Site Search

On the surface, Colin seems like any other kid eagerly awaiting to start middle school. He always has a pep in his step and takes pride in his curly locks, no matter how often Mom Allison asks if she can give them a trim. However, six years ago, Alison recalls the early days of Colin's illness: " He had a lot of bone and abdominal pain at night; it got better during the day, but it was most nights, and he wasn't eating very well, and he was much more tired. Colin had just started kindergarten, so we were just saying that 'Maybe the fatigue was because [he was] starting kindergarten.'" Colin and his family's lives changed forever when a month of fevers, extreme bone pain, numerous trips to the pediatrician, and ER visits resulted in a devastating diagnosis of Philadelphia-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia, and it instantly turned their world upside down. For the past six years, Colin and his family's life has been a rollercoaster of treatments, setbacks, and moments of hope. His first round of chemotherapy was riddled with complications, often landing him in the hospital and challenging his family's spirit. Participating in the PH-ALL clinical trial at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia offered a glimmer of hope. "Colin was in remission, went off treatment in October 2020, and then he relapsed the first time in June of 2021. He got back in remission, with CAR T at UVA Children's Hospital, went through a bone marrow transplant in October of 2021 at CHOP, and did well with the transplant but then relapsed again March of 2023,"  Alison shared, her voice filled with a mix of hope and heartache. After receiving chemo, Colin was back in remission, and to this day, he is still in and out of the clinic in maintenance receiving treatment. However, his treatment doesn't prevent him from leading a life of fun and excitement like any other 11-year-old boy. Colin and his family have since participated in ASK's first-ever community and connection event in Charlottesville, where families from across the region met for a fun-filled family picnic. They spent the afternoon building community and enjoying time as a family. He has also started middle school with the help of former ASK Education Navigator Lauren, who helped ensure Colin received the necessary resources to support his education throughout his treatment. "[Lauren] was really helpful for his 504 meeting for starting middle school… and really helped [ed] advocate for him. She was the one who helped [Colin] with not having a calculator or having a calculator for all of [his] stuff and for all of the state testing, which not everyone gets. So she was really good to advocate for him for things for school," Alison, ASK Kid Colin's Mom Colin's family also participated in ASK's most recent GlowGold campaign to help raise awareness of pediatric cancer in their community and the need for funding for additional resources for families with a child with cancer. "Cancer affects the whole family, not just the child," Alison explained. "Cancer affects the whole family and siblings too. People need to know how much [families diagnosed with cancer] have to go outside the state of VA to get treatment and that we need more resources within the state."  Allison and her family continue to find ways to get involved in the ASK community, which has made a big difference not only in Colin's life but also in their entire family's during difficult times.

Nine-year-old Ruby is an adventurous, creative, and lively spirit. However, you would never know this spunky nine-year-old girl had been diagnosed with a rare blood cancer, acute myeloid leukemia. During the fall of 2023, Ruby was experiencing several bouts of what doctors thought was the stomach bug or flu. It wasn't until a simple blood test that Ruby and her family received life-altering news. The diagnosis of acute myeloid leukemia led to four difficult rounds of chemotherapy in complete isolation. Despite these challenging circumstances, “Ruby's bravery shone through every day in the hospital,” recalls her mother, Jessica. “She actively engaged in her treatment, researching leukemia to understand her condition. Her care team empowered her to ask questions, and ASK Childhood Foundation provided the answers and support she needed.” From the early days of her diagnosis, ASK became an integral part of Ruby's journey. Determined to start fourth grade on time with her friends, ASK Education Navigator Jon Longenecker worked tirelessly to ensure she could continue her studies in the hospital. 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. ASK's support extended beyond education. Financial assistance allowed Ruby's parents to focus on her treatment, while special programs like Summer Camp offered her a chance to connect with other kids going through similar experiences. "She created a spreadsheet to make sure she didn't miss a single activity," Jessica laughs. "ASK Night at the Diamond and art classes at the Art Factory are two of her favorites." Today, Ruby is a cancer survivor, and ASK remains committed to supporting her throughout her young adulthood. “It's incredible to see her back to doing what she loves, like archery and tae kwon do, We couldn't have faced this challenge without ASK. They were our safety net, providing strength and support during the most difficult times. While we focused on our child's life, ASK took care of our everyday needs. We are eternally grateful for their unwavering support.” - Jessica, ASK Kid Ruby's Mom A silver lining for this family has been the opportunity to strengthen their bond during these challenging times. “[With Ruby] as an only child in a tight-knit family, it’s been amazing to find that we could get even closer together. Our little family unit of three has been able to thrive and strengthen our bond during these long hospital stays. The support we receive has made it possible to stay at Ruby’s side during the most unimaginable worst time,” says Jessica.

It was November 2022, and ASK mom Ashley was gearing up for her one-year-old son Easton’s second Christmas. The family was excited to be together again, ready for a holiday season filled with joy and celebration. However, Easton started having medical issues, and his mom was worried he may have a fractured knee. She took Easton to several doctors appointments throughout November and December to determine what was wrong. It wasn’t until January 2023 that they finally received an answer. Ashley and her family's entire world immediately turned upside down. Now, the start of winter brings Ashley right back to the day she heard those chilling words: “Your little boy has cancer.” “It was like we were in a tunnel and our ears were ringing with all of the medical terminology and testing,” Ashley remembers. Once they received Easton’s official diagnosis – B-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia – he immediately began chemotherapy treatments, spinal taps, and hospital stays. “ASK was with us from the first day of diagnosis when we were inpatient and in the ASK Clinic. Our first Christmas immediately after diagnosis was really hard because we couldn’t be with our extended family and do the typical Christmas activities, but ASK arrived with presents and good cheer for the entire family and saved our holiday,” - Ashley, ASK Kid Easton's Mom While Easton currently faces as many as three years of active treatment, ASK will be at his family’s side to provide them with the resources, services, and community they need to get through it. Now that he is in the maintenance phase of treatment, Easton and his two older siblings can expand their participation into more events like ASK Night at the Diamond, programs like Summer Camp, and sibling-only socials. Being the sibling of a medically complex child can be isolating, and these events help them feel special and build relationships with other siblings who have similar life experiences to theirs. Ashley is looking forward to a time when things return to normal for her family. “My biggest fear is that Easton will be developmentally delayed because of the really strong treatments at such a young age. At one point, he stopped walking and had to relearn how to crawl, walk, and run, but his resilience amazes me,” Ashley continues. “The silver lining in this diagnosis is that he received it at such a young age and he thinks taking medicine daily is normal. He’s a fighter, so we fight with him. He will have photos of when he was bald, but now he has long, curly hair hanging in his eyes. He won’t remember all of the hard days.” This year, the holidays will be filled with extended family once again, as well as lots of fun and togetherness with their ASK community at the upcoming Holiday Party. “ASK celebrates the entire family at Christmas and we are so grateful that they see and hear our older children as well as Easton. We could never say thank you enough!”

“She’s bubbly and talkative all the time,” laughs Shanekqa, mom to ASK Kid Kenya. “When she walks into a room, everyone immediately falls in love with her!” Kenya is a jokester at heart who loves to laugh and make others laugh with her. That’s why Shanekqa knew something was wrong when she watched Kenya slowly withdraw from friends and family, as the pain in her side and back grew stronger. After several months of a steady decline in physical ability, she was taken to the doctor and diagnosed with B-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, a type of blood cancer that happens  when the bone marrow produces too many abnormal B-lymphocytes, a type of white blood cell.  “My baby was only 10 years old when she was diagnosed with cancer,” Shanekqa remembers. “I was devastated by the news, but ASK Childhood Cancer Foundation was there for both of us. Immediately,   the ASK Clinic and support staff were with us, and I knew I wasn’t going to do this by myself. They made me feel comfortable and relaxed.”  ASK provided food and gas cards, as well as other financial assistance to Kenya’s family. ASK’s Richmond-based Education Support Navigator, Jon Longenecker, worked with Kenya throughout her treatment to help her keep up in school. Jon is one of six Navigators stationed at each of Virginia’s five pediatric cancer treatment centers, bridging the gap between hospital inpatient stays and patients’ schools to help them stay on grade level and receive the accommodations they need to be successful. Kenya continues to benefit from ASK’s tutoring services, social events, and connections to community resources that help relieve some daily stress for her family. "It seems like they know what the families need before we know." - Shaneqka, ASK Kid Kenya's mom “I think we forget about the emotional support these kids need and ASK is here with events to help lift our spirits,” Shaneqka shares with a smile. “Christmas for our entire family was amazing! It seems like they know what the families need before we know, even if it’s providing cleaning services so we can focus on our child.” Kenya loves to draw and wants to be a professional artist someday. For now, in the maintenance phase and taking daily chemotherapy at home, she’s back to enjoying the things she loves: arts and crafts, playing board and card games, cooking and baking, reading, solving riddles – and, of course, making others laugh!

Baby Orin was diagnosed with Hepatoblastoma at just 13 months old. He braved extensive chemotherapy to try and shrink the tumor doctors discovered in his liver, but they didn’t work. Orin’s best chance at survival was surgery to remove the right lobe of his liver, followed by more chemo to make sure the cancer stayed away. It was a scary time for his mom, Alex. “I told the doctors to give us all of the news, no matter how hard it was to hear,” Alex remembers. “We wanted to do whatever we needed to do to keep him comfortable and help him survive. We were introduced to ASK on our first day of Clinic, and I knew our family had a lifelong partner in Orin’s battle against cancer, and then survivorship.” Long appointments were made much more fun for Orin and his big sister, Iris, with the help of Katie Barber, ASK’s Child Life Specialist at the Children's Hospital of Richmond at VCU. She works with children and families every day, entertaining them with games and toys from the Clinic toy box, lending emotional support to make the big, scary hospital a bit not-so-scary. ASK also stepped in to support Orin’s family through the many financial challenges often brought on by a pediatric cancer diagnosis. "We didn’t even ask for it, ASK just offered it to us. I can’t tell you how important that support is to us!” - ASK mom Alex “Financially, ASK continues to be a huge help,” Alex explains. “My husband used all of his leave from work and had to take unpaid leave. ASK was able to pay part of our mortgage and regularly provides gas and food cards, which takes away some of the financial stress. We didn’t even ask for it, ASK just offered it to us. I can’t tell you how important that support is to us!”  Orin is now cancer-free and enjoying all the things sweet two-year-old boys like to do: climbing on furniture, throwing things, and having bubble parties with his sister! As Orin continues to improve, his family looks forward to continuing to build community and connection at ASK events like the upcoming ASK Night at the Squirrels and ASK 5K & Fun Walk at the Diamond next May. “We went to the ASK prom, and it was a blast. Although we’re taking it one day at a time, we’re looking forward to meeting other ASK families and experiencing some of the fellowship opportunities now that Orin is finished with treatment,” Alex continues. “This has been a gut-wrenching experience, but we’ve learned to do what we need to do for our child. We don’t have immediate family in the area, so the folks of ASK have become like family. I know that as long as we have the support from ASK to guide us and support us, we’ll be OK, and we can do this thing called ‘childhood cancer!’”

