Category: Roar Beyond Barriers Families
2017 Roar Beyond Barriers Impact Report
In 2017, the Max Cure Foundation was able to disburse $68,290 in financial assistance through the Roar Beyond Barriers Program. This covered a total of 53 families across 11 states, especially in the states of Pennsylvania, New York, and Ohio, the three of which made up 51% of the total population of the program. Of these funds, $1,050 was directly paid to families in emergency situations who requested help from our Emergency Grant Fund, which helps families in critical situations where utility service, rent, or other important bills require payment. (more…)
Psychosocial Funding Makes an Impact to Support Child Life Services at Maimonides in New Jersey
Max Cure Foundation recently awarded a grant to Maimonides Medical Center as a stop-gap measure that, under our psychosocial grant program, ensures that Child Life Services and support groups are funded at the hospital. In 2017 Max Cure received a grant from Love Your Melon, which sells apparel with the intent to support pediatric cancer foundations with the profit generated by sales of high-quality and great looking knit hats and other accessories.
Part of our grant proposal was to support a psychosocial initiative at Maimonides Medical Center, a busy treatment facility in Brooklyn, which just recently needed to scale back psychosocial support to meet budget needs at the hospital. With input from the Social Work and Child Life Services departments, Max Cure was able to ensure that families will continue to receive emotional and programming support to help fight against the stresses that pediatric cancer treatment brings to the child and their family. Everyone at Max Cure is rooting for the families and staff at Maimonides Medical Center to have a great 2018 and find ways to bolster psychosocial support even further!
The Max Cure Foundation was formed after the diagnosis of Max, at age 4 with cancer (Max is currently 12 years old, a 9 year childhood cancer survivor). Max Cure Foundation initiated a fundraiser for the family of the active duty U.S. Navy SEAL whose 4 year old daughter was diagnosed with cancer in August, 2015. (more…)
Tamlyn and Colm were already parents of a beautiful little girl named Eve who was five-years-old when she learned she was going to be a big sister. Tamlyn’s pregnancy was normal, and on March 1, 2014 she gave birth to a beautiful, happy little boy named Finn. (more…)
In December of 2014, Noah Easterday was a normal, happy 17-month-old little boy until his parents noticed something wasn’t right. Suddenly, little Noah lost his appetite. Like most parents, his Mom and Dad initially thought was simply a phase he was going through. (more…)
Caleb was an ordinary toddler brought into this world by two loving parents. Caleb was born in September of 2011. He was a happy and healthy boy with parents who loved him dearly. For the first 16 months of Caleb’s life, things seemed pretty normal, then one day his parents were told their bouncing baby boy had cancer. (more…)
Imagine living in a one-room apartment with five family members. In this family, the Father is disabled and the Mother has to provide for the children leaving her unable to find a job that will be flexible so she can support her family needs. (more…)
Sadly, Jovan lost his battle to osteosarcoma on January 24, 2015.
Jovan’s Story
Jovan, known to his friends as Jovi, was diagnosed with Osteosarcoma in January of 2013 at the young age of 13. Jovi’s battle began when they found a tumor in his left femur. He has undergone chemotherapy and major surgery to remove the tumor which has been successful so far. Jovi’s strength is inspiring; he even had to learn how to walk again after the surgery. Unfortunately this year a new tumor on his rib (and possible others) were located. He has started more chemo treatment and more surgeries are potentially planned.
Like most teenage boys he loves video games. His Make-a-Wish request is to be a voice in the next Batman video game and they are trying to make that happen. He always speaks about creating a video game when he grows up. Batman and Iron Man are some of his favorite hero’s. Jovi likes the Miami Heat and the Pittsburgh Steelers and although Jovi is primarily shy when it comes to the sports teams he likes they definitely catch his attention.
