1. IGW PEDIATRIC CANCER FOUNDATION, INC. “ Raising awareness and monetary support for families with children who are fighting cancer”
2. Our Story Our son, Ian, was diagnosed with AML Leukemia, just after his 4th birthday in December, 2000. With less than a 50% chance of survival of the treatment for his cancer, Ian was too sick to travel to and from our home in Farmington, New Mexico during his treatment. This required us to stay in Albuquerque, usually at the hospital, for the duration of his treatment. This life-changing experience lead us to begin raising awareness and monetary support for families with children fighting cancer.
3. Recognizing the Need UNM Children’s Hospital is the only treating facility in the state of New Mexico located in Albuquerque, New Mexico for children with cancer. Families who live out of the Albuquerque area are often required to travel weekly to UNM Children’s Hospital for their child’s treatment. In some instances, like our experience, families may be required to maintain a household in Albuquerque for their child receiving treatment as well as continuing to maintain their permanent home for their other immediate family members, i.e. children. For many, upon diagnosis, one parent loses or quits their employment to stay with their child receiving treatment and, sadly, parents are often forced to make this decision not based on whose income is higher but whose employment carries health insurance benefits.
4. AWARENESS Ian’s Cancer Presented Itself with these Symptoms Loss of appetite, Paleness, Bruising that didn’t heal, Tiredness in his limbs (he would say to me when walking short distances “Mommy, my legs are tired, could you carry me?”) Severe Night Sweats, Flu-like Symptoms and Re-occurring bone aches in his arms and legs. Ask Your Family Doctor for More Information I have never seen, received or been offered information regarding childhood cancer at any of the doctor’s offices I frequented. However, I did receive information on breast feeding, why it’s important to immunize your kids, nutrition, just to name a few. In all fairness . . . I never asked for information on childhood cancer. I didn’t think my child would ever be diagnosed with cancer.
5. SUPPORT Friends put together a golf benefit to raise money for our family while we were going through treatment with Ian in 2002. This was the first year the golf benefit was held. We skipped a year (2003) of the benefit while Ian completed his treatment. In 2004, Antelope Sales & Service, Inc. became community supporters of the benefit naming it the Annual Children’s Pediatric Cancer Golf Benefit and it has been held every September since then. The Foundation also receives funds from individuals, other organizations and employee/employer matching programs.
6. ALLOCATION 75%of funds are given to the UNM Family Support Fund to be used for monetary support for families with children fighting cancer. 25%of funds are given to the Northwest New Mexico Hospice to be used first for children with cancer in the last stages of their lives then for child related issues regarding end of life experiences, i.e. counseling. Currently, the IGW Pediatric Cancer Foundation, Inc. provides for one-third of the total UNM Family Support Fund.
8. HOW TO HELP If you are interested in getting involved or would like more information, please contact us at: IGW Pediatric Cancer Foundation, Inc. 501(c)(3) Federal ID No. 26-3036345 c/o Antelope Sales & Service, Inc. 5637 US HWY 64 Farmington, NM 87401 (505) 327-0918 wimbishstephanie@qwestoffice.net
9. THANK YOU Thank you for taking the time to consider the IGW Pediatric Cancer Foundation and the families we support with children fighting cancer.