“She has never complained,” shares Eden, reflecting on her daughter Izabella’s cancer journey. “She has never not done what they asked her to do. And she has had that smile on her face the whole time.” That’s just the type of person Izabella is. Yes, she is a cancer patient – but she’s never let that define her. She’s a vibrant and resilient 14-year-old who loves sushi, the color pink, her two cats, and spending time with her friends and family. She’s a devoted student who never lets anything get in the way of her learning. She lights up every room she enters, and stays positive for her future. We are, too. Izabella’s cancer journey started in 8th grade with unexplained headaches, vomiting, and dizziness. Even so, Izabella rarely complained and continued in school. Her mom, Eden, initially chalked her symptoms off as maybe too much screen time, being too tired… not enough water. It wasn’t until an emergency trip to the doctor during the family vacation that the severity of Izabella’s condition became clear. An MRI revealed a mass in her brain, and she soon received her official diagnosis of Medulloblastoma. Because of its location in Izabella’s brain, surgery to remove the tumor caused loss of muscle tone, unsteadiness, and decreased ability to talk. The road to recovery was a challenging one.  "Over the next two weeks, she lost one function after another. By day 15, she could only move her left knee to signal 'yes,' and her right knee for 'no'," Eden remembers. “She spent a month in inpatient rehab learning how to walk, and after we came home, she really started being able to talk again. Most of her speech recovery has come from therapy and singing. She loves singing.” The next phase of treatment included six weeks of daily radiation, six months of chemotherapy, as well as physical, occupational, and speech therapies multiple times a week. It was an intensive and tiring schedule that involved a lot of driving to and from appointments and the clinic, which meant expensive gas tabs and a heavy toll on the family car. “The gift cards that ASK gave us for gas got us through. At a certain point during treatment, the brakes were going out on my car. Some places quoted me between three and four thousand dollars. ASK connected us with Midas of Richmond, and they gave us a rental car so we could make it to chemo that day and fixed our brakes for us. They took all of the stress out of it." - ASK mom Eden Going through cancer treatment often makes it difficult for young patients to keep up with their peers in school, but Izabella was determined. ASK’s educational support team members worked with Izabella and her parents to ensure she could continue to excel. She ended up completing her ninth-grade year on the school honor roll. "Tammy (ASK Fredericksburg Community Coordinator) and Jon (ASK Education Support Navigator) have been just so great,” Eden continues. “Izabella was diagnosed in June and wasn’t able to start homebound teaching until December. Tammy’s tutoring was a big part in getting Izabella through. Izabella returns to the classroom for tenth grade in August, and Jon’s been in all the meetings to make sure they are ready for her and that she has any of the accommodations that she needs.” Since her time with ASK, Izabella has also enjoyed a number of social events and opportunities to build community with other kids and families going through the same thing. This summer, she and her family attended our annual family pool party, made friends at ASK Summer Camp, grabbed school supplies and backpack at our back-to-school event, and even threw the first pitch at a Fredericksburg Nationals game! “ASK is who got Izabella connected with the baseball game. She got to throw out the first pitch and has become a local hero in town,” says Eden. “I take her out in public, and people stop us and say, ‘Didn’t I see you at the baseball game?’” Izabella herself was thrilled about the experience, eagerly practicing all week leading up to the game, sharing “I practiced all week!” "Growing closer together, seeing life for what it truly is, experiencing the kindness of humanity, and growing closer in faith are some of the best things to happen since the diagnosis," Eden reflects. "Izabella is a true example of perseverance, grace, courage, and hope. Her smile alone makes the world a brighter place.”

Adrienne’s positive energy and smile light up every room she enters. Right away, you wouldn’t know that Adrienne lives with chronic pain and has spent countless nights in the hospital fighting complications from Sickle Cell Anemia, an inherited group of blood disorders that causes the red blood cells to form in a sickle shape. Diagnosed at birth, Adrienne doesn’t know any other way of life and is very comfortable navigating pain meds, hospitalizations, and ER visits – but her mom just wants her to be a typical teenager. “Adrienne is very active in church and loves to sing and dance,” laughs her mom, Gisele. “Her cousins and siblings are her best friends, and she loves to go to school when she can and hang out with her friends at church. But ASK Childhood Cancer Foundation is our backbone, and the staff and other ASK families are our extended family. They feed us emotionally, spiritually and physically in the good times and the bad. I truly don’t know what we would do without them!” Gisele describes the time that Adrienne spent more than 15 days on a ventilator as “the most devastating time in [her] life,” but ASK’s financial support allowed her to stay in the hospital with her daughter, providing meals and paying some bills so that Gisele could focus on Adrienne. When Adrienne is feeling well, she loves to participate in ASK’s many family events and programs, like camps, Flying Squirrels games, trips to the zoo, and ASK’s annual Holiday Party. “ASK is always here for our family and provides anything we need, even furniture. If they don’t have it, they can find it!" - Gisele, Adrienne's mom "From the time Adrienne was two and participated in the ASK preschool program and all through her journey, ASK has provided for us, cared for us, and educated us on Sickle Cell,” Gisele continues. “This has empowered me to be an advocate in my community to raise awareness about the disease.” “ASK changes lives for families who are going through horrific ordeals, whether it’s Sickle Cell Anemia or childhood cancer. They let the child be a child, despite their circumstances. Sickle Cell affects every major organ in the body and is not for the weak. Thankfully, ASK is our partner and will never leave us. We are family for life!”

