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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 Parent Night Out: Kids Winter Palooza Date: February 27 Time: 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM Place: HOPE Church 11121 Leavells Rd, Fredericksburg, VA 22407, USA ASK Kids and Siblings are invited to join us for an evening of fun while their parents grab some fun of their own. 😊 Kids, we’ll have a movie, games, crafts, and pizza! Bring a blanket and wear your PJs if you want to get comfy. Parents, this is your night, too, so check out the parent activities we’ve lined up for you: – Enjoy a $25 gift card towards a meal at Harry’s Alehouse @ Harrison Crossing while the kids play – Sip at Starbucks with a beverage of your choice on us – Get your Pickleball Game On @ the Pickler with other ASK parents–and pizza! Parent activities are optional, so if you’re all set and already have plans for the evening on our own, that’s great, too! Sign Up FRED Family Night @ Urban Air Date: March 13 Time: 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM Place: Urban Air Adventure Park 4254 Plank Rd, Fredericksburg, VA 22407, USA Fredericksburg area ASK families are invited to join us for a hopping good time to kick off spring on at Urban Air Trampoline and Adventure Park. Jump, climb, shoot, and enjoy everything the park has to offer with all the perks of a Platinum Pass, and share pizza and drinks with other ASK families as you play. Sign Up ASK Sports Night Mash-Up @ the Fredericksburg Field House Date: April 25 Time: 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM Place: Fredericksburg Field House 3411 Shannon Park Dr, Fredericksburg, VA 22408, USA Calling all Fredericksburg-area ASK Kids, Teens, and siblings (ages 5 and up) to join for an afternoon of fun at the field house. First we'll take to the field for some games–soccer, sport challenges, dodgeball, free-play silliness, and then we'll grab some pizza and popcorn afterwards. Parents, while the kids play, you are welcome to stay for a presentation by ASK Education Navigator, Jon Longenecker, on Special Education Law and Advocating for Your Child. All participants receive a free special education law reference book. Sign Up Special Education Law: Advocating for Your Child Date: April 25 Time: 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM Place: Fredericksburg Field House 3411 Shannon Park Dr, Fredericksburg, VA 22408, USA Parents, we’d love for you to join us for a presentation on special education law and advocating for your child hosted by Jon Longenecker, ASK Education Navigator. *This event is at the same time as our ASK Sports Mash-Up so your children will be engaged and active while you attend. All parents will receive a free special education law reference book, and there will be additional time to ask questions. Save the date ASK Family Night with the Fredericksburg Nationals Date: June 5 Time: 6:35 PM - 10:00 PM Place: Virginia Credit Union Stadium 42 Jackie Robinson Wy, Fredericksburg, VA 22401, USA Fredericksburg area ASK families are invited to join us for a night at the ballpark with the FRED Nats Friday, June 5 @ Virginia Credit Union Stadium from pregame until the fireworks end. ☺️🎆 Each family will receive a digital parking pass, game tickets, and one food voucher per person. Hope to see you there! Waitlist Fredericksburg Summer Camp: June 15-19 (week 1) Date: June 15-19 Time: 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM Place: FUMC (Fredericksburg United Methodist Church) 308 Hanover St, Fredericksburg, VA 22401, USA Summer Camp is back in Downtown Fredericksburg June 15-19, so get ready for a week of ASK-style fun in the ‘Burg! Registration is open to all rising first grade ASK Kids and siblings. Thank you for your interest in 2026 ASK Fredericksburg Summer Camp (June 15–19). As of February 12, Week One is sold out and registration is closed. To join the Week One waitlist, please use the ‘Waitlist’ link or register for Week Two below. Sign Up Fredericksburg Summer Camp: July 13-17 (week 2) Date: July 13-17 Time: 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM Place: FUMC (Fredericksburg United Methodist Church) 308 Hanover St, Fredericksburg, VA 22401, USA We're excited to announce that we've added a second week (July 13-17) of summer camp to our programming this year to accommodate more campers and more fun. Campers may attend one week of camp each summer to make sure all our families get an opportunity for summer fun. 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 Parent Outing- Escape Room Date: February 20 Time: 5:45 PM - 8:00 PM Place: Maggiano's Little Italy & Red Room Escape Rooms 11800 W Broad St, Richmond, VA 23233, USA Why do the kids have all the fun?! We invite the parents and guardians to join us for an evening of cracking codes and making a break for it at Red Door Escape Room! After dinner at Maggiano's Little Italy, we will walk over to our Escape Room location! Sign Up ASK Day at the Zoo Date: April 11 Time: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM Place: Richmond Metro Zoo 8300 Beaver Bridge Rd, Moseley, VA 23120, USA ASK and the Metro Richmond Zoo are partnering up to offer a fun day for all of our families! • Where: Metro Richmond Zoo | 8300 Beaver Bridge Rd, Moseley VA 23120 • When: Saturday, April 11th, 2026 | Check-In: 10 AM - 12 PM | Pizza Party: 12:30 PM Under the Pavilion Regístrese Día en el zoológico Date: 11 de abril Time: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM Place: Richmond Metro Zoo 8300 Beaver Bridge Rd, Moseley, VA 23120, USA Se invita a los niños de ASK y a sus familias a disfrutar de un día divertido en el Richmond Metro Zoo. • Dónde: Metro Richmond Zoo | 8300 Beaver Bridge Rd, Moseley VA 23120 • Cuándo: Sábado, 11 de abril de 2026 | Registro: 10 AM - 12 PM | Fiesta de Pizza: 12:30 PM bajo el pabellón 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.

