For patients diagnosed with leukemia, lymphoma and other life-threatening diseases, a bone marrow or cord blood transplant may be their best or only hope for a cure. Yet 70% of patients who need a transplant to do not have a matched donor in their family. They depend on Be The Match® and our supporters to find a match to save their life. We also provide one-on-one support to patients and their families throughout the transplant journey.
The Children’s Oncology Group (COG), a National Cancer Institute supported clinical trials group, is the world’s largest organization devoted exclusively to childhood and adolescent cancer research. The COG unites more than 9,000 experts in childhood cancer at more than 200 leading children’s hospitals, universities, and cancer centers across North America, Australia, New Zealand, and Europe in the fight against childhood cancer. Today, more than 90% of 14,000 children and adolescents diagnosed with cancer each year in the United States are cared for at Children’s Oncology Group member institutions. COG’s unparalleled collaborative efforts provide the information and support needed to answer important clinical questions in the fight against cancer. The Children’s Oncology Group has nearly 100 active clinical trials open at any given time. These trials include front-line treatment for many types of childhood cancers, studies aimed at determining the underlying biology of these diseases, and trials involving new and emerging treatments, supportive care, and survivorship. The Children’s Oncology Group research has turned children’s cancer from a virtually incurable disease 50 years ago to one with a combined 5-year survival rate of 80% today. Our goal is to cure all children and adolescents with cancer, reduce the short and long-term complications of cancer treatments, and determine the causes and find ways to prevent childhood cancer.
A wish experience can be a game-changer for a child with a life-threatening medical condition. This one belief guides us in everything we do at Make-A-Wish®. It inspires us to grant wishes that change the lives of the kids we serve. It compels us to be creative in exceeding the expectations of every wish kid. It drives us to make our donated resources go as far as possible. Most of all, it's the founding principle of our vision to grant the wish of every eligible child. Wishes are more than just a nice thing. And they are far more than gifts, or singular events in time. Wishes impact everyone involved - wish kids, volunteers, donors, sponsors, medical professionals and communities. The impact varies. For wish kids, just the act of making their wish come true can give them the courage to comply with their medical treatments. Parents might finally feel like they can be optimistic. And still others might realize all they have to offer the world through volunteer work or philanthropy. Whatever the odds, whatever the obstacles ... wishes find a way to make the world better. We grant the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy. ”
About the CHOP Foundation The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Foundation is a charitable, tax-exempt organization benefiting The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. As a nonprofit organization, Children's Hospital relies on donations to make a difference in the lives of children, to research better treatments for the future, to help families that cannot afford healthcare, and to provide quality of life programs and services.
RMC is a place where children with cancer, and their siblings, can enjoy just being kids. It's a week of fun and friendship, and freedom from being different. It's a chance to experience new activities and acquire new skills in a supportive, nurturing environment. It's a time when kids can talk openly about cancer and everybody else understands. Our more than 100 volunteer staff are a diverse group of caring people who are all age 20 or older, with a median age of 35. Approximately 20% of our staff are former campers themselves. We also bring a full team of medical and psychosocial staff from The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. All staff are positive adult role models who are passionate about carrying out our camp mission and in recent years our staff return rate has been over 75%. Our camper to counselor ratio is about 3-1, and we are able to provide a smaller ratio and one-on-one assistance for campers when appropriate. This means parents feel secure knowing that their children are in good hands, and campers get a taste of independence to explore, grow and challenge themselves in a safe, medically supervised environment filled with encouragement, fun and peer friendship. How was Camp Started? When Dr. Audrey Evans, co-founder of the Philadelphia Ronald McDonald House, established Ronald McDonald Camp in 1986, she envisioned a magical place where children, despite illness, could live their dream of enjoying summer camp. Today, camp fulfills that vision by providing children and their siblings with one of the best weeks of their year filled with joy, laughter, and the creation of life-long friendships and memories.