During this holiday season, we extend our sincere gratitude for your support of DC Candlelighters. As an all-volunteer organization, we rely on your generosity to assist families facing the fear, helplessness, and financial and family pressures that grow out of a childhood cancer diagnosis.

Because of supporters like you, we ARE making a difference in the lives of families in the District of Columbia, Virginia and Maryland affected by childhood cancer. While cancer diagnoses overall are decreasing, the number of children diagnosed with cancer each year is increasing. In these difficult economic times, the assistance DC Candlelighters provides to families is more needed than ever. This year, DC Candlelighters has provided 35 families with gas cards to help ease the financial burden of travel to treatment centers. Through our financial assistance program, we have helped over 70 families pay the rent, make a car payment, or meet hospital and pharmacy co-pays. Please help us continue to provide this vital assistance!

In addition to this financial assistance, DC Candlelighters provides a range of programs:

 Monthly parent support dinners featuring speakers addressing topics important to parents of children in-treatment and off-treatment.

 Fun activities for families of children undergoing cancer treatment.

 Patient Care Bags that include toiletry essentials, information about childhood cancer, a hand-made blanket, a toy, a binder or journal to help parents keep track of treatments and a book light.

 Academic scholarships for survivors whose lives are forever changed by the harsh chemotherapies, radiation treatments and arduous surgeries they endure.

We know we are asking for your help at a time of great economic uncertainty. Given the current situation, your gift means so much more. Children fighting cancer and the families who stand beside them need your support now and throughout the year.

Your gift of any amount will make a difference!

Just as generosity knows no season, hope for children with cancer knows no limit.
May you find joy this season in knowing your actions bring hope to the lives of many.

With HOPE,

DC Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Foundation

Your gift is tax deductible to the extent provided by law. Please make checks payable to:

DC Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Foundation
P.O. Box 2324
Centreville, VA 20122

To donate by credit card or PayPal, please go to the bottom of our How You Can Help webpage and click the Donate button. Donations can be made with a credit card or directly from a bank account.

Thank you, in advance, for your tax-deductible donation.

11/29 Parent/Family Night~Understanding Pain in Pediatric Oncology

Don't forget to sign up for Family Night, Tuesday, November 29th
6:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Children's activity and Dinner provided
Click the flyer below for more details:

Have you Placed a Ribbon on the Awareness Tree?

Order yours Now!

Saturday is the first day that the Gold Ribbon Childhood Cancer Awareness Tree will stand in downtown Washington D.C. Every year, the Crossett family organizes the construction of this awareness symbol on the Saturday before Thanksgiving, and the first batch of hundreds gold ribbons adorn its branches. Each ribbon represents a child who has or has had cancer, so the Awareness Tree is covered by thousands of childhoods altered or even lost to this terrible disease. This is a powerful symbol that is seen by thousands of people every year; passersby are touched by the sheer volume of ribbons and names. To celebrate the lighting of the tree, ACCO hosts a ceremony and invites families for a FREE evening of, food, entertainers, games, and crafts. We invite you to add the name of a child with cancer to the 2011 Awareness Tree, and if you are able to, we would love for you to join us on December 3rd for the lighting ceremony.

Order a Ribbon

Click to visit the 2011 Tree Lighting Page

Fall 2011 News

Check out our Fall Newsletter! <==Click for information on past and upcoming events

Web Conferences Available from NCCS Beyond The Cure

Advocating for School Support: Preparing for College and the Work Force
10/27/11 2:00PM CDT

Presenter: Maria Gilb, MA Psychology, Counselor III Vocational Rehabilitation
Kit Maxwell-Weis, M.Ed., MAC Assistant Director/
ADA Coordinator

Click Here

Advocating for School Support: For the Parents of Childhood Cancer Survivor
10/25/11 2:00PM CDT
Presenter: Staff from the Kirkwood, MO School District
Thurma Deloach, PhD – Executive Director of Special Programs
Leslie Johnson, MA – School Counselor
Julie Tadros, RN – School Nurse

Click Here

Mini's Mission - Burn Rubber to Help Another

Looking for some inspiration and good news in the world of childhood cancer? Check out this NBC Nightly News feature on how “Mini” Timmy Tyrrell is making a difference for families fighting childhood cancer through Mini’s Mission – Burn Rubber to Help Another.

