• Maynard Childhood Cancer Foundation
• Jake's Reindeer Race
• Press/Media
• Cancer Facts

About the Maynard Childhood Cancer Foundation

Contact Information:

Maynard Childhood Cancer Foundation™
Attn: Cindy Maynard, President
9702 Gayton Road, No. 246
Richmond, VA 23238
(804) 387-0738
E-Mail : jakesrace (AT) verizon.net

The Maynard Childhood Cancer Foundation is an IRS approved 501(c)(3) public charity organized and operated in Richmond, Virginia.

Mission:

The mission of the Maynard Childhood Cancer Foundation is to provide critical funding for research related to the prevention, treatment, and ultimate cure of childhood cancer, and most particularly, sarcoma and other cancers with low survival rates.  We also raise awareness and educate the public about sarcoma and pediatric cancer in addition to supporting quality of life programs for patients and their families.

Programs:

Cure Childhood Cancer Initiative:

Within this context, the Maynard Childhood Cancer Foundation supports important medical research aimed at finding better treatment options and potential cures for kids with cancer and sarcoma.  Past research awards have supported the following work:

• John H. Healey, M.D., Chief of Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center’s Orthopedic Service and Professor of Orthopedic Surgery at the Weill Medical College of Cornell University:  Understanding sarcoma biology, developing new ways to deliver chemotherapy to tumors, and improving the durability and function of joint replacements.
• Masoud Manjili, PhD, DVM, Madhu Gouda, MD, Kamar Godder, MD, VCU Massey Cancer Center, Richmond, Virginia: identifying biomarkers for low risk and high risk neuroblastoma and predicting risk of relapse.
• Eva Hernando, Ph.D.,Assistant Professor, Department of Pathology, New York University School of Medicine:  Study of the mechanisms of sarcoma progression using mouse models and in vitro manipulation of mesenchymal stem cells.
• Dawn S. Chandler, Ph.D.,  Department of Pediatrics, Children’s Research Institute, Columbus, Ohio:    Developing an accurate genetic model for rhabdomyosarcoma therapy testing.
• CureSearch National Childhood Cancer Foundation – general pediatric cancer research fund.

Pediatric Cancer and Hospice Literature Program:

The Maynard Childhood Cancer Foundation provides topic specific books to pediatric cancer patients and their families, as well as hospice patients and their families.  These books deal with age appropriate coping strategies, pain management, understanding and accepting death, and resources for parents.   We are proud to supply these books for distribution, free of charge, to patients and families of VCU Children’s Medical Center/Oncology Division and Noah’s Children (Bon Secours’ pediatric hospice).  It is a privilege to provide some immediate relief for these brave young patients and their families.

A sample of books provided to pediatric cancer patients and their families include:

• Living With Childhood Cancer:  A Practical Guide to Help Families Cope
• Thisbe's Promise, by Laurian Scott
• Childhood Cancer Survivors: A Practical Guide for your Future
• Childhood Cancer: A Parent's Guide to Solid Tumor Cancers
• Childhood Leukemia: A Guide for Families, Friends, and Caregivers
• What About Me?  When Brothers and Sisters Get Sick
• What Is Cancer Anyway?  Explaining Cancer to Children of All Ages
• Imagine A Rainbow: A Child's Guide for Soothing Pain
• Little Tree: A Story for Children With Serious Medical Illness

A sample of books provided to pediatric hospice patients and their families include:

• Water Bugs & Dragonflies: Explaining Death to Young Children
• The Next Place
• We Were Gonna Have a Baby, But We Had an Angel Instead
• Heping Children Grieve & Grow
• Gentle Willow:  A Story for Children About Dying

Our Story

Jake’s Reindeer Race was created by the parents of a 5 year old little boy who was diagnosed with leiomyosarcoma of the foot. As a result of his rare cancer, Jake has endured countless painful medical tests, 10 surgeries, and ongoing pain. In one of his surgeries, it was necessary to amputate part of his foot to remove all of the cancer. A recent surgery included the use of an external fixator device and a wound vac which required changing every two days by a home health nurse. Jake (now 11) is thankfully 6 years cancer free, but he still struggles with pain, continual testing, reconstructive surgeries, and the emotional aspects involved. A constant fear remains that the cancer will return.

After witnessing and sharing Jake's painful struggles, his parents felt compelled to seek better options for kids with cancer, especially sarcoma. The battle has been heart-breaking and difficult, to say the least. Statistics are terrifying. Treatment options for cancers such as pediatric soft tissue sarcomas are extremely limited, and as few as 30% of children battling the disease survive.

The Maynard Childhood Cancer Foundation (MCCF) was created to support our mission of improving treatment options and cure rates for kids with cancer. We are also pleased to sponsor pediatric cancer quality of life programs. MCCF is a 501(c)(3) public charity, organized and run (on a completely volunteer basis) by lawyers, doctors, health care specialists, teachers and other various professionals.