Emotional and financial support for families of children with cancer in Virginia. Discover community resources and meet the team who will help ease the journey. Financial Assistance Everyday Relief & Resources In Clinic Support Mental & Emotional Wellbeing Bereavement Support FAMILY SUPPORT SUPPORT We understand how isolating a cancer diagnosis can be. We are here with you every step of the way. As we always say, once an ASK family, always an ASK family. New to ASK? Fill out our Enrollment Form to officially join the ASK community! Enrollment Form/Forma de Inscripción Financial Assistance Everyday Relief & Resources In Clinic Support Mental & Emotional Wellbeing Bereavement Support Financial Assistance A childhood cancer diagnosis can be devastating for families, financially as well as emotionally. Expenses during treatment can overwhelm an otherwise financially secure family. ASK is here to help. Qualified families may apply for help paying non-medical (housing, utilities, transportation) bills. We offer financial assistance to families being treated at: Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU Children’s Hospital of the King’s Daughters UVA Children’s Hospital Carilion Children’s Inova Schar Cancer Institute Children’s National Fredericksburg Apply Now Aplica Aqui We are proud to support families across Virginia in their cancer journey. As a proud partner of Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU for nearly 50 years, we are proud of the following resources and support families can expect while receiving care in the ASK Hematology/Oncology Clinic at CHoR. We hope to expand this support to our other treatment center partners across the state in the future. Everyday Relief & Resources Dayana Bjorkman Bilingual Community Coordinator (Spanish/English) Get In Touch Jenna Cline Family Support Coordinator Get In Touch Meet Dayana & Jenna They talk with families to see what can make their experience less stressful, often connecting families with financial support and community resources. How they help The challenges that come with a childhood cancer diagnosis can look a little different for everyone. Dayana and Jenna provide the level of support that works with your needs, such as: providing assistance with non-medical expenses, like gas and grocery gift cards checking in regularly to offer a kind word or a listening ear offering a pick-me-up surprise when your child or their siblings feel down inviting families to ASK social events connecting you with community partners for everyday needs, such a s a free oil change * Managing your household, bills, and daily responsibilities does not stop after your child’s diagnosis. Dayana and Jenna are there to help alleviate some of that stress for you and your family. ASK also encourages families to check in with their hospital social worker, too, to see what other organizations may be able to help. *Free oil changes are currently only available for families in active treatment. Contact Jenna Cline for more information. In Clinic Support Meet Katie ASK Child Life Specialist, Katie Barber (also known as “Miss Katie” to our kids!) is one of the first people you will meet while in clinic. She is here to ease your child’s anxiety as they receive treatment in the ASK Clinic. How She Helps Katie uses medical play to teach kids about what they are going through, like accessing their port. What looks like play is really a clever way to help kids feel less stressed at clinic! This helps them understand what the doctors and nurses are doing to make it less scary. Katie can also help by: providing fun distractions like crafts, games, and playing with toys encouraging your child to do an art project or engage in pretend play to help them express their feelings teaching your child how to find their voice and speak up for what makes them comfortable ASK is proud to fund this child life position at Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU. Katie Barber Child Life Specialist Get In Touch Take the Virtual Tour! Mental & Emotional Wellbeing Rev. Rich Catlett, BCC Chaplain Get In Touch Managing the emotional impacts of a cancer diagnosis is an important part of caring for your child and family. ASK provides funding to Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU to support mental health services for patients, siblings and parents. How We Help The psychology team can help families with a wide range of topics, from pill swallowing and needle phobia to parenting tips to managing ADHD. Mental health support services include: Assessments Individual & Family Therapy Coping Skills & Support Parent Training Pain & Symptom Management Meet Rich ASK Chaplain, Rich Catlett, is available wherever your child is along their treatment journey in the Children’s Hospital of Richmond. Chaplains support families with a strong religious faith as well as those who don’t claim any religion. How He Helps Spiritual support can vary widely, including prayer, addressing concerns about death and after life, dealing with a loss of faith, or discussing ways to use spirituality for strength. Whatever your beliefs, Rich listens to your concerns and helps you process what you are going through. ASK is proud to fund this chaplain position at the Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU. Bereavement Support Ev en with the best doctors and medicines, the heartbreaking reality is that some children lose their fight to cancer. We feel your heartache and mourn the loss of your child. Our chapla in and su pport team will be with you throughout your grief and moments of remembrance, as much as you need us to be. ASK financial assistance is available to help with funeral services, and connect you with community grief and loss resources that can help your family process your loss. If you need a break from ASK after you've lost your child, that's okay and completely normal. Know that our community is ready and waiting with open arms to welcome you back, when you're ready. Because once an ASK family, always an ASK family. “Kim has been incredible since day one explaining services and offering/providing support to our family. Kim makes us feel so welcomed and supported.”

