Family and friends established this non-profit 501(c)(3) organization in early 2005 to honor the courage and strength of four-year-old Jake Robert Widman, a super hero in every sense of the word. After a 15-month fight, Jake lost his battle with this terrible disease and earned his angel wings on May 27, 2005.
The mission of The Super Jake Foundation is to fund research to find a cure for neuroblastoma, a rare and deadly form of pediatric cancer, and to provide assistance to families with children with cancer. Headquartered near Chicago, The Super Jake Foundation is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to identifying and sponsoring neuroblastoma research programs throughout the country.
Neuroblastoma is a childhood cancer, which usually strikes children before the age of five and originates from neural crest cells (called neuroblasts) in the sympathetic nervous system, which runs from the base of the neck to the tailbone.
There are approximately 650 new cases of this extremely aggressive disease diagnosed in the U.S. each year. At this time, there are no drugs or treatments designed specifically to treat neuroblastoma. As a result, when a child relapses, like Jake, most will die. With your help, our mission is to change that.
Jake was just three years old when he was diagnosed with stage 4, fully metastasized neuroblastoma on March 4, 2004, after a seemingly routine trip to the pediatrician for a suspected stomach virus. After a draining, year-long battle that included more than ten rounds of high dose chemotherapy, multiple surgeries, months of radiation and three bone marrow transplants, followed by 100 days in isolation, Super Jake appeared to win his fight and was declared “NED” (no evidence of disease) in January 2005.
However, this insidious cancer soon returned. Though he resisted it with all he had, Jake lost his fight on May 27, 2005, at age 4, leaving behind a glowing and remarkable legacy. Those who knew Jake will forever remember him decked out, day and night, in super hero garb, from hats and sunglasses to underwear. To his family and the thousands he touched, he is, and will always be, the ultimate super hero.
Ann Fahey-Widman, Co-Founder & President
Steve Moseley, Vice President
Matthew Widman, Co-Founder & Secretary
Amy Martin, Treasurer
Stacia Borrello
Jennifer Hatten
Jackie Hillback
Dawn Ludden
Beth-Anne Lang
Jenny Lee
Ryan May
Jessica McKay
Our Hospital Partnerships
Comer’s Children’s Hospital
Ann & Robert H. Lure Children’s Hospital of Chicago
Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin
