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ASK Childhood Cancer Foundation is a Virginia-based nonprofit dedicated to making life better for children with cancer and their families through financial assistance, educational support, and opportunities for community and connection. We're here to make life a little better. Your generosity means kids like Aniyah don't have to face cancer or serious blood disorders alone. better. Give Today Aniyah, 3 B-Cell Leukemia How we help our families: Community & Connection Fighting cancer can be an isolating experience. We helped our kids and families build meaningful connections throughout 2023 with more than 100 program events. Educational Support On average, kids miss 43 days of school during their first year of treatment. In 2023, we helped more than 500 patients return to school with the support they need to be successful. Financial Assistance Half of all families with a child in treatment will experience severe financial hardship. In 2023, we helped families stay afloat with more than $250,000 to cover everyday expenses. Get Support Lending a Helping Hand for 50 years! Since 1975, ASK has been dedicated to providing A-assistance, S-support, and K-kindness to children with cancer and their families during treatment and beyond. From the earliest days of lending a helping hand to families facing pediatric cancer in Richmond, Virginia, ASK has grown to provide support and assistance to children with cancer across the state. This support is delivered through our three areas of focus: educational support, family support, and community and connection, and your support remains the secret sauce to our mission's success. You've helped us fund essential support positions, provide vital financial assistance, and create a network of support that extends far beyond medical care for hundreds of ASK families! However, the work is far from over! Together, we will continue to provide support to our communities and help ensure no child or family faces cancer alone. See Our Impact 6-7 children are diagnosed with cancer every week in Virginia. Let’s give them a hand and help make life better any way we can. How to Get Involved > What's new? Meet ASK Kid Aniyah 3 days ago Meet ASK Kid Braddock Oct 2 Meet ASK Kid Cassidy Sep 3 See More Posts Stay Connected with ASK Sign up for updates on all things ASK! You'll hear from us regularly with opportunities for you to give , volunteer , or advocate for children with cancer. You'll also receive monthly stories to meet the inspiring children and families your generosity is helping to support. Sign Up for Updates Follow us on social media: Facebook Instagram YouTube Linkedin TikTok Twitter

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: Regístrese Bingo Familiar Latino Date: November 7 Time: 6 PM - 8 PM Place: ASK Family Center 5211 W. Broad St Suite 100 Richmond, VA 23230 Queridas familias Latinas de ASK, Con mucho cariño queremos invitarlos a compartir una noche especial de comunidad, diversión y premios en nuestro Bingo Latino de ASK. Viernes, 7 de noviembre Hora: 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. Lugar: ASK Office – 5211 W Broad St, Suite 100 Tendremos pasabocas, regalos, sorpresas ¡y mucha diversión!Será una oportunidad para reunirnos, disfrutar en familia y fortalecer nuestra comunidad latina dentro de ASK. ✨ ¡Esperamos verlos allí! ✨ Sign Up Reptile Meet & Greet Date: November 15 Time: 12:00 PM - 2:00 PM Place: ASK Family Center 5211 W Broad St # 100, Richmond, VA 23230, USA Calling ASK siblings* ages 5-18 an afternoon of a Reptile Meet & Greet with Serpentes Reptiles Serpentarium. Siblings will learn about reptilian critters and even get to hold some! *This event is for SIBLINGS of ASK kids only; sorry, no ASK patients or survivors are invited to this event. Sign Up ASK Family Holiday Party Date: December 14 Time: 3:00 PM - 7:00 PM Place: Marriott Richmond 500 East Broad Street, Richmond, VA, USA We are so excited to have you join us for ASK's 2025 Holiday Party. Enjoy seeing your friends from ASK, CHoR, and the North Pole! Kids will have an opportunity to take photos with Santa, select gifts, and make crafts. There will be a catered buffet dinner and entertainment. ASK provides pre-paid parking. Additionally, please keep in mind, that 3 PM - 4 PM is for Masked guests (active treatment or immunocompromised families). 4 PM - 7PM, ALL families are welcome and masking is optional. Sign Up Fiesta navideña familiar de ASK Date: 14 de diciembre Time: 3:00 PM - 7:00 PM Place: Marriott Richmond 500 East Broad Street, Richmond, VA, USA ¡Estamos muy emocionados de que nos acompañen en la Fiesta Navideña de ASK de 2025! Disfruten viendo a sus amigos de ASK, de la clínica, ¡y del Polo Norte! Los niños tendrán la oportunidad de tomarse fotos con Santa, elegir regalos y hacer manualidades. Habrá una cena buffet y entretenimiento. ASK proveerá estacionamiento prepagado. Además, por favor, tengan en cuenta que de 3 PM a 4 PM es para los invitados con mascarilla (familias en tratamiento activo o inmunocomprometidas). De 4 PM a 7 PM, TODAS las familias son bienvenidas y el uso de mascarilla es opcional. 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 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 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.