We are thrilled to spread the word about Mini’s Mission, which donates 100% of funds raised to the Jeffrey Virostek Fund. The Jeffrey Fund has helped DC Candlelighters provide financial assistance, scholarships, books and new patient bags to our local families. Fundraising efforts such as Mini’s Mission and the Angel Kisses 5K, held on Mother’s Day each year, directly impact families in the DC metropolitan area who are fighting childhood cancer.

Huge thanks to the Jeff Gordon Children’s Foundation for matching Mini’s fundraising! Go Mini – Go Jeff!

October Events!

Click here for Upcoming Events ~ Halloween Party, Adult Survivors Workshop, Bereavement Workshop and APHON Scholarship!

Attention Adult Survivors of Childhood Cancer

This four part series is one part of TACwork, a new program of the Thriving After Cancer program and is a collaboration of GWCI and the GW Graduate school of Education and Human Development.

The workshops are aimed at older adolescent (16-18) and adult survivors. Full benefit comes from attending all four workshops; however, each workshop is designed to stand alone with information that will help guide survivors in today's challenging job market. Please RSVP for each session you plan to attend.

2nd Annual Family Halloween Party!

BOO!! Wear a costume and join us for ghoulish fun and games!

PLEASE JOIN DC CANDLELIGHTERS FOR A FAMILY DINNER & HALLOWEEN PARTY!
Tuesday, October 25th
6:00-8:30 PM
Life with Cancer Family
Center
8411 Pennell Street
Fairfax, VA 22031
Pediatric oncology families of all ages are welcome ~ on and off treatment.
Come in costume for dinner, fun & treats!
RSVP DCCandlelighters@gmail.com,
Lisa Tignor 703-590-4134
Connie Connor 703-531-1515
constance.connor@inova.org

Photos from CupcakeCamp DC 2011!!

We wanted to share some of the pictures from DC CupcakeCamp. This was such a fun event that not only raised awareness of childhood cancer, gold ribbons and September awareness month, but over $1000 for DC Candlelighters! We are so very grateful for this donation, and the chance to educate more people about childhood cancer. Check out the blog, and the photostream below...just try not to LICK your screen. :)

News: Collaborating to Fight Kids' Cancer | workingmother.com

Special thanks to AJ's Dad, and PAC2 - DC Candlelighters is proud to be a part News: Collaborating to Fight Kids' Cancer | workingmother.com

Beyond the Cure Upcoming Web Conferences

Beyond the Cure - Upcoming Web Conferences

Advocating for School Support
A Two-Part Series



Part 1: For the Parents of Childhood Cancer Survivors
Date: Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Time: 2:00-3:00 PM CDT
Presenter: Staff­ from the Kirkwood, MO School District
- Thurma Deloach, PhD – Executive Director of Special Programs
Leslie Johnson, MA – School Counselor
Julie Tadros, RN – School Nurse

Part 2: Preparing for College and the Work Force for Parents and Survivors
Date:Thursday, October 27, 2011
Time: 2:00-3:00 PM CDT
Presenters: Maria Gilb, MA Psychology, Counselor III Vocational Rehabilitation
Kit Maxwell-Weis, M.Ed., MAC Assistant Director/ADA Coordinator



To register, click here

For a list of archived conferences, click here

News from DC Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Foundation

News from DC Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Foundation

Childhood Cancer Video created by Cong. McCaul and Cong. Van Hollen

Congressman McCaul and Congressman Van Hollen just released the following video in recognition of Childhood Cancer Awareness Month

Childhood Cancer Awareness Month

Please note that the Creating Hope Act of 2011 press conference tentatively scheduled for 9/22 has been moved to 8:15 a.m. on 9/23 in Congressional Meeting Room South, which is one room over from the CVC Auditorium, where the Childhood Cancer Summit will be housed. It was felt that doing the press conference back to back with the Summit would generate more press interest in the bill and the event.

