September is National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, a time when the medical community and families around the United States mark how far treatment options for kids with cancer have come, and to continue the fight against cancer in honor of the 1 in 5 kids who do not win their fight with the disease.
Hyundai Hope on Wheels is leading the charge to support researchers with the funds needed to continue their work finding new and innovative ways to cure and treat childhood cancers, and on Friday night Mia and I attended a ceremony granting $250,000 to the University of California San Francisco Children's Hospital. Across the country, Hyundai is awarding 40 grants totaling $8.5 million during the month of September. Other Bay Area grant recipients include Stanford University Lucille Packard Children's Hospital.
The words "kid-friendly" and "gala" don't usually appear together, but this event was truly one for the whole family. Mia and I got dressed up and had a wonderful time meeting pediatric cancer survivors, their families, and the doctors and medical professionals that care for them.
"Pediatric cancer sadly remains the leading disease-related cause of death for children in the U.S.," said Jerry Flannery, President and CEO of Hyundai Motor America. "As part of our mission at Hyundai to be a better company, we remain committed to bringing hope to families faced with this disease and to helping close the gap in funding for critical cancer research."
Hyundai Hope on Wheels has been making grants to support pediatric cancer researchers since 1998, giving more than $130 million. For more information, visit Hyundai Hope on Wheels on the web, Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. Use the hashtag #endchildhoodcancer during the month of September and beyond to show your support for this community.
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All photos by Aaron Hall/Courtesy Hyundai Hope on Wheels. Mama's Guide received compensation for attending the event and this post; however all thoughts, opinions and comments are my own.