Seven-year-old Damian has always been full of energy. Soccer became his passion as soon as he could walk, starting to play at just 15 months old. Whether chasing the ball or running along the beach, Damian has always been happiest outdoors. In March 2023, Damian's mom, Fiorella, began noticing a few minor signs at first that her son wasn't acting like himself. He was more tired than usual and complained about a pain in his leg. After spending weeks searching for answers at Inova Fairfax Hospital, doctors broke the news that Damian had been diagnosed with leukemia. The diagnosis came just days after Damian's sixth birthday. Within weeks, his life shifted from soccer fields to hospital visits for treatments, a new routine no family ever expects. The first year of treatment meant stepping away from the physical activities Damian loved, but his resilience shone through. Throughout Damian's journey, ASK has been there every step of the way. "[ASK has] been absolutely amazing since day one," Fiorella shared. From emotional support to financial assistance, ASK has helped the family navigate the many challenges that come with a childhood cancer diagnosis. "Having ASK there makes you feel like you're not alone," Fiorella explained. Vanessa Wagener , ASK's Bilingual Education Support Navigator , has been a vital source of guidance for Damian's education by helping set up his 504 school plan. Vanessa is one of six Navigators stationed at each of Virginia's five pediatric cancer treatment centers, bridging the gap between hospital and clinic staff with the child's school to help them stay on grade level and receive the accommodations they need to be successful.  In addition to educational support, ASK provides family support services such as financial assistance. Just last year, ASK covered 2,373 non-medical bills statewide. ASK was able to provide rent assistance when hospital stays and missed work days put extra stress on Damian's family. A year and a half into treatment, Damian has regained his strength. He's in maintenance, gaining weight, and back to playing outside. Fiorella shares that things gradually improved with time, support, and perseverance. Looking ahead, Fiorella holds onto the same hope she wants other families to feel: they are not alone, even in the darkest and scariest moments. "Everybody works with you toward the same goal—the end of treatment and ringing the bell," she says. "Even in the scariest moments, you will always have somebody holding your hand." Today, Damian has returned to his energetic self. He enjoys playing sports, spending time outdoors, and reclaiming the independence and joy of childhood.