2nd Annual Childhood Cancer Summit

Please join Congressman Michael McCaul and
Congressman Chris Van Hollen

On behalf of
The Congressional Childhood Cancer Caucus

2nd Annual Childhood Cancer Summit
Panel Discussion

Friday, September 23, 2011

Capitol Visitors Center (CVC) Auditorium
8:00 a.m. breakfast
9:00-10:00 a.m panel discussion


Please join us on Friday, September 23, 2011 from 9:00 to 10:00 a.m. in the CVC Auditorium, for an important panel discussion on pediatric cancer drug development, including a message from actor Dennis Quaid. A breakfast will be offered from 8:00 to 9:00 a.m.

Cancer remains the number one cause of death by disease in children, with nearly 40 children diagnosed every day. While survival rates have significantly improved for some types of pediatric cancers, 2,300 children are lost to this disease every year. Furthermore, for those who survive their grueling battle, three out of every five suffer from debilitating and life-threatening conditions as a result of their disease and treatments.

Due to the unique nature of pediatric cancers, drug research and discovery lags behind that of adults. In fact, in the past twenty years, there has been only one new drug approved to treat pediatric cancer that was not already approved for adults. At the upcoming Summit, a distinguished panel of experts will discuss barriers to progress and policies to accelerate the development of safe, effective pediatric cancer drugs.

The panelists include:


Dr. Peter Adamson
Chair, Children’s Oncology Group

Dr. Ron Portman
Development Lead, Pediatric Center of Excellence, Bristol Myers Squibb and Chair of BIO’s Pediatric Drug Development Committee
Dr. Eugenie Kleinerman
Head, Division of Pediatrics, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center

Nancy Goodman
Founder and Executive Director, Kids V Cancer




For more information about the Summit or to RSVP, please contact Andy Taylor (McCaul) at 202-225-2401 or andy.taylor@mail.house.gov.

Parent & Kids 5+ - Join Us for Dinner & Fun Night of Yoga!

Tuesday, September 27th, 2011
6-8:30 pm
Life with Cancer Family Center
8411 Pennell Street
Fairfax, VA
RSVP Constance.connor@inova.org or dccandlelighters@gmail.com
Click to enlarge the flyer below:

2nd Annual CupcakeCamp DC Supports DC Candlelighters!

What: CupcakeCamp DC
When: Saturday, September 24, 2011 | 12:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Where: Local 16 | 1602 U St NW, Washington DC
Who: Cupcake lovers!
What’s Next? RSVP pronto, this event sold out last year! Follow their blog for news and event updates

Read more @ DCEventJunkieSweet Event for a Sincere Cause

Removing Cancer from the Race

Removing Cancer from the Race

Check out this Connection News article. Infinity & Beyond's Sam Davenport visited DC Candlelighters last week, donating $5000 toward our financial assistance program. Sam is raising funds while biking the eastern US, and we were honored to be one of his chosen charities!

46 Mommas Shave for the Brave - DC!

DC Candlelighters would like to share this exciting event:

Save the Date!
Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2011
5pm-9pm
Union Station, Washington, D.C.


46 Mommas

will be shaving their heads to help raise awareness of childhood cancer and raise funds for the St. Baldrick's Foundation to support childhood cancer research.



Join us for a powerful evening

to honor the children fighting cancer,

the survivors and those we have lost.




