The mission of The Super Jake Foundation is to fund research to find a cure for neuroblastoma more...
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Neuroblastoma is a childhood cancer, which usually strikes children
before the age of five and originates from neural crest cells more...
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Jake was just three years old when he was diagnosed with stage 4, fully metastasized neuroblastoma more...
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For more information send an email to info@superjakefoundation.orgOr write to: The Super Jake FoundationP.O. Box 477 Gurnee, IL 60031 Phone: (847) 625-0436 Fax: (847) 625-0224
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Become a Volunteer
To volunteer, send an email with your contact information (including name, address, home phone, fax, cell phone and email address), along with your volunteer interests, to: volunteer@superjakefoundation.org
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Children's Memorial Research Center to receiver $150,000 grant from the Super Jake Foundation for neuroblastoma reasearch
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September 1, 2011 - Today Children's Memorial Hospital announced the award of a $150,000 grant in support of neuroblastoma research being conducted by Dr. Mary Beth Madonna at Children's Memorial Research Center. The grant was issued by the Super Jake
Foundation, which was founded by Matthew and
Ann Widman whose son Jake died of cancer
(neuroblastoma) in 2005 at just four years of age.
Neuroblastoma is the most common non-brain solid tumor of childhood which occurs most often in children younger than four years of age. The survival rate for children with aggressive neuroblastoma is less than 40% Although many factors contribute to the high mortality in these patients. resistance to chemotherapeutic drugs is a major contributor. Dr. Madonna's innovative research will focus on the mechanisms of this drug resistance, specifically, the rise of the protein midkine and its receptors in the development of chemotherapeutic resistance in pediatric patients.
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"I would like the thank The Super Jake Foundation for its support of my work on drug resistance in neuroblastoma," said Dr. Madonna. "This support is especially important since government funding for research continues to diminish. As the Widman's Know all too well, neuroblastoma can be a very aggressive, and deadly disease. The goal of this project is to determine what makes neuroblastoma resistant to chemotherapy with the hope that one day we can find new therapies to prevent this phenomenon and help improve survival for children with this disease."
"Unlike breast cancer and other more common cancers, you rarely hear about pediatric cancer. Perhaps parents are scared into silence, hoping this won't happen to their child," said Matt Widman. "But sadly, pediatric cancer take 12,000 of our children each year. Through this important research, and our ongoing partnership with Children's Memorial Hospital, we hope to take some important steps toward finding a cure for one of the most deadliest forms of pediatric cancer."
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About Children's Memorial Hospital
Children's Memorial Hospital, Chicago, is recognized as one of the top pediatric hospitals in the country by rankings published in U.S. News & World Report and serves as a major regional referral center. Its physicians are on the faculty at the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. As a not-for-profit organization, Children's Memorial relies on philanthropy to help provide care to 147,000 patients and their families every year. Children's memorial is building a new hospital, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, which will open June 9, 2012. The 23-Story, state-of-the-art hospital is located in downtown Chicago on the campus of its academic partner, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, and will offer the latest benefits and innovations in medical technology, research and family-friendly design. The hospital is currently engaged in the Heroes For Life campaign to raise philanthropic funding needed to help create the new hospital.
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About Children's Memorial Research Center
Children's Memorial Research Center is the research of of Children's Memorial Hospital and one of the interdisciplinary research centers and institutes of the Feinberg School, where principal investigators who are part of the research center are full-time faculty members. Built upon a team approach, the research center generates knowledge that will lead to cures for the diseases of children with additional focus on the pediatric precursors of adult diseases. The research center actively encourages a synergy of ideas among physician scientists, basic scientists, technicians, nurses and trainees in various disciplines. Its thematic research programs bridge gaps between the biomedical, clinical and social sciences and provide an environment to accomplish common goals.
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Jake And Other Pediatric Cancer Patients Honored By Children's Memorial Hospital on April 13
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The Gifts of Love Memorial Service took place at Children's Memorial Hospital on Sunday, April 13, 2008. More than 500 family members gathered with hospital staff and volunteers to honor the memory and celebrate the lives of the children cared for at Children's Memorial Hospital. This special ceremony was a time of reflection and remembrance, filled with music, poetry, and words of hope. The reception also provided an opportunity for families who have experienced the death of a child to come together for strength, support, and sharing and an opportunity to reconnect with the medical team who provided care to their children.
A plaque dedication took place at the event, and Jake Robert Widman's name was inscribed on the plaque along with the names of other pediatric cancer patients who have earned their angel wings.
The Super Jake Foundation was the lead sponsor of the event and donated $2,000 for the memorial service. Heartlight and Children's Memorial Hospital expressed heartfelt thanks for this generous support.
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Super Jake Backrounder
| Super Jake Foundation Fact Sheet
| Neuroblastoma Fact Sheet
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"Their Hero Always" newspaper article September 2006
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