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 Fredericksburg Moms' Mini Retreat Date: November 9 Time: 9:30 AM - 5:00 PM Place: Stevenson Ridge Riddick House Stevenson Ridge, Meeting Street, Spotsylvania Courthouse, VA, USA Calling all Fredericksburg area ASK Moms to our fall Moms' Mini-Retreat @ Stevenson Ridge Sunday, November 9th from 9:30-5:00. Sign Up Fredericksburg Friendsgiving Date: November 18 Time: 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM Place: HOPE Church Hope Presbyterian Church, 11121 Leavells Road, Fredericksburg, VA 22407, USA We invite our Fredericksburg-area ASK families to join as we give thanks for our ASK friends. We’ll have a delicious meal followed by a few silly games and Thanksgiving dessert! Sign Up ASK Family Holiday Party Date: December 14 Time: 3:00 PM - 7:00 PM Place: Marriott Richmond 500 East Broad Street, Richmond, VA, USA We are so excited to have you join us for ASK's 2025 Holiday Party. Enjoy seeing your friends from ASK, CHoR, and the North Pole! Kids will have an opportunity to take photos with Santa, select gifts, and make crafts. There will be a catered buffet dinner and entertainment. ASK provides pre-paid parking. Additionally, please keep in mind, that 3 PM - 4 PM is for Masked guests (active treatment or immunocompromised families). 4 PM - 7PM, ALL families are welcome and masking is optional. Sign Up Fiesta navideña familiar de ASK Date: 14 de diciembre Time: 3:00 PM - 7:00 PM Place: Marriott Richmond 500 East Broad Street, Richmond, VA, USA ¡Estamos muy emocionados de que nos acompañen en la Fiesta Navideña de ASK de 2025! Disfruten viendo a sus amigos de ASK, de la clínica, ¡y del Polo Norte! Los niños tendrán la oportunidad de tomarse fotos con Santa, elegir regalos y hacer manualidades. Habrá una cena buffet y entretenimiento. ASK proveerá estacionamiento prepagado. Además, por favor, tengan en cuenta que de 3 PM a 4 PM es para los invitados con mascarilla (familias en tratamiento activo o inmunocomprometidas). De 4 PM a 7 PM, TODAS las familias son bienvenidas y el uso de mascarilla es opcional. 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.

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.

Meet ASK Kid Kyleigh! At just 9 years old, she's got a big, fun life! Imagine this: she's got a whole crew at home with two brothers, a sister with one more sister on the way. When she's not hanging out with them, you can probably find her dominating the soccer field, zipping around on four-wheelers and dirt bikes, or getting super creative with art projects. With such a vibrant personality and spirit, you would never guess that Kyleigh faced a serious health challenge. Life took an unexpected turn for Kyleigh when her mom, Kelsey, noticed a bump on her left arm during the family's Memorial Day trip to the pool when she was just six. Kyleigh told her mom she thought she had hurt it a few days before on the trampoline, prompting the family to go to urgent care. Urgent care initially suspected a fracture, but a subsequent examination by an orthopedic specialist resulted in the family going to the Children's Hospital of Richmond at VCU, where they uncovered a more serious issue: a Rhabdomyosarcoma tumor. Kyleigh's mom, Kelsey, knew that Kyleigh had several unexplained fevers and everyday bumps and bruises from jumping on her trampoline but never suspected childhood cancer. "After the biopsy and diagnosis, we thought she would need her arm amputated. However, surgeons decided to see how the tumor responded to radiation and chemo.  Sure enough, the tumor began to shrink, but amputation was still recommended long-term," explained Kelsey. After the initial shock of her diagnosis, Kyleigh's family began searching for the best path forward. They knew they had to act quickly and do everything possible to protect her future. "I felt like we needed to do all we could to save her arm, so we got a second opinion at the Cleveland Clinic. There, we received more bad news. Kyleigh now had cancer spots in her lungs. We immediately started new chemo and radiation treatments for her lungs. We were devastated," shared Kelsey with a heavy heart as she remembered the day the family received the news. From the early days of Kyleigh's diagnosis, ASK became an integral part of her and her family's journey and was there to lend a helping hand during difficult times. "I had to quit my job to manage Kyleigh's healthcare, so ASK's financial assistance was a lifesaver," remembers Kelsey. “I was pregnant and felt like I had the weight of the world on my shoulders. Grocery and gas gift cards were just the beginning, and the bill assistance ASK provided relieved some of the financial stress of childhood cancer.”  - Kelsey, ASK Kid Kyleigh's Mom In addition to providing financial support, ASK stepped in to help ensure Kyleigh stayed on track in school. ASK's Education Support Navigator, Jon Longenecker, played an integral role in developing her homebound classes and the 504 plan so that Kyleigh would have the support she needed to be successful. Jon is one of six Navigators stationed at each of Virginia's five pediatric cancer treatment centers. These dedicated professionals bridge the gap between hospital inpatient stays and patients' schools, helping them stay on grade level and receive the necessary accommodations to succeed. Today, Kyleigh is thriving and loving life as a third grader. Her medical team keeps a close eye on her to make sure the tumor stays stable, and she's back to doing what she loves! She's even a bit of a local celebrity, having served as the 2023 Anthem Lemonade Ambassador and appearing in Anthem commercials!