ASK mom Jeongeun is no stranger to cancer. She’s a cancer survivor herself, so when her three-year-old son, Caelan, stopped running and complained of pain in his legs, instinct told her that something was wrong. Jeongeun took Caelan to the doctor for a routine checkup, but they said he was fine. Over the next six months and several more trips to the doctor, she got the same response. Thankfully, Jeongeun followed her gut and took Caelan to a different doctor who did a simple blood test that revealed the true cause of his illness: Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. Jeongeun was diagnosed with breast cancer while pregnant with Caelan, so he was induced prematurely. “I had so much guilt over this, like I did something wrong in pregnancy and introduced this chaos into my child’s life,” remembers Jeongeun. “We were so cautious as I finished chemo and Covid exploded, and then Caelan was diagnosed. As everyone else was slowly coming out of the Covid bubble, we had to go back in. It was very difficult emotionally. Fortunately, we had the folks of the ASK Childhood Cancer Foundation to guide us through this new challenge in our lives.” “Katie, ASK’s Child Life Specialist, visited Caelan’s hospital room in the early days of diagnosis and has never left our side,” Jeongeun explains. “In the beginning, Caelan was so scared to go to Clinic, but Katie worked hard to combat his anxiety and now he actually looks forward to going to Clinic. The psychological support from the counseling team has been vital to his health and to the emotional health of his older sister; she had a very difficult time with his diagnosis, but the team taught her how to cope with this challenging situation." "ASK helps the entire family, and I think this is one of its distinguishing features from other cancer support organizations.” - ASK mom Jeongeun After initial intense chemotherapy, Caelan went into remission. Now five years old, he will continue a daily oral maintenance chemo and traditional chemo for another year – alongside his father, who is currently going through treatment for melanoma. Clinic visits will remain a part of their lives for years to come, but Caelan and his family will be supported by ASK forever. Throughout every upcoming grade in school, as he enters young adulthood, and eventually, as he starts his career, ASK will be there with the financial, educational and community resources, programs and support he needs to thrive. “A childhood cancer diagnosis impacts the whole family,” Jeongeun continues. “Throughout this experience, Caelan has remained so happy, but I see the struggles he will face with his body and emotions and possibly learning.  We are so grateful to ASK for its continued support and the strength they provide us.”

Nikola’s family stays positive, even on the toughest days of treatment. “To anyone out there, we want you to know that we are stronger than childhood cancer,” says Nikola’s dad, Jorge. “Even on the worst days, we have hope that tomorrow will be better. Each day, we are stronger than the day before, and we are reminded that our focus should be on our family.” When five-year-old Nikola – Niko, for short – began feeling lethargic and complaining of joint pain, his parents knew something was wrong. After several doctors’ appointments and a simple blood test, Niko was diagnosed with leukemia (B-Cell ALL). The next few days were a total blur, but Jorge shares that the help they received from ASK during that time kept him and his family feeling grounded and supported. “From the very first days, ASK has been such a blessing,” Jorge remembers. “The emotional support we continue to receive from people who know what we’re going through is invaluable. My wife had to quit work to care for Niko, and ASK was there to provide financial support when we needed it most. And, ASK gives us the opportunity to forget about childhood cancer by planning trips and activities outside of the hospital. We could never express how grateful we are for all of their support.” Niko’s family also appreciates the connections that ASK has allowed them to make with all of the other families they serve. “We realize how lucky we are to have one another to lean on and stand together,” Jorge continues. “When we connect with other families, we know that It’s not just our family going through this struggle. We are reminded to stay strong.” Niko is progressing through treatment, which is at least a two-year process. He is still active and loves to play outside with his older sister, Yaredith. “Niko is happy, in spite of his circumstances,” Jorge laughs. “He reminds us every day that we can fight childhood cancer as a family, and we will win. Thank goodness ASK will be fighting in the trenches with us until childhood cancer is gone forever.”

