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. better. Your generosity means kids like Spencer don't have to face cancer or serious blood disorders alone. Give Today Spencer, 10 Medulloblastoma How we help our families: Community & Connection Facing cancer can be an isolating experience. ASK helps children and families build meaningful connections with a community that truly understands their journey. Connect With Us Educational Support Childhood cancer doesn’t just disrupt a child’s health, it disrupts their education during treatment and long after treatment ends. On average, kids miss 43 days of school during their first year of treatment. See How We Help Family Support Half of all families facing childhood cancer experience severe financial hardship. ASK believes no family should ever have to choose between keeping the lights on and staying by their sick child’s bedside. Access Resources 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 > 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

Enhance education for childhood cancer survivors. Earn free CEUs/CNUs at our annual ASK Educator Conference and gain valuable insights from expert perspectives to support children in your school. CONFERENCES 2027 ASK Educator's Conference February 26, 2027 | In-Person Conference & Live Broadcast 8:30am - 4:00pm EST Register Today About the Conference Our annual Educator Conference helps schools know how to make life better for students affected by childhood cancer. Administrators, teachers, nurses and counselors are invited to attend and earn free CEU & CNE credits. 2/3 More than two-thirds of childhood cancer survivors experience late effects from treatment. These can include physical, emotional, cognitive, and/or social effects which can impact learning. We give concrete examples from a panel of experts across disciplines so that educators feel better equipped to support cancer survivors and their siblings as they navigate school both during and after cancer treatment. 1 Register Today Conference Info Flyer Share this info flyer with your colleagues who may be interested in attending this year's conference with you. The more, the merrier! Download Flyer Conference Topics Overview of Childhood Cancer/Physical Late Effects Differentiating pediatric vs. adult cancers, incidence rates, common diagnosis types, treatment protocols, and discussion of late effects of treatment. Session Length: 1 hour Beyond the Diagnosis: Understanding Anxiety and Depression in Young People with Cancer Research shows that a substantial number of children, teens, and young adults dealing with cancer experience clinical levels of anxiety and depression at some point during their diagnosis, treatment, and survivorship journey. Given how common these concerns are, it is important that those working to support these individuals and their families are aware of both some signs to look out for as indicators of distress as well as supportive intervention efforts that are most likely to be effective for this group. This presentation will focus on more common presentations of anxiety/depression in youth with cancer as well as best practices in the provision of intervention/supports across home, school, and community settings. Session Length: 1 hour Together for Kids; Connecting Education, Play, and Support Young children diagnosed with childhood cancer may experience isolation from peers and limited opportunities to participate in social and developmental activities. These missed experiences can impact the development of important age-appropriate social, emotional, and early learning skills. As children transition into kindergarten and the early elementary years, they may require additional support and accommodations to promote success in the school setting. This presentation will explore how hospital educators and child life therapists can work together to build social, developmental, and early learning skills while supporting a successful transition back to school. Session Length: 45 Mi nutes 504 Plans, Individualized Education Program (IEP), Classroom In-Services, and Challenges When Meeting the Needs of Childhood Cancer Patients and Survivors The panel is composed of education support navigators across the state who serve in the treatment centers in Virginia. The navigators consult with patients and families who are receiving treatment, as well as those seen in survivorship clinics. Each navigator will focus on a topic relating to the educational needs of childhood cancer. Session Length: 1 hour and 15 mi nutes Reclaiming the Student Experience as an AYA Patient or Survivor This session explores how to support adolescent and young adult (AYA) patients and survivors in reclaiming their educational journey through academic support and robust psychosocial care. Attendees will gain practical strategies to help AYAs balance health, personal growth, and academic success while managing medical treatment. Session Length: 1 hour and 15 mi nutes Speaker Panel Madhu S Gowda, MD Pediatric Hematologist-Oncologist at the Children's Hospital of Richmond at VCU and VCU Medical Center, & Associate Professor Overview of Childhood Cancer/Physical Late Effects Ethan Schilling, PhD, LCP, NCSP Licensed Psychologist, Nationally Certified School Psychologist, Childhood Brain Cancer Survivor, & Cancer/Brain Tumor Survivorship Advocate Beyond the Diagnosis: Understanding Anxiety and Depression in Young People with Cancer Carli Holtzhauer, MS, CCLS Certified Child Life Specialist at Carilion Clinic Together for Kids; Connecting Education, Play, and Support Amy Fender, M.Ed. ASK Education Support Navigator at Carilion Children's Together for Kids; Connecting Education, Play, and Support Lisa Meares, M.Ed ASK Education Support Navigator at INOVA Schar 504 Plans, Individualized Education Program (IEP), Classroom In-Services, and Challenges When Meeting the Needs of Childhood Cancer Patients and Survivors Natalie Duncan, MAT ASK Education Support Navigator at UVA Health Children's 504 Plans, Individualized Education Program (IEP), Classroom In-Services, and Challenges When Meeting the Needs of Childhood Cancer Patients and Survivors Jon Longenecker ASK Education Support Navigator at the Children's Hospital of Richmond at VCU 504 Plans, Individualized Education Program (IEP), Classroom In-Services, and Challenges When Meeting the Needs of Childhood Cancer Patients and Survivors Grant Pavlik, M.Ed. ASK Education Support Navigator at Children's Hospital of the King's Daughters 504 Plans, Individualized Education Program (IEP), Classroom In-Services, and Challenges When Meeting the Needs of Childhood Cancer Patients and Survivors Jemma Stratton, MSW, LCSW Interim Manager of Pediatric Oncology Counseling and Navigation, & Pediatric Oncology Behavioral Health Therapist II at Peterson Life with Cancer Reclaiming the Student Experience as an AYA Patient or Survivor Vanessa Wagener, M.Ed. ASK Bilingual Education Support Navigator at INOVA Schar Reclaiming the Student Experience as an AYA Patient or Survivor "Excellent, well-organized, useful information I will implement at my school. Thank you!" - Conference Attendee In partnership with

