Foundation works to fight childhood cancers
Lend a hand
How you can help our communities
If you'd like your charity, community organization or service group featured in "Lend a hand," contact Christie Willhite at (630) 955-3536 or cwillhite@dailyherald.com.
The Paige Nicole White Pediatric Cancer Foundation battles childhood forms of the disease in honor of a 5-year-old Naperville girl who died trying to fight off a cancerous tumor.
Since launching four years ago, the foundation -- run by Paige's family and their friends and associates -- has worked to raise awareness of childhood cancer and to raise money for research and families affected by the disease.
Vice President Donna Dunckel describes the group's efforts.
Q. What is your mission?
A. In addition to raising awareness of childhood cancer, the foundation's primary purpose is to raise and distribute funds to pediatric cancer research projects and hospitals. Funds also are used to aid families in need whose child is undergoing cancer treatment.
Q. How do you work toward accomplishing your goal?
A. Numerous fundraisers are held throughout the year, including the premier fundraiser, the Hearts of Hope Gala in September. Others include the annual Charity Golf Classic, Jewel Shop and Share, sales of the Butterflies and Bugs "Paige" bracelet, restaurant dinning events, Steps Dance Center dance recital, Running for a Cause, celebrity bartender events, Neuqua Valley High School bake sales, corporate giving programs and many more.
Q. Who do you serve?
A. We are working very closely with Children's Memorial Hospital in Chicago and hope to be working with other area children's hospitals in the near future. We would love to be able to grant funds to more local families. In addition to seven local families, we also have assisted families in Wisconsin and Michigan.
Q. When and why did the organization start? How has it grown?
A. The foundation was developed in March 2003 in memory of Paige Nicole White, who lost her 10-month, very courageous and horrifying battle with Wilm's Tumor at the age of 5 and a half.
The foundation has grown tremendously, beginning with just two fundraisers a year, to over 10. Many businesses, local personalities and government officials have supported the foundation. More than 200 businesses contribute to the Hearts of Hope Gala.
We continue to reach out to more people each year to educate them on the facts of childhood cancer and the enormous number of people it affects.
Q. What successes have you had?
A. In 2004, the foundation granted $50,000 to Children's Memorial for a specific study focusing on determining the causes of certain childhood cancers.
In August 2006, the foundation granted $50,000 to Children's Memorial for a research study focusing on neuroblastoma.
In addition, distributions have been made to 10 qualifying families whose child was undergoing cancer treatment.
Q. What challenges does the organization face?
A. The biggest challenges the foundation faces are getting more people informed about the foundation and, in turn, getting more people involved in our fundraisers, which will enable us to fund more research studies and assist more families in need.
Q. What would surprise most people if they spent a week with the organization?
A. People would be shocked to know that, in the United States, cancer is the leading cause of death by disease among children under the age of 15.
Every year, approximately 12,500 children are diagnosed with cancer and approximately 2,500 children will die from their disease. One in every 330 Americans develops cancer before age 20. Over 40,000 children are currently being treated for cancer.
The effect of childhood cancer on both the child and the family is devastating and long-lasting. Late effects are caused by the injury that cancer treatment causes to healthy cells of the body.
Among childhood cancer survivors, 40 percent have a serious health problem and 33 percent have multiple health problems related to their cancer treatment.
Only 1 in 3 childhood cancer survivors remains healthy. Decreased growth during childhood cancer treatment is sometimes permanent. Chemotherapy increases the risk of second cancer later in life.
Childhood cancer therapy can cause fertility issues, and many cancer patients and families endure lingering emotional issues.
There are 12 major types of childhood cancer: leukemia, Wilms' tumor, neuroblastoma, retinoblastoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, brain and spinal cord tumors, primary bone cancer, osteosarcoma, Ewing's family of tumors, Hodgkin's disease and Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
The causes of childhood cancers are largely unknown. Each distinctive type of childhood cancer develops differently with a potentially wide variety of causes. Some forms of childhood cancer have proven to be resistant to drugs and most of those children die.
Q. How can readers get involved?
A. Readers can get involved by attending fundraisers, holding fundraisers and helping to raise awareness for childhood cancer. Contributions can be made to the foundation in the form of service and products given for silent and live auctions, personal time and, of course, financial contributions. The foundation is open to fundraising ideas as well.
-- Christie Willhite
If you go
What: Paige Nicole White Pediatric Cancer Foundation's fifth annual golf outing fundraiser
When: 1:30 p.m. Friday
Where: Seven Bridges Golf Club, 1 Mulligan Drive, Woodridge
Highlights: Four-person scramble format, prizes for top foursomes and best shots; auction, raffle, dinner buffet
Cost: $225 per person
Info: (312) 498-8577 or bwhite@plasticindustries.com
Vital stats
Paid employees: None
Distributed this year: $100,000, which is 99 percent of the money the group raised
Donated to: Research, local hospitals, pediatric cancer families in need
How to donate
By mail
PNW Foundation, 4232 Colton Circle, Naperville, IL 60564
Online
pnwfoundation.org
For info
• (630) 904-3910
• info@pnwfoundation.org