Ada is an inquisitive, spunky three-year-old who loves blue popsicles, singing and playing on her playset with her loving parents, Savanna and Austin. To know Ada is to love her. Her bright personality will capture your heart and her humor will keep you on your toes. She may look and act like your typical toddler, but Ada has faced a lot more than most children her age: She is currently fighting a bilateral optic pathway glioma, a type of brain tumor that has caused her to lose much of her vision. Even so, Ada goes into each day living her life to the fullest! “Since about nine months old, we noticed that Ada’s eyes were moving from side to side really fast, which is called nystagmus. We were reassured, and it was being monitored,” Savanna explains. “But when her right eye started to turn inward, I became alarmed and we were referred to VCU Pediatric Ophthalmology. I honestly thought we would get a prescription for glasses and she would have to wear an eye patch to correct the lazy eye, but we left that appointment in shock and terrified.” An MRI later revealed an extensive bilateral optic pathway brain tumor, and their worst nightmare was confirmed. Many follow-ups, testing and specialty appointments followed, where they learned that treatment would involve 60 weeks of chemotherapy. “In spite of the chaos of childhood cancer, our Clinic visits are filled with comfort and love,” Savanna shares. “The first time we were in Clinic was one of the hardest and scariest days of our lives, but almost immediately, the entire staff helped to calm our fears and make us feel at home. I will never forget that day. It was 4 days before Christmas 2022, and in walks Miss Katie, ASK’s Child Life Specialist, with Bat Girl and Christmas presents for Ada. Receiving this gesture within minutes of us being placed in our infusion room made all the difference in our world, and gently eased Ada into her first day of chemotherapy. Ada now runs into Clinic, so excited to see and play with everyone. The entire staff is so sweet and completely spoils our precious girl. Not only do they support Ada, but they support us as parents as well. They work so hard to make each child feel special and make the hard days seem easier.” Savanna is a Labor and Delivery nurse at VCU CMH in South Hill and an adjunct nursing instructor for SVCC. Austin works in both Forestry and Farming. They have both continued to work full-time during Ada’s treatment, which has been a lot to navigate through while putting their daughter’s healthcare first. Driving from their home in Keysville, Virginia, Ada and her family travel more than an hour each way to get to treatment at the ASK Oncology/Hematology Clinic at the Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU. The financial burden that comes with a childhood cancer diagnosis can be devastating, but thanks to ASK’s community of support, Ada’s family doesn’t have to face it alone. “We are so grateful to ASK for the gas, gift, and grocery cards we have received to help mitigate the costs such as of traveling to the clinic and purchasing a safety vest for Ada to wear during chemotherapy." - ASK mom Savanna "The snacks, popsicles and treasure box full of toys that ASK provides are always there to lift her spirits and keep her busy during long chemotherapy days. They continue to show us so much love and support in so many ways.” Savanna continues. Miss Katie also referred the family to Roc Solid Foundation, who donated and built Ada her very own playset last autumn. Since Ada’s diagnosis, she’s been able to attend ASK’s Night at The Diamond, the ASK 5k & Fun Walk, and ASK’s Kourageous Kids Party – experiences this family says they are so thankful for and will forever hold close to their hearts. Ada’s doctors had a plan for her to complete her chemotherapy this month, February 2024. However, recent MRI findings have changed her course and extended her chemotherapy regimen for an additional 2 years. While they still have a long road ahead of them, Ada and her family know they will have a community of support by their side. “God, our family, friends, community and all the teams at VCU CHoR have been with us every step of the way. And if anyone can fight brain cancer with a smile on her face, it’s our Ada,” Savanna reflects. “She has inspired so many people with her courage, strength, and resilience and I have no doubt that she will continue to move mountains until she finally rings that bell. ASK Childhood Cancer Foundation has greatly impacted our lives and given us so much joy to look forward to during some of our darkest days. We could never thank them enough for being one of the constants that has kept us grounded during Ada’s adventure.”