To learn more about the
46 Mommas and our mission, visit:
www.46mommas.com



To learn more about the

St. Baldrick's Foundation, visit:

www.StBaldricks.org

For more information or questions, please e-mail info@46mommas.com

Epigenetic pathway and new drug show promise in reversing a hard-to-treat childhood cancer - Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

Epigenetic pathway and new drug show promise in reversing a hard-to-treat childhood cancer - Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

A difficult-to-treat form of childhood leukemia relies on changes in the structure of DNA – so-called epigenetic changes – to wreak genomic havoc within white blood cells, according to one of two studies conducted by a research team at Children's Hospital Boston and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

High-Dose Methotrexate Extends Event-Free Survival for Children with Leukemia

High-Dose Methotrexate Extends Event-Free Survival for Children with Leukemia

From the NCI Bulletin:

Children’s Oncology Group researchers have shown in a phase III clinical trial that radically increasing the dose of methotrexate used to treat patients with high-risk B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-cell ALL) significantly improves 5-year event-free survival (that is, survival without any serious health events) when compared with the current standard of care. The trial results were presented last week at the ASCO annual meeting.

In the current standard of care, known as the Capizzi regimen, patients are started on a low dose of methotrexate, and the dose is increased gradually over time. Methotrexate is then followed by treatment with a second chemotherapy drug called asparaginase. In the new approach, however, patients are given a dose of methotrexate that is about 50 times the starting dose in the Capizzi regimen, and asparaginase is not used.

Read more

Act Now -NCI Funding to be Discussed on Capitol Hill

From our friends at Curesearch:

Restoring National Cancer Institute funding to 2010 levels for fiscal year 2012 is a top priority for CureSearch for Children's Cancer. The appropriations process on Capitol Hill is underway, and the Labor -Health and Human Services -Education bill (through which NIH and NCI receive funding) will be discussed soon. Senators Bob Casey (D-PA) and Richard Burr (R-NC) are working hard to ensure the National Cancer Institute continues to receive the funding necessary to support ongoing research and discovery. To that end, they sent a letter to their colleagues asking them to sign onto the letter of support. As of today, Senators John Kerry (D-MA) Pat Leahy (D-VT) and Ron Wyden (D-OR) are also supporting this endeavor. Call your senators TODAY and ask that they also sign onto the letter from Senators Bob Casey (D-PA) and Richard Burr (R-NC) in support of NIH funding.

The deadline for senators to contact Senator Casey’s office is TOMORROW, June 9, so CALL YOUR SENATORS NOW!

MD
Sen. Ben Cardin Phone : (203)224-4524 and. Sen. Barbara Mikulski (202) 224-4654.

VA
Sen. Jim Webb Phone: (202) 224-4024 and Sen. Mark Warner Phone: (202) 224-2023

P.S. If you live in Massachusetts, Vermont, or Oregon, you might want to thank Senators John Kerry (D-MA), Pat Leahy (D-VT), and Ron Wyden (D-OR), for already signing this important letter.

Action alert!

If you haven't already done so, please contact your senators and ask them to sign Senator Reed and Isakson's "Dear Colleague" letter. Time is running out to tell your senators to fund the Caroline Pryce Walker Conquer Childhood Cancer Act. As a reminder, senators Jack Reed (D-RI) and Johnny Isakson (R-GA) recently sent a "Dear Colleague" letter to their fellow senators urging them to invest in children's cancer research, surveillance, and education by funding the Caroline Pryce Walker Conquer Childhood Cancer Act in the 2012 budget.

http://www.kintera.org/c.8hKOI3MFIjI2E/b.6440521/k.82B3/Action_Items/siteapps/advocacy/ActionItem.aspx?c=8hKOI3MFIjI2E&b=6440521&aid=16035 Your senators have until today, June 8 to sign onto this letter, so email or call: Sen. Jim Webb Phone: (202) 224-4024 or click above link

6th Annual Survivor's Conference: I'm Cured, Now What?

Teens 16 and over, please mark your calendar! DC Candlelighters is proud to co-sponsor the survivor conference again in 2011. See brochure and registration form below for details. Click to open each page, or go to www.lifewithcancer.org to register online.

