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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 Damian don't have to face cancer or serious blood disorders alone better. Give Today Damian, 7 Leukemia How we help our families: Community & Connection Facing 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 over 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 Jack Feb 17 Meet ASK Kid Damian Feb 11 Meet ASK Kid Joseph Jan 23 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

Stay informed with the latest ASK Childhood Cancer Foundation media stories. Read and watch news updates on how ASK is making an impact in Virginia. IN THE NEWS NEWS Looking for Press Releases? > Featured Story May 2024 19th Annual 5K and Fun Run held at The Diamond raised money to support childhood cancer programs Read More Previous Stories May 2024 ASK 5K & Fun Walk raises record breaking amount of money March 2024 ASK 5K and Fun Walk Returns to Richmond February 2024 WDBJ7 Roanoke: ASK Kid Nikolas’s Journey through Pediatric Cancer and the Support of ASK Childhood Cancer Foundation January 2024 CBS6 News Richmond: ASK Parents and Pediatric Cancer Survivors Drive Home Need to Continue Funding for Education Navigator Program Across the Commonwealth at Childhood Cancer Advocacy Day February 2023 New program helps young cancer patients return to classroom July 2022 Supporting children, families facing pediatric cancer June 2022 Virginia budget funds new position at UVA Children’s Hospital April 2022 Sponsoring an 'ultra-marathoner' who is going the distance to fight childhood cancer December 2021 Drive-thru Christmas party brightens these deserving kids and their families November 2021 A Growing Effort September 2021 Governor’s mansion turns gold for Childhood Cancer Awareness Month September 2021 Virginia's Executive Mansion goes gold for Childhood Cancer Awareness Month September 2021 ‘Go Gold” with ASK Childhood Cancer Foundation September 2021 Health Watch: Pediatric Cancer Awareness Month July 2021 Dunkin’ donates $10,000 to ASK Childhood Cancer Foundation July 2021 Doubling in size, ASK Childhood Cancer Foundation unveils new “Family Center” December 2020 Charity Begins on Zoom November 2020 ASK 2020 Donut Run: taking our donuts to-go this year! September 2020 Champions for Charity tournament raises money for ASK Childhood Cancer Foundation February 2020 History Makers: ASK Childhood Cancer Foundation September 2019 Kids kicking childhood cancer honored with portraits in Virginia exhibit November 2017 A Very Good Day Are you writing a story about ASK? Please contact Hanna Gardner, Associate Director of Marketing, for media kit materials, brand guidelines, and communication materials at hgardner@askccf.org.

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.

Jack is a 19-year-old with a big heart, a competitive spirit, and a love for games. He does it all– board games, card games, and especially Uno, a game in which he proudly calls himself “vicious.”” But beyond his playful personality, Jack has faced a serious health challenge: a diagnosis of myxoid liposarcoma at age 13. Jack has shown resilience, positivity, and a desire to help others through it all. Jack’s journey began on Christmas Eve of 2019, when he started experiencing chest pains. “He wasn’t feeling well and was complaining of chest pain that morning,” recalls his mom, Lis. At first, the family thought it might be something minor like bronchitis. But after a visit to urgent care, Jack was rushed by ambulance to the hospital. “Everything was just kind of a whirlwind from there,” Lis shares. Following surgery and a month-long hospital stay, Jack received his diagnosis: myxoid liposarcoma. “We went about a year just kind of watching and waiting after the first surgery,” Lis explains. Over the following months, Jack underwent a second surgery to remove the chest-wall lining and multiple smaller tumors; this was followed by a year of chemotherapy and radiation. Today, Jack is in the midst of another round of chemotherapy and continues to go through regular scans every three months to monitor his health. Jack’s treatment journey has been long and challenging. From multiple surgeries to rounds of chemotherapy and radiation, the process has required flexibility, perseverance, and an enormous amount of support. “It’s an ever-evolving process,” Lis reflects. “Some days we don’t know what’s going to happen from one day to the next.” Despite this, Jack remains positive and engaged, balancing his treatments with school and activities whenever possible. ASK became a part of Jack’s journey a few years after his diagnosis, helping the family coordinate care closer to home. One memorable event for Jack was the Teen Mingle & Jingle at the Hotel Roanoke, where he could enjoy Christmas festivities with peers who understood his experience. “For a couple of hours, he didn’t have to think about the news he got or anything that was going on. He was just around friends and had a good time,” Lis shares. Beyond events, ASK has also supported the family with school accommodations and guidance, helping Jack manage his studies and plan for college. Now 19, Jack demonstrates resilience, compassion, and a desire to give back. “Even if it’s not a teen event, he wants to go and help out with the younger kids,” Lis says. “It’s his way of giving back and finding a release.” Outside of helping others, Jack enjoys games, time with friends, and being a typical teen whenever possible. Jack’s story is a reminder that childhood cancer affects more than just the patient—it touches families and communities. With the support of ASK, Jack has not only navigated his treatment with strength and positivity but has also found ways to connect with and support other kids facing similar challenges.

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.”