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 cried out in pain. His Mother instinctively knew something was wrong, so she took him to the pediatrician, who recommended that he be taken to the hospital for an X-ray. That night, Max was diagnosed with a rare form of stage four B-cell lymphoma. The oncologists at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in Manhattan had never seen this type of cancer. The cancer had started in his right elbow and had metastasized to his left knee. His family was devastated. One thing that made Max’s cancer so unique was that although the tumor was found in his bone, it was not found in his blood.
Max underwent two years of intense chemotherapy treatments. Max would carry a stuffed lion doll to the hospital during his treatments. He said it helped him be brave and battle the cancer with courage. That is why our “mascot” is a lion, honorably named Lion Max, and our motto is Roar For A Cure. That first night in the hospital, I remember getting down on one knee and praying to a higher power. I pledged that if he got my son through this, I would dedicate my life to the fight against childhood cancer – David Plotkin, Max’s Dad.
A Foundation Built on Life and Hope
The Max Cure Story
Luckily, today Max is considered a long-term cancer survivor and is living an everyday, healthy, happy life. All the while, David kept his promise.
After learning firsthand the reality of childhood cancer and its severe lack of research funding, the Plotkin family created The Max Cure Fund, which is earmarked for underwriting an immune cell therapy lab at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. This lab is dedicated to alternative treatments and innovative research for children and young adults battling cancer. Shortly after that, the Max Cure Foundation was born.
Since then, Max Cure has added two additional programs to our mission statement, including Roar Beyond Barriers, which provides financial support to low-income military and first-responder families who have a child battling cancer. In 2014, the foundation added advocacy to our mission as we continue to pursue legislative and regulatory changes seeking to benefit children with cancer and, at the same time, raise awareness of the needs of those fighting pediatric cancers.