Site Search

Nurturing childhood cancer families in Fredericksburg, Virginia with engaging events! Our educational and social events are offered to ​families with patients, survivors, and siblings enrolled with ASK, and are always free to attend. PROGRAM EVENTS FREDERICKSBURG REGION EVENTS Fredericksburg Region The following educational and social events are offered to families with patients, survivors and siblings enrolled with ASK in and around Fredericksburg . ASK program events are always free to attend! Our Upcoming Events: Sign Up Let the Snow Games Begin! Date: January 17 Time: 5:00 PM - 9:15 PM Place: FUMC Fredericksburg United Methodist Church 308 Hanover St, Fredericksburg, VA 22401, USA We invite our Fredericksburg-area ASK Kids, Teens, and siblings to join us for an evening of winter fun–we’ll have games, crafts, and winter snacks! Two sessions available Saturday, January 17: Fredericksburg area ASK kids and siblings ages 5-12 are invited to join us for a light dinner and fun from 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM ASK Teens and teen siblings ages 13-18 are invited to get their game on from 7:15 PM - 9:15 PM – and don't worry teens, we'll have snacks! Back to Events Overview COVID-19 Policy: ASK social events and programs are now open to families with a child currently in active treatment. To keep our immunocompromised populations as safe as possible, indoor mask requirements will be decided based upon the CDC Covid-19 Community Level for the locality in which the event will take place, and will be disclosed prior to each event. For the full policy, click here.

Nurturing childhood cancer families in Richmond, Virginia with engaging events! Our educational and social events are offered to ​families with patients, survivors, and siblings enrolled with ASK, and are always free to attend. PROGRAM EVENTS RICHMOND REGION EVENTS Richmond Region The following educational and social events are offered to families with patients, survivors and siblings enrolled with ASK in and around Richmond . ASK program events are always free to attend! Our Upcoming Events: Sign Up Elementary Cooking Class Date: January 17 Time: 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM Place: Young Chef's Academy 2230 John Rolfe Pkwy, Ridge, VA 23233, USA Registration for this event is now closed as we have reached maximum capacity. Come join us at Young Chef's Academy for a fun cooking class just for elementary aged ASK kids and their siblings (ages 5–11)! You'll get to make your own pizza, learn some cool cooking skills, and hang out with your ASK friends. Don’t miss out, it’s going to be a blast! Regístrese Clase de cocina Date: 17 de enero Time: 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM Place: Young Chef's Academy 2230 John Rolfe Pkwy, Ridge, VA 23233, USA ¡Acompáñanos en la Young Chef's Academy para una divertida clase de cocina solo para los niños de primaria de ASK y sus hermanos (edades 5 a 11)! Podrán hacer su propia pizza, aprenderán algunas habilidades geniales de cocina y pasarán tiempo con sus amigos de ASK. ¡No se lo pierdan, será increíble! Sign Up Scavenger Hunt Date: January 23 Time: 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM Place: ASK Family Center 5211 W Broad St # 100, Richmond, VA 23230, USA Parent Night Out! Calling ASK Kids and Siblings to join us for a Scavenger Hunt at the ASK Family Center. There will be food and goodies to search for! Sign Up Preschool Playdate Date: February 7 Time: 3:00 PM - 4:30 PM Place: Romp N Roll 11541 Busy St, Richmond, VA 23236, USA Join us for an exciting afternoon of play at Romp n' Roll! All preschool-aged (2-4 years old) ASK kids and their siblings are invited. Back to Events Overview COVID-19 Policy: ASK social events and programs are now open to families with a child currently in active treatment. To keep our immunocompromised populations as safe as possible, indoor mask requirements will be decided based upon the CDC Covid-19 Community Level for the locality in which the event will take place, and will be disclosed prior to each event. For the full policy, click here.

