patient, Olivia introduced the evening's 15 ambassadors. Ranging in age from six to 19, each current or former Valerie Fund patient spoke a little bit about themselves and mingled with guests in the ballroom.

Pat Tully, the Gala's auctioneer, rallied the crowd during the evening's live auction which featured tickets to see Bruce Springsteen on Broadway plus a signed guitar, and dinner for ten in the private dining room of the esteemed L'Artusi restaurant in New York City. Close to $600,000 was raised --- the second largest fundraising total in the Ball's history! 

Topics: Holiday Giving, Blood Disorders, pediatric, childhood cancer, Founders, philanthropy, events, new jersey, fundraising, nonprofit, ambassadors, advocate, volunteers, give back, patients, The Grove