(Madera, California) – Valley Children’s Hospital has been awarded a $50,000 regional grant through the Rite Aid Foundation for its Childhood Cancer Survivorship Program.
“The same treatments that cure cancer patients may put them at risk for long-term health problems,” said Dr. John Gates, director of Valley Children’s Childhood Cancer Survivorship Program. “This grant allows us to provide the educational and psychosocial services needed to help our patients have the best quality of life after cancer."
The Valley Children’s Cancer Survivorship Program works with childhood cancer patients and families who are cancer-free at least three years from completion of treatment. The program provides a comprehensive evaluation of the survivor’s health, academic and social development and provides patient education about their diagnosis, treatment, potential late effects and health maintenance.
The Rite Aid Foundation is awarding $2.3 million to Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals across the nation through a special KidCents Grant Program. The grants will enable local children’s hospitals to advance initiatives focused on improving the health and wellbeing of children in the communities Rite Aid serves.
“Rite Aid and The Rite Aid Foundation have been passionate supporters of Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals for 25 years. Through our annual in-store Miracle Balloon Campaign and other special events, we’ve raised more than $92 million for local children’s hospitals,” said Tracy Henderson, director of The Rite Aid Foundation and charitable giving initiatives. “We are excited to expand the reach of our partnership and help local children’s hospitals make an even greater difference in their communities.”
“Valley Children’s Childhood Cancer Survivorship Program, part of the Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, is just as thrilled to make a greater difference in the community,” adds Dr. Gates. “The program has been growing since its inception in 2009 and this grant from KidCents will allow the growth to continue.”
In the last year alone, Valley Children’s Cancer Survivorship Program had 762 visits from childhood cancer survivors, seeing an increase from last year’s 686 visits. Of this year’s 762 visits, 267 of them were transitional, meaning these patients are within the first three years of being off treatment and will soon be part of the survivorship program.
KidCents Grants awarded to children’s hospitals in targeted communities range from $49,124 to $300,000 and support existing programs or initiatives focused on children’s health and wellbeing.
A total of 20 Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals in California, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Washington received grants.