On Wednesday, January 24, 2024, ASK Childhood Cancer Foundation advocates gathered at the General Assembly of Virginia for a day full of legislator meetings to emphasize the transformative impact of the state-funded Education Navigator Program, which has proven to be a beacon of hope and assistance for children and their families facing the challenges of childhood cancer and late effects of treatment. In attendance were ASK parents like Melissa Healey, ASK Mom of Tallulah, a 4-year-old battling B-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, and ASK survivors like Grace Black, who was diagnosed with cancer at the age of five. They shared their unique stories of battling cancer and how ASK's Education Navigator Program has made an impact on their child's life and personal journey with cancer. Tracy Sears at CBS6 Richmond has the story: Grace Black was five years old when she was first diagnosed with cancer. Today, at 16 and cancer-free, she’s speaking with Virginia lawmakers about the long-term effects of her illness that can make learning challenging. She says educational support has played a big role in helping her navigate big learning hurdles. “There’s definitely discouragement, like why can’t I learn like everyone else?” Grace said. “I lost 96% of my visual memory so it makes it very hard to spell and it makes my brain work ten times harder in order to do the same schoolwork that my classmates are doing, and my peers are doing.” Grace was among 40 advocates with ASK Childhood Cancer Foundation who met with Virginia’s state delegates and senators on Wednesday, thanking them for their support of children and adolescents who are battling cancer or are survivors… Children like 4-year-old Tallulah, who now has an Education Support Navigator helping her adjust to preschool while undergoing treatment for B-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. Tallulah’s mother, Melissa Heatley, says the support provided by ASK Childhood Cancer Foundation has given her family peace of mind. “The relationship that we’ve forged and the friendships, they mean everything to us,” Heatley said. Heatley also met with lawmakers Wednesday morning to encourage more funding to assist families. While there is one education navigator in all five major cancer treatment centers across the state, ASK is hoping the program will grow to include more education specialists. With over 500 children receiving education assistance in its first year, ASK aims to support even more children in the coming years through its Education Navigator Program. The goal is to provide support to the 6-7 children diagnosed with cancer in Virginia each week. As we reflect on this past year's accomplishments, we remain steadfast in our commitment to supporting children with cancer and those in survivorship. ASK Childhood Cancer Foundation is dedicated to ensuring that every child and adolescent facing cancer receives the education and assistance they need to thrive beyond their battle with cancer. Together, we can make a lasting impact on the lives of those affected by childhood cancer in Virginia. You can watch the full segment by Tracy Sears on CBS6 here.

Being a parent or caregiver brings joy and purpose to many. This statement couldn't be more accurate for Robbie Westermann, a proud father of three. The role of being a dad sparked his deep dedication to improving the lives of children navigating challenging circumstances and drew him to the mission of ASK Childhood Cancer Foundation. As the new Board President of ASK, Westermann effortlessly blends the nurturing qualities honed through parenting into his leadership style. “Listening well and being open to different ideas are not just skills from being a parent; they are essential to shaping ASK's goals,” says Robbie. To him, leading a nonprofit is like being the conductor of a family orchestra, where every voice plays a part in creating something beautiful together. Robbie's dedication to creating an inclusive environment where every voice is valued harmonizes perfectly with ASK's vision for a more impactful and inclusive future. When questioned about his vision for ASK's evolution amid the ongoing statewide expansion, he emphasized the importance of bringing on board members from different regions of Virginia. "This strategy is imperative to garner diverse perspectives, enabling ASK to extend its reach even further with a broader scope and a more substantial foundation of funds and talent," he shares. "We are grateful for Robbie's steady and impactful leadership as we navigate this growth,” says Amy Godkin, ASK Executive Director. Robbie has already hit the ground running and has made it very clear that during his term as Board President, he will “put the organization in the strongest place for staff and funding to keep this state model going while preserving our central Virginia roots” and that “we are in the right spot to take ASK to the next level in making life the very best for our children and their families.” Robbie has been a critical member of our Board of Directors since 2017, and like many members of our committee, he is no stranger to ASK as he has been a supporter and cheerleader for our ASK children and families for over a decade. As he reflected on his most memorable moment of 2023 at the Kourageous Kids Party, where fourteen children and their families were recognized for their bravery and resilience, he couldn’t help but be inspired and proud of the great work that ASK does to serve its families. When Robbie isn't wearing his Super Dad hat and trying to make life better for children with cancer, he works as an Attorney and Shareholder at Hirschler Fleischer, P.C. Throughout his time at Hirschler Fleischer, he has focused on streamlining all business areas to maximize impact, a skill he has put in to practice as the Board Chair since taking on this role in July 2023. Thanks for all you do, Robbie!