Attend ASK's signature events for a fun way to support kids with cancer and their families. ASK Donut Run, Above & Beyond Gala, ASK 5K & Fun Walk, and more! SIGNATURE EVENTS EVENTS Attend an event. Have fun. Do good. It’s that simple! Going to an ASK event is the most common way folks get involved, and if you ever find yourself at one, you’re sure to see why! We pride ourselves on having the most fun-filled fundraisers in town. ASK hosts several annual events to raise funds that directly support kids with cancer and their families. The ASK 5K & Fun Walk For over 20 years, this springtime tradition has been so much #MoreThanAWalk. The ASK 5K & Fun Walk brings families battling childhood cancer, their supporters, and the greater community together for a day of camaraderie, connection and kindness – all while raising funds to benefit ASK's programs and support services. Walk, run, or cheer with us on May 16, 2026. For more information about the ASK 5K & Fun Walk, visit askwalk.org . View Walk details ASK Above & Beyond Gala It’s ASK’s biggest night to bring together our big-hearted community, and help make the impossible possible for our ASK kids and families! In the past five years, our gala community has raised over $5 million - amazing! - all to provide joy and hope to childhood cancer patients and their families. Join us on March 21, 2026 at Main Street Station for the ASK Above & Beyond Rockstar Gala. It will be a night celebrating our courageous ASK rockstars. For more information about the ASK Gala, visit askgala.org . View Gala details Sponsor an ASK Signature Event Our events go from awesome to super-mega-awesome because of the support we get from our incredible partners and sponsors. These generous local businesses and organizations give back by sponsoring our events because doing good feels good, and it’s also really fun for everyone! Dr. Larry Scarborough and friends at James River Orthodontics are one of our long-time ASK event sponsors. For almost a decade , they’ve helped bring smiles to our kids' faces – and ours! See why supporting ASK’s mission means so much to them. Interested in becoming a sponsor? We'd love to have you! Please contact Kelsey Olszewski, Associate Director of Development at kolszewski@askccf.org to get started.

At just four years old, Conor's imagination knows no bounds, and, like many children his age, he loves superheroes — Spider-Man (Spidey) being his favorite — and villains! He’s a big fan of playing video games with his dad and being outside where he can run and play. Conor approaches every day with a sense of wonder and adventure, and he’s never met a human or animal that he hasn’t tried to befriend. When Conor was diagnosed with Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia (a rare subtype of AML) in February 2025 at just three years old, his parents, Sarah and Scott, felt their world collapse. He had battled RSV and lingering illnesses, then bruising led to bloodwork that revealed shocking results. Within hours, the family was sent to the Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU, and Conor began treatment just two days later. From the very beginning, ASK showed up in ways Sarah and Scott never imagined. Katie Barber, ASK’s Child Life Specialist at the ASK Clinic within the Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU, was the first to meet Conor and his family. When he was scared, she pulled out a Nintendo Switch and made him laugh. ASK Chaplain Rich Catlett stopped by during inpatient stays, offering much-needed encouragement. When his port was difficult to access, ASK staff found ways to distract him so his bravery could shine. But ASK went far beyond the hospital walls. They helped cover bills when Sarah had to step away from work, provided food and gas cards, and even answered Scott’s wish to give Conor a safe space outdoors. ASK connected the family with Hope RVA, which landscaped the backyard and built Conor his very own playset. Today, the first thing Conor does every morning is run outside to play. “ They’ve wrapped us in their arms. Whatever you might need, ASK is there to figure out how to get it. They’re so proactive, and you don’t have to search for help. They show up and remind you you’re not alone. ” -Sarah, ASK Kid Conor's mom After nine long months of treatment and countless trips to the ASK Clinic at the Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU, Conor completed his last treatment on Friday, October 24th, and will ring the end-of-treatment bell with all of his family, friends, nursing staff, doctors, and ASK staff there to celebrate this monumental moment. By the end of this fall, Conor will hopefully join our ASK First STEP (Socialization Through Enriched Play) Preschool Program at First Baptist Church, just for ASK kids and siblings. The ASK First STEP Preschool Program is a specialized class where our teachers look for both typical developmental milestones and late effects from treatment to help our kiddos get the best start possible and feel prepared for a successful kindergarten experience, with skills like sharing, listening, focusing, and cooperating. Conor’s world has changed, but it is still full of joy. He still loves Mario, villains from The Nightmare Before Christmas , and playing Spidey with his boundless imagination. He can’t yet return to playgrounds or museums, but thanks to ASK, he has a backyard kingdom to explore. His parents are in awe not only of their community but also of ASK’s early, steady presence: “Until you need their services, you can’t imagine the depth of what they do. They walk this journey with you in ways you don’t expect.” For now, Conor keeps playing, keeps laughing, and keeps proving what his parents already know: kids are resilient, joy is stronger than fear, and no family has to fight alone when ASK is by their side.