Get in touch with ASK Childhood Cancer Foundation. Contact us for information about family programs, how to get involved, partnership opportunities and more. CONTACT Have a question about our programs? Maybe a specific question about getting involved? Send us a message below! Helpful Links Submit Thanks for reaching out! A member of our team will get back to you as soon as they can. Please visit our people page to contact a specific team member at, https://www.askccf.org/our-people. Helpful links: Financial assistance information, requirements and how to apply Ways to give and support ASK kids and families Volunteer information and opportunities to lend a hand About ASK program events and how to sign up Need to reach a specific member of our team? Address 5211 W. Broad St Suite 100 Richmond, VA 23230 Phone (804) 658-5910 Email info@askccf.org

For 13-year-old Orlando, a perfect day includes building LEGO sets, watching his favorite action movies, or walking his dog, Houdini. But no matter where his day takes him, Orlando’s big heart and willingness to help others always shine through. In school, Orlando was always on the move, often playing multiple sports in a single season. When he wasn’t running up and down the basketball court, he was diving into the pool for swim practice. He loved the energy and excitement of basketball, while swimming offered him a chance to relax in the calming water. After basketball practice one Sunday afternoon, Orlando came home complaining of a headache. His family assumed it was dehydration from the July heat, but over the next two weeks, his symptoms worsened. After a trip to the emergency room, a CT scan showed diffuse midline glioma (DMG), a rare brain tumor in the middle of the brain. As treatment became part of everyday life, Orlando faced new challenges trying to stay connected to school and his classmates. That's when ASK's Education Support Navigator, Lisa Meares, stepped in to help him stay connected to his education. In fifth grade, he shared with Lisa that many classmates didn’t know about his diagnosis. With the family’s support, Lisa visited his classroom to help his peers understand his experience and how to be supportive friends during treatment. During the lesson, Orlando sat right where he was most comfortable—with his peers. But he never shied away from sharing about his own experience and how he was feeling. When Orlando transitioned to middle school the following year, Lisa was there again, helping his new classmates understand his diagnosis and supporting him as he entered sixth grade. Behind the scenes, Lisa also helped Orlando’s family. Between doctor’s appointments, treatment, school forms, and deadlines, his mom, Veronica, found herself juggling more than she ever expected. Lisa eased that burden by coordinating Orlando’s 504 plan, classroom accommodations, and homebound instruction, helping ensure nothing fell through the cracks. “All I do is send [the school forms] to her, and she really stays on top of everything,” Veronica shared. “She’ll remind me [about] homebound renewal is coming up...and will check with the school if [she doesn’t] hear from them...She really takes that off my back, and that is great.” ​ Three years after his diagnosis, much about Orlando’s life has changed, but who he is inside remains the same. “He has a very good heart. He loves to help others,” Veronica shared with pride. “He’s always doing anything that he can do that will help others.” Despite his diagnosis, Orlando continued finding ways to help others. During a clinical trial, he agreed to additional blood draws that could help researchers learn more and potentially help other children facing cancer. “If it is to help others, I’m good for it,” he says.