Childhood Cancer News

Chemotherapy Regimen Positively Impacts Survival
for Children and Adolescents with Leukemia
Childhood Cancer Increases Risk for Future GI Complications



High-dose chemo regimen improves survival in children with hard-to-treat neuroblastoma


Childhood Cancer Survivors At Increased Risk Of Certain Tumors In Middle-Age


Long-term Risks of Subsequent Primary Neoplasms Among Survivors of Childhood Cancer

Angel Kisses 5K!

Angel Kisses 5K!


http://www.angelkisses-5k.org/
Come join us for the 8th Annual Angel Kisses 5K Run/2K Fun Run and Walk on Sunday, May 8th, 2011 @ 8:00 am.


This race was created in honor of a special little boy, Jeffrey Virostek, who lost his brave battle with leukemia on September 25, 2003, at the age of 4 1/2. Angel Kisses is a fund-raising 5K/2K Race to benefit the Jeffrey Virostek Fund, a component fund of the Northern Virginia Community Foundation. DC Candlelighter's financial assistance fund is made possible by the generosity of the Jeffrey Virostek Fund.

To participate, donate, or volunteer for this event, please visit: http://www.angelkisses-5k.org/default.htm

Elements of Wellness: Everything is Illuminated

Parents of children with cancer often feel that friends and family can't or don't understand what they're going through. Kids on chemo and steroids are often tired, cranky and labeled spoiled. Well-meaning friends and family think they need more discipline and less coddling, while stressed out parents are walking a tight rope trying to balance work, family and life-threatening disease. It's nice to know that someone outside the childhood cancer world "gets" it. Read this blog entry by one of our wonderful massage therapists who has volunteered with us at our pampering night for parents:

Elements of Wellness: Everything is Illuminated: "There are just those moments in life when you experience something so profound that it awakens your entire being.  I believe that if you are..."

NIH Recruiting for Study of Childhood Cancer Survivors

07-CH-0192 Announcement
IRB approved 4/11/11

Pediatric cancer survivors study for children and adults 2-24 years of age. You may be eligible to participate in a clinical research study that will evaluate, screen and provide long-term follow up for any prevalence of childhood cancer-related treatment side effects for cancer survivors. This study will be on an outpatient basis and may require other tests such as MRI and blood draws. If you have had a childhood cancer, you may be eligible to participate. For more information call 1-800-411-1222, TTY 1-866-411-1010 or visit www.clinicaltrials.gov. Refer to study 07-CH-0192. The NIH is part of the Department of Health and Human Services.

Jel-Sert Take a Pop and Share a Smile

Inova Fairfax Hospital received a freezer full of freezer pops last month from our friends and childhood cancer supporters at Jel-Sert.

"The patients and families are very excited about the popsicles, and the design on the freezer is very friendly and colorful. It is amazing that something as simple as popsicles can make a child happy and help them get through a tough time."

~ Holly Senn, Child Life Coordinator

As anyone familiar with cancer treatment knows, hydration and eating is often a problem due to mouth sores from chemo. The folks at Jel-Sert recognize that they can provide this practical support to kids in cancer treatment, while also promoting awareness of childhood cancer on their products and contributing to research. Jel-Sert is placing 100 freezers in treatment centers around the country! Also, be sure to look for their childhood awareness campaign on boxes of Fla-Vor-Ice, Otter Pops and Pop Ice packages.

DC Candlelighters receives JYPI grant of $500!

DC Candlelighters is honored to be chosen as a grant recipient of the Jewish Youth Philanthrophy Institute (JYPI).

JYPI teens "contribute to their group’s collective grant fund, which is matched dollar-for-dollar by generous donations from members of the community. Dynamic presentations and site visits to community agencies help youth understand the special funding needs of organizations working to make a difference in our world. Participants make funding decisions based on grant proposals submitted by a variety of local, national and international nonprofits representing both the Jewish and secular communities."

The $500 check was presented by Alex Schwab at the awards ceremony on April 3rd.

Huge thank you to Alex and JYPI!

