ASK was founded in 1975 by a group of parents in the pediatric oncology clinic at MCV (now the Children's Hospital of Richmond at VCU.) Today, we're Central Virginia's largest and most comprehensive provider of support services for children with cancer and their families. Our support begins from the moment of diagnosis and extends through treatment and beyond.
What Sets ASK Apart
We’re local.
We were started in the waiting room of the ASK Pediatric Oncology Clinic at MCV (now VCU Medical Center) and we’re still here in the clinic and our community today. That means every dollar you give stays right here in our community. It also means that we’re able to create and modify our programs to best serve patients and survivors here in our community now, when they need it most.
We’ve been around for a long time.
ASK was started in 1975 by parents of children going through treatment and we’ve been dedicated to making life better for kids with cancer ever since. This means that we’ve developed a strong partnership with the hospital and that we’ve had time to develop programs that work. Families have been depending on us for over forty years.
We’re comprehensive.
Our support begins the moment a parent hears those words “Your child has cancer.” And it continues through treatment and beyond. We know that the effects of cancer can last long after treatment ends so we’re there to support both our survivors and our bereaved families. We also know that a cancer diagnosis can affect the entire family so our services extend to parents, caregivers and siblings.
We’re impactful.
We know that our programs work. Evaluation results show that our patients have reduced anxiety levels because of the child life services we provide. Our patients and survivors are moving on to the next grade level with their peers despite missed school days and cognitive late effects from treatment because of our education programs. Families are staying in their homes, with their lights on because of our financial assistance fund.
Our Mission
Making Life Better for Children with Cancer

Our Vision
To serve as a leading source of support for children with cancer
Our Guiding Principles
  • We believe in children and families first
  • Be mission driven
  • Be responsible stewards of resources
  • Be ethical
  • Be an open and collaborative community partner
  • Be proactive as well as responsive
  • Be creative and innovative
  • Be compassionate at all times