In June of 2007, the Plotkin family heard the devastating words that over 43 sets of parents are told every day in the U.S.

“I am sorry to tell you this, but your son has cancer.”

On the eve of his fourth birthday, Max played baseball and fell while running around the bases, hurting his arm. Although there appeared to be no evidence of significant injury, Max was crying out in pain. That night, Max was diagnosed with a rare form of Stage IV B-Cell Lymphoma.

In June 2007, following Max’s diagnosis, the Plotkin family formed the Max Cure Fund at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK) to underwrite an Immune Cell Therapy Laboratory that would treat children and young adults who did not respond to standard chemotherapy and radiation treatments. In December 2008, the Plotkin family formed the Max Cure Foundation, Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. The mission of The Max Cure Foundation, Inc., is to fund research for the development of pediatric cancer drug therapies including the discovery of less toxic treatments for children with cancer; to financially assist low-income, military and first responder families battling cancer in their children; and pursue legislative and regulatory changes that seek to benefit children with cancer and at the same time, raise awareness to the needs of those fighting pediatric cancers.

Research:

MCF believes in funding innovative childhood cancer research to find a cure for childhood cancer and to create less-toxic and more effective treatments for children diagnosed with cancer.”

Advocacy:

“The Max Cure Foundation is at the forefront of the childhood cancer advocacy community by relentlessly pursuing legislative and regulatory changes seeking to benefit children with cancer.”

Financial Assistance:

MCF provides financial support to low-income, military, and first responder families who have a child battling cancer, to help ease some of the burdens on the family while dealing with the child’s diagnosis.”

Since its formation in 2009, the Max Cure Foundation has contributed over $770,000 to families battling cancer in their children and young adults, including over $550,000 through its Roar Beyond Barriers program.

Through the program MCF has, since November 2011, assisted over 230 families at countless hospitals in multiple states where children are in active treatment for their cancers. The families are given gift cards for necessities such as food and clothing…

To date, MCF has funded over $1.6 million for childhood cancer research, including donating over $75,000 to the Children’s Joy Fund at MSK and in general over $32,000 to other research at MSK (the Max Cure Fund at MSK has received over $1,000,000 which included the seed monies that funded the development of T-Cells for therapeutic use laying the basis for the exciting advances tested in several clinical trials). In addition, over $110,000 in matching funds has been contributed to MSK from MCF’s donations…

MCF’s Vice-Chair, Richard Plotkin, has translated the advocacy skills he developed over a 40-year career as a litigation lawyer to assist those advocating for children with cancer.  Over the last few years, Richard was credited with being a significant factor in the passage in July 2012 of the Creating Hope Act, which incentivizes pharmaceutical companies to invest funds in drugs for rare children’s diseases, including cancer. In early 2014, Richard was told that he was solely responsible for obtaining the first ever Compassionate Use Waiver from the FDA…