DC United & Extreme Recess/Dreams for Kids

Check out Extreme Recess Soccer with The DC United!
Tuesday, April 12, 2011 from 4:30 PM - 7:00 PM (ET)

Call for Action - Call Congress to Save Cancer Research Funding!

Friends,

We're forwarding this from the American Childhood Cancer Organization, formerly the national headquarters of Candlelighters. Please, take a moment to read and call your member of Congress.

Negotiations are currently underway within Congress to finalize an appropriations bill for the remainder of Fiscal Year 2011. While we do not know the specific dollar amount recommended for the National Institute of Health (NIH) and the National Cancer Institute (NCI), we do know that there has been significant push to reduce the current funding levels to FY 2008 which would have a devastating impact on cancer research funding.



ACCO encourages all families to CALL your Members of Congress in support of NIH/NCI funding. Calls are recommended instead of letters as this issue is time-sensitive. The following are key points to use during these calls....

April 26th Parent Night ~ Relax with Reiki, Massage & Yoga!

Please join us on April 26th for a special evening of dinner and relaxation techniques. A separate children's program for ages 5-12 will be offered simultaneously.

RSVP to dccandlelighters@gmail.com

Beyond the Cure Free Web Conference ~ School Issues

2011 General Conference Series
The NCCS also sponsors regular web conferences for caregivers and healthcare professionals. The 2011 series focuses on "Optimizing the Lifelong Health of Childhood Cancer Survivors."

To register for a web conference please click on the link:

School Issues


Date: Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Time: 1:30-2:30 pm CDT
Presenter: Daniel Armstrong, PhD

NIH News on Cancer Rates

Report to nation finds continued declines in many cancer rates;
special feature highlights changes in brain tumor rates and survival

In this report - while "Rates of death in the United States from all cancers for men and women continued to decline between 2003 and 2007, the most recent reporting period available.....childhood cancer incidence rates (rates of new diagnoses) continued to increase while death rates in this age group decreased. Childhood cancer is classified as cancers occurring in those 19 years of age or younger."

Two Great Ways to Help the Cause!

We've just learned of two great awareness and fundraising events that can help the pediatric cancer community as well as adults with brain tumors and sarcoma.

1. Support the Track-A-Thon for the National Brain Tumor Foundation at Chantilly High School on March 27th. Click on the flyer for details:


2. Please vote daily for the ~ Nick & Friends NASCAR Car ~ Only 9 days left to vote!

Please remember to vote today, tomorrow, and every day for the next 10 days. Vote
from your computer at work, vote from every computer you have at home, ask your
co-workers to vote, ask your neighbors to vote, ask everyone you see to vote. We need all the help we can get.

Some have asked about the design, so here is a description of the car:

Each ribbon has a name of a sarcoma warrior. There are over 500 names on this car,
There are over 500 personal interest stories on this car. Some warriors have won their battle with this beast and are in remission. Some have relapsed and have to fight this beast again. Some have just started their fight, And some fought the battle of their lifetime; however they earned their wings and are now at peace.

Parent Night 3/22/11 ~ Financial Planning and Medicaid Waivers

Registrtion is Necessary!
Please RSVP to Connie Connor, LCSW, 703-531-1515 or
constance.connor@inova.org regarding the number of adults and children attending

Dana Brown Charitable Trust Awards Grant to The National Children’s Cancer Society

Dana Brown Charitable Trust Awards Grant to The National Children’s Cancer Society

NCCS Upcoming Web Conferences

Beyond the Cure – 2011 Web Conference Series

The National Children's Cancer Society is pleased to offer free web conferences for survivors, parents/guardians and healthcare professionals that address the lifelong impact of a cancer diagnosis and treatment.

You may register for a conference below. Or, click here to view archived web conferences.

2011 General Conference Series
The NCCS also sponsors regular web conferences for caregivers and healthcare professionals. The 2011 series focuses on "Optimizing the Lifelong Health of Childhood Cancer Survivors."