Medulloblastoma (muh-dul-o-blas-TOE-muh) is a very big word with a heavy meaning for a very little boy.  While Joseph, a baseball lover, is busy learning terms like “home run,” “grand slam,” and “fastball,” his parents, Becky and James, are learning about this fast-growing, cancerous brain tumor. At just 13 months old, Joseph was diagnosed with medulloblastoma, and life for him and his parents changed in an instant. Before his diagnosis, Joseph had been sick often. After four visits to the doctor in a single week, he vomited one morning, and his parents rushed him to St. Mary’s for a CT scan. That’s when the tumor appeared. Instead of hitting “home run hits!” as Joseph adorably says it, this little baseball fan was now undergoing brain surgery to remove the tumor and relieve fluid buildup in his brain. Doctors caught it early, but the tumor was fast-moving. Joseph immediately started three rounds of chemotherapy, and an intense stem cell transplant, spending almost a month in the hospital. Despite Joseph’s intense treatment, he remained “a bright light to anyone and everyone he came across,” his dad James shares. His mom, Becky said, “You’d never know what he’s been through,” smiling as she spoke. Joseph not only fought through treatment, but he also graduated from physical, occupational, and speech therapy. But Joseph and his family didn’t fight alone. From the very first round of chemo, ASK was there to lend a helping hand. A call came to Becky asking if the family needed anything, and it wasn’t just words. “Other organizations are wonderful, but ASK is different,” she says. ASK stepped in with financial support that helped the family cover their mortgage after Becky had to step away from work to focus on Joseph’s health. Through the Adopt-a-Family program, ASK also made Christmas magical for Joseph, providing gifts from the family’s wish list thanks to community partners. Beyond family support, ASK offers connection through program events. The family attended ASK Night at the Diamond and participated in the ASK 5K & Fun Walk, where “ Ferocious Joseph and Lil' J's Brigade ” became one of the largest teams in Walk history and helped raise funds for other children and families in Virginia facing childhood cancer. More than that, ASK gave Joseph’s family a community–a circle of people who understood the unique challenges of childhood cancer. “They get the little things. They understand. They connect us with people who live right here in our community. You don’t feel alone,” Becky shared. Two-year-old Joseph is thriving now. His future is bright, filled with dance moves to the “Mickey’s Hot Dog” song, and “home run hits” as spring approaches. His parents reflect on their journey with gratitude–for the skilled doctors and nurses at the hospital, for their decision to stay close to home, and for the unwavering support of ASK. “It can happen to anybody,” James says. “But childhood cancer isn’t always a death sentence. Our kids are stronger than we are. Life changes in an instant, but you also discover kindness, compassion, and the good that’s still in the world. ASK reminds us every day that we don’t walk this journey alone.”

According to her mom, Leanne, four-year-old Talitha “just loves life.” She can be quiet around strangers, but she’s simply taking it all in, noticing the world around her. Talitha has a contagious laugh and a love for singing, whether she’s making up songs on the spot, singing worship songs from church, or joining in with her favorite princess movies. She’s full of sunshine wherever she goes. With a summer birthday, it’s no surprise that Talitha is happiest outside. She enjoys visiting splash parks, swimming pools, and spending afternoons at the playground with her little sister. But Talitha hasn’t always had carefree days filled with sunshine and songs. In April 2024, her energy was suddenly drained, her tiny body bruised, and a rash appeared. Her parents knew something was wrong, especially when Talitha was too tired to walk by the time they reached the ER. Doctors immediately admitted her to Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU where tests came back, and the numbers were “off the charts.” Within a day of arriving at CHoR, Talitha underwent surgery to place a port, a small device that helps deliver chemotherapy. Soon after, at just two years old, she was diagnosed with B-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. Although her numbers placed her in the high-risk category, Talitha’s body responded quickly to treatment. She wasn’t in remission yet, but the doctors had a plan: two and a half years of treatment, set to finish in August 2026. The first eight months were grueling—ten inpatient stays, constant chemo, lumbar punctures, and isolation from the outside world. Things she loved, like playgrounds, libraries, and church, were suddenly off-limits. Instead, hospital rooms filled with Disney movies became her little kingdom. Though they were isolated, Talitha’s family was never alone. Between their church family, grandparents, friends, and the ASK Childhood Cancer Foundation, they were wrapped in support. Through ASK staff and events, they found community, joy, and relief in ways they never expected, including a sense of normalcy. “Programs allowed Talitha to experience fun life events in safe ways especially during that first year when treatment was so intense. Being able to participate in the pool party, the Christmas party, the fall festival, and even receiving gifts for Christmas so we didn't have to worry about that while she was undergoing really tough treatments helped keep a sense of normalcy and community when things were kind of tough,” shared Leanne. At Christmas, when Talitha’s counts were low and shopping felt impossible, ASK’s Adopt-a-Family program stepped in—lifting a weight Leanne didn’t even realize she was carrying. Financially, the family has managed, thanks in part to ASK’s support with household needs and repairs. But more than the financial help, it’s the emotional and spiritual encouragement that has carried them through. As Leanne says, "There could be a sense of hopelessness, but ASK helps us feel understood and supported. People say, 'I can't imagine how you are doing this,' and without our faith we wouldn't be able to. It's a long road, but we are not walking it alone." Through it all, Talitha remains full of curiosity and sunshine. She enjoys playing “Clinic” with her little sister, pretending to be doctors and nurses and making the hospital world feel less scary. She is in maintenance treatment, a lower-intensity phase, taking daily oral medication and monthly chemo. Life isn’t back to normal yet, but it’s closer. Talitha can finally play with other children, continue to spread cheer through song, go on outings, and live the little moments most families take for granted.  “The road ahead will have challenges—more treatments, more appointments, more days of fatigue,” explains Leanne. “But we are so grateful that it will also have joy and laughter, and all of our friends at ASK. We cannot say thank you enough!”