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 was playing baseball and had fallen while running around the bases, hurting his arm. Although there appeared to be no evidence of major injury, Max cried out in pain. His Mother instinctively knew there was something wrong so she took him to the pediatrician who recommended that he is taken to the hospital for an x-ray.
That night, Max was diagnosed with a rare form of stage four, B Cell Lymphoma. This type of cancer had never before been seen by the oncologists at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in Manhattan. 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 cancer was found in his bone, it was not found in his blood.
Max underwent two years of intense chemotherapy treatments. During his treatments, Max would carry a stuffed lion doll with him to the hospital. He said it helped him be brave and battle the cancer with courage. That is why our “mascot” is a lion, who is 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 made a pledge 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 a normal, healthy, happy life. All the while, David kept his promise.
After learning first hand 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 who are 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 to the needs of those fighting pediatric cancers.