To register for a web conference please click on the appropriate link:

The Endocrine System
Date: Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Time: 1:30-2:30 pm CST
Presenter: Abby Hollander, MD

Transitioning Off Treatment
Date: Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Time: 1:30-2:30 pm CST
Presenter: Wendy Hobbie, CPN, MSN, FAAN

School Issues
Date: Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Time: 1:30-2:30 pm CST
Presenter: Daniel Armstrong, PhD

Parent Night - Awareness & Advocacy Day

Help Us Win $5,000 toward Our Mission!

DC Candlelighters needs your help! We have an opportunity to win the $5,000 prize that GuideStar USA, Inc., the leading source of nonprofit information, and KIMBIA, a group that empowers nonprofits and other organizations to increase giving, are making available through their Winter 2011 GuideStar-KIMBIA Nonprofit Giveaway. This generous gift would help us accomplish our mission, specifically providing educational, emotional, financial and practical support to families battling childhood cancer. Anyone with firsthand knowledge about us—donors, volunteers, board members, recipients of our services—can write a review about us on GuideStar. Your review will appear in our profile on both GuideStar and GreatNonprofits, GuideStar’s partner that makes it possible to write and post reviews. There is no charge for writing a review, but you are limited to posting only one review for our organization.

To write a review, please click on http://www2.guidestar.org/organizations/26-2254258/candlelighters-childhood-cancer-foundation-dc-metro-area/review.aspx

For more information, see the official rules at http://www2.guidestar.org/rxg/update-nonprofit-report/sweepstakes-official-rules.aspx. The giveaway ends at 11:59 p.m. EDT, February 28, 2011.

THANK YOU!!

Children's Cancer Awareness and Advocacy Day

On Tuesday, February 22nd, DC Candlelighters' Parent Night will be an information and planning session for our participation in the 2011 Children's Cancer Advocacy Day. Several of our families have visited Capitol Hill year after year with Curesearch to tell their stories to their legislators. This is your chance to be heard! Join us on Feb. 22nd at Life with Cancer, 8411 Pennell Street, Fairfax, VA. Children's activity and dinner provided. RSVP to DCCandlelighters@gmail.com

See below for details/registration for Children's Cancer Awareness and Advocacy Day.


On March 16-17, 2011
Children’s Cancer Awareness and Advocacy Day
Advocates and Children’s Cancer Organizations Nationwide
will come Together on Capitol Hill to be Heard!

Children's Cancer Awareness and Advocacy Day

This year, more than ever, we need to make certain that Congress continues
to invest in research for pediatric cancers so that every child is guaranteed a cure!

Our legislative agenda will highlight the need for:

1.Increased children’s cancer research funding.
2.Increased incentives to rapidly advance the development of new life saving treatments.
3.Increased support and education for survivors.

Parenting a Chronically Ill Child

This survey is being done by the University of Southern Mississippi.

** A one dollar donation will be made to pediatric cancer research for every COMPLETED survey!! **

To access the survey, click:
Parenting a Chronically Ill Child

The purpose of this research is to gain a better understanding of factors that may influence the stress that parents of children with cancer experience.

Participating individuals will be asked to complete questionnaires related to various ways parents cope with the stress of parenting a chronically ill child. The survey will take an estimated 30 minutes to complete. Participation in this project is completely voluntary.

By investigating the potential factors related to parenting during a child’s active cancer treatment, we can gain information that can be used to increase positive family outcomes. Identifying mothers who are at an increased risk of parental stress and identifying the factors that potentially decrease the risk of stress can lead to better intervention and prevention in the future. In addition, the information obtained from this research can be used to inform future research endeavors. An incentive for participation is a one-dollar donation toward pediatric cancer research for every completed survey.

Capitals Special/Sled Hockey Clinic!

( * Note: please only register your child with a disability as a participant )

Friday, February 11, 2011 from 11:30 AM - 3:00 PM (ET)

Arlington, VA

For details and to register, please visit: http://extremerecesscaps.eventbrite.com/

Pediatric Oncology Parent Night - Transplant Issues