Meet three-year-old Aniyah, the butterfly of her family—shy in crowds but bossy and outgoing at home with Nana and big brother, Noah (age 6). She was like any other kid until foot and leg pain, along with fevers, led to a diagnosis: B-cell leukemia. When Ashley, Aniyah’s mom, heard the word “cancer,” she says she just blanked out—“What? Cancer? Can my baby live a normal life?” Every day, Ashley saw the effects of childhood cancer on families because she worked in the clinic at the Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU. For Jorje, Aniyah’s dad, the first reaction was disbelief. He stayed strong in front of his family, but later, in the quiet of the hospital room, the weight of it hit him as he watched his little girl hooked to IVs. From that frightening beginning, one thing became crystal clear: this family did not have to walk alone. Right away, they met ASK’s Child Life Specialist, Katie Barber, at the clinic in the Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU. Child Life Specialists help children understand and cope with their experiences by using medical play and fun distractions to teach kids about what they are going through. “She asked, ‘What do you need? What can I get you?’ and hugged us,” Ashley remembers. Those questions—and ASK’s constant, quiet answering of it—changed everything. ASK didn’t just come with donations and paperwork; we treated the whole family. ASK provided assistance and practical help like food vouchers for the VCU cafeteria on long clinic days, gas cards for endless trips, and gift cards when money was tight. We stepped in and helped fix small daily problems so that Aniyah’s family could focus on her treatment. ASK was there every step of the way to offer prayers, steady encouragement, and the simple human connection of someone who truly cares. “They don’t make me feel like my child has cancer,” Ashley says. “They make me feel like we still have a life. The staff of ASK even answer the phone like family.” -Ashley, ASK Kid Aniyah's mom Today, Aniyah is small but mighty. Her treatment plan is hopeful and careful as she continues with various stages of treatment. She’s back to playing with her brother Noah, bossing her family around, singing, and talking louder than anyone else in the room. Because of treatments, Aniyah and her family are looking forward to the ASK Holiday Party this year, and soon, Aniyah will be old enough for the ASK First STEP preschool program at First Baptist Church, a preschool just for ASK kids and their siblings. Her parents stand firm: “At the end of the day, you can overcome. We can fight it and beat it. And we know it’s ASK’s fight too.” This brave belief isn't just words; it has a special, strong symbol right in their home. Aniyah's family has a trash can with one very important job: to hold “Leukemie’s Butt” until they can finally throw it out! Even though they may not all be there at once, in their hearts, they know that Katie, Rich, ASK staff, her brother, and her mom and dad are all standing together. They are shoulder to shoulder—united and strong—making sure fear will not win.

Meet ASK Kid Braddock ! Four-year-old Braddock has a knack for turning ordinary moments into big adventures. Monster trucks, puzzles, and anything green capture his attention, and his imagination is always in high gear. Confident and curious, he’s quick to start conversations and make new friends, sharing his joy and energy wherever he goes. Braddock’s journey began last summer after a family trip to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula to celebrate a relative’s wedding. Both he and his sister came down with what seemed like a common illness during the trip, but while his sister bounced back, Braddock didn’t. Low-grade fevers lingered, and a small spot appeared on his arm — something his family initially considered a bug bite. Urgent care prescribed antibiotics, but within three days, the spot worsened. After consulting with medically trained relatives, the family headed to the ER. Bloodwork revealed concerning results, and doctors quickly arranged for an ambulance to transfer Braddock to UVA Children’s Hospital, where Dr. Engel, chief of the pediatric hematology/oncology program, was on call. After additional review, the doctors at UVA diagnosed him with B-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (B-ALL). They also discovered that a Pseudomonas infection had caused the spot on his arm, and his low white blood cell count kept his body from fighting it. Within a few months the infection was gone, and Braddock’s treatment pressed forward. After 9 months of intense treatment, Braddock reached a significant milestone — entering the long-term maintenance phase of treatment. For children diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), like Braddock, treatment is a multi-phase process. The maintenance phase, also known as continuation therapy, is the long-term phase of treatment.  It’s a turning point that brings a sense of relief, allowing families to reclaim a bit of normalcy while still keeping a watchful eye on their child’s health. “Every parent sets goals during treatment, and reaching maintenance is a big one,” she shared. Braddock’s family connected with ASK through Education Support Navigator Natalie. ASK stepped in with meaningful, tangible support, easing the burden of frequent travel for treatment and helping cover critical expenses, allowing the family to focus on what mattered most: Braddock’s healing. “One thing I’ve learned is you don’t always know what you need until you need it. ASK has been such a help, and the community we’ve found here is invaluable. Being able to connect with families who understand what you’re going through is something you can’t put a price on.” -Amanda, ASK Kid Braddock's Mom Through the challenges, Braddock has grown in remarkable ways. Once quiet and hesitant to speak, he’s now outgoing, confident, and eager to talk to everyone he meets.  “If you had asked me to describe him before his diagnosis, I don’t think ‘brave’ would have been the first word I used,” Amanda said. “But now, it’s the first thing I’d say.” Today, Braddock embraces the joy of being a kid — playing at the playground, piecing together puzzles, and talking endlessly about monster trucks. His journey has been one of bravery, resilience, and finding silver linings in even the hardest days. Braddock is facing the road ahead with his family, his care team, and ASK by his side — one courageous step at a time.