Jovi’s amazing team of warriors, including Weekawken High School Peer Leadership, West New York Board of Education (for collecting at 6 grammar schools), Hamilton School, in Harrison NJ, Sims Metal Management, the Latin American Motorcycle Association, Pocono Chapter for coordinating a drop off location at the Pocono Mountain Harley Davidson Store, USB Financial Services, and friends from Florida to Brooklyn to Gathersburg have aided in the collection of over 1200 pair of sneakers in the last thirty days. We were originally introduce to Jovi and his Mother when his Aunt reached out to the foundation.
The Aunt’s Pediatric Cancer Story
“The Max Cure Foundation was introduced to me by my friend and colleague from work, Amanda Goldman. She explained the great mission the foundation has and how they strive to bring awareness and funding for Pediatric Cancer research. I took this opportunity to coordinate a donation event with all of our supporters known as “Team Jovi”. With the help of our amazing family and friends we have collected a total of over 1200 pair of sneakers and the donations keep coming.
My personal mission in doing this is to let my nephew know that he is not in this battle alone!! Kids get Cancer too and we fight as one! My nephew is my inspiration and my hero. His smile is one that lights up a room and this has helped him see that so many people close and as far as Florida are helping to bring awareness about this disease and are here for him. He doesn’t fight alone as no child fighting this battle does. I am proud to be his aunt and proud to bring awareness about Pediatric Cancer! #TeamJovi #Wefightasone”
You Can Help Too
By starting a Dunk Your Kicks collection you are making a difference in the lives of those who have children battling cancer, but you are also leaving an environmental footprint while providing jobs to individuals in this country and abroad. The Max Cure Foundation will receive up to $1.00 per pair based on the quality of the sneakers collected. Start a drop-box program, become an ambassador or host an event. There are many ways to help, you just start by clicking here.
For the month of February The Max Cure Foundation would like to honor the Ryan family as our Roar Beyond Barriers featured family. Manijeh, the Ryan’s oldest child, and only daughter is a brave 14-year-old who has been battling brain cancer for about five years. Manijeh started having seizures when she was 3 years old, which as it turns out, was caused by a brain tumor which was initially benign. In 2010 the Ryan family was given the news no parent ever wants to hear, the tumor had become cancerous.
Over the years, with radiation and bi-weekly chemotherapy treatments, Manijeh’s medial team was not able to shrink the entire tumor however we are happy to share that as of right now, her chemotherapy is over and the cancer is gone! Even though the diagnosis is good, Manijeh continues to have seizures and requires continuous medication. She will require continued care as those children that survive have a ten times greater mortality rate due to the increased risk of heart and liver disease as well as recurrence of the cancer. “Families facing such challenges have to stay positive” Amos said during an interview at Max Cure’s August 2013 event. With such positive surroundings, Manijeh has the inspiration she needs to continue to fight this battle with bravery.
Manijeh is supported by her loving family and friends including her younger brother, Jalen, her Mother Canela, and her Father, Amos. Amos Ryan is a former high school (East Hampton High School) and collegiate (Southampton College) basketball star who, while in college, went on to be ranked among the nation’s top rebounders. Amos came to this country as a teenager from Union Island in the Grenadines. Following graduation from college, Amos became a police officer in New York City, a position he continues to hold. The Max Cure Foundation recently awarded Amos with the Roar Beyond Barriers Award on August 28, 2013 for his honor, bravery, integrity and the unconditional love he had shown for his family and community.
Manijeh’s Mom stated while the family was included in the Roar Beyond Barriers program that it “has been a great help. It’s taken a weight off so that we can focus on the medical part. If it weren’t for the Plotkin’s foundation, we probably would have our lights shut off.”
The Max Cure Foundation has provided support in excess of $260,000 to 77 families in 12 states from 21 different hospitals. Currently those families receiving support are located in Arizona, California, Connecticut, Florida, Louisiana, Maryland, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Texas and Washington. You can help support the program by making a donation here and by starting your own Dunk Your Kicks collection. Together we will “Roar For a Cure” until one is found.