ABOUT THE PEDIATRIC CANCER FOUNDATION

In 1991, two Tampa mothers faced every parent’s worst nightmare: pediatric cancer. Melissa Helms and Risa Tramel met while their infant daughters were undergoing treatments at St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital in Tampa. Through advancements made from research, both Melissa and Risa’s daughters survived their battles with cancer and are now healthy teenagers. However, with their experiences, Melissa and Risa gained an awareness that would inspire them to continue fighting this disease.

There is one common wish, hope, prayer among the parents and family of a child with cancer: a cure. In 1991, Melissa and Risa co-founded the Pediatric Cancer Foundation, a non-profit organization with the mission of funding research that will lead to the elimination of childhood cancer worldwide.

The only way a cure will be found for this disease is through research. Over the past 50 years, research has yielded many answers to the mysteries of pediatric cancer. These answers come in the form of a tremendous increase in the survival rate of pediatric cancer patients. Currently, nearly 80% of the children diagnosed can now be cured. However, over 12,500 children under the age of 20 are diagnosed with cancer each year and in that time, approximately 2,300 children and teenagers will lose their battle with the disease.

Since its formation, the Pediatric Cancer Foundation has funded millions of dollars in grants to leading institutions including All Children's Research Institute, St. Joseph's Children's Hospital, the University of Florida in Gainesville, the University of Miami School of Medicine and H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute. Through seed grants, we support research projects that are in the early stages of development. The funds researchers receive help them develop, nourish and begin proving their theories.

In addition to funding valuable seed grants throughout the state of Florida, the Pediatric Cancer Foundation has developed The Sunshine Project, a novel collaborative research initiative that has united the foremost researchers from around the country to fast-track new treatments and increase the survival rate for children battling cancer.

In achieving our mission, we will all share in a future without childhood cancer. The more research we are able to fund, the closer we will come to realizing that future. The Pediatric Cancer Foundation has experienced tremendous growth since we began funding research in 1991. The scope and reach of our fundraising efforts as well as the grants we provide has expanded beyond the Tampa Bay area. It is our goal to continue this growth and provide funding to researchers throughout the United States.