When Michaela reflects on her journey with childhood cancer, she doesn’t just see a past medical diagnosis—she sees her superpower. Diagnosed with a nephroblastoma (a tumor in her left kidney) in late 2007 when she was just 18 months old, Michaela underwent surgery to remove her kidney followed by six months of chemotherapy. In June 2008, she rang the bell, marking the completion of active treatment. While she was too young to remember ringing that bell, her journey with ASK Childhood Cancer Foundation was only just beginning. Growing up as an "ASK Kid," Michaela found a second home through ASK's summer camps, holiday events, and education support programs. Whether it was eating s'mores late at night at camp, laughing with staff members like Miss Alma and Miss Jane, or receiving support in school through education plans, ASK was always by her side. "It’s a home away from home," Michaela shares. "I’m so proud to be an ASK Kid and to have graduated out of the program in a sense, because it’s such a beautiful organization. I’ll forever talk about ASK." Today, Michaela is a thriving junior at North Carolina A&T State University, majoring in Biology with ambitious plans for the future. She aspires to attend dental school to become an orthodontist, with a passion for opening a practice that serves all patients, including children in underserved communities and those with special needs. Driven by her personal experience and love for her family, she has also conducted undergraduate research at UNC Chapel Hill on cell cycle dynamics, focusing her academic passion on cancer and cardiovascular disease research. As a young adult survivor, Michaela’s journey hasn’t been without its challenges. She has navigated the late effects of treatment, learned to advocate for herself in fast-paced college courses by utilizing academic accommodations, and overcome deep personal loss, including the passing of her father when she was 15. Yet, through every obstacle, Michaela remains remarkably optimistic, grounded in her faith, and determined to give back. Now coming full circle, Michaela returns to volunteer at ASK events and summer programs. She hopes to inspire the next generation of ASK Kids currently in treatment, serving as a bright reminder of what the future holds. "I remember being in their shoes and looking up to people who had survived," Michaela says. "Volunteering gives a whole new sense of hope because they get to see people who overcame what they’re going through." When she’s not studying, researching, or volunteering, Michaela loves traveling, trying new foods, shopping, and spending quality time with her family and friends. Michaela’s resilience, big heart, and determination remind us why we do what we do at ASK. We could not be prouder of the brilliant, caring leader she has become!

Eight-year-old Brynlee loves nothing more than playing outside, cruising around in toy cars with her sister, squeezing her favorite squishy fidgets, and adding to her ever-growing Play-Doh collection. "We seem to come home with [a new tub of Play-Doh] every time we go somewhere," Brynlee’s mom, Katie, laughs. Described by her family as strong, courageous, resilient, loving, caring, and delightfully sassy, Brynlee is as creative as she is spirited. She rarely misses a chance to play alongside her sister or jump headfirst into her next big adventure. But in June 2025, Brynlee came down with what seemed like a typical childhood illness. When her symptoms lingered for nearly two weeks without getting better, her parents, Katie and David, grew concerned. After several visits and basic tests, they decided to take her to the emergency room, hoping to get answers. At the time, Katie and David thought they might learn Brynlee had something like mono. Instead, that visit ultimately led to Brynlee’s diagnosis with pineoblastoma, a rare brain tumor. In a single day, Brynlee and her family were thrust into a new reality of treatments, hospital visits, and uncertainty. But they weren't walking this path alone. ASK Education Support Navigator Amy Fender stepped in right away to help guide the way. She took the time to truly get to know the family, ensuring they had immediate access to vital resources when they needed them most. “ASK is one of the only organizations we’ve seen that really stepped up to help financially with the bills parents have,” David shares. Beyond financial assistance, Amy provided direct educational support to help ease Brynlee’s transition at school. She led an in-service classroom presentation for Brynlee and her classmates, helping her peers understand what Brynlee was going through and why she would be missing class during treatment. The presentation surrounded Brynlee with empathy, understanding, and encouragement from her friends and teachers. As Amy got to know Brynlee and her family, her support extended far beyond clinic walls and the classroom. When an opportunity arose for the family to attend a special Virginia Tech basketball game, Amy immediately jumped in and helped connect them with the experience. For ASK Dad David, a Virginia Tech alumnus, the trip offered a priceless moment of connection and joy. "It was really cool to be able to take my kids back to Tech, show them around, and experience that together," he says. After months of bravery and treatment, Brynlee recently finished chemotherapy and radiation. Now, her resilient spirit is in full swing as she gets back to doing what she does best—playing outside and being a kid. Whether she's adding another creation to her ever-growing Play-Doh collection, squeezing one of her favorite fidget toys, or climbing every piece of equipment at the playground, she's embracing every moment. Reflecting on their journey, Katie and David are deeply grateful for the community that rallied around them. "You never think you'll be in that position until you are," David says. "It's meant a lot for us to see people give back."