Elaine Roberts Foundation
Ridding the world of Rhabdo and ALL childhood cancer
Elaine was diagnosed with Alveolar Rhabdomyosarcoma on May 14, 2015 after experiencing pain in her right foot. After consulting with 3 doctors at 3 reputable pediatric cancer hospitals across the United States and 10 months of chemotherapy and radiation, this rare and very aggressive cancer took Elaine's earthly life.
Elaine announced to her friends on Instagram that she had cancer with the fitting scripture John 13:7 which says, Jesus replied, "You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand." We don't understand and her family and friends are heartbroken. This foundation was created to honor Elaine and to do what we can to try and keep other families and friends from losing children they love to cancer.
OUR MISSION
We exist to educate people about childhood cancer, especially the vast differences between research funding between adult cancers and childhood and adolescent cancers, and most importantly, to raise money for childhood and adolescent cancer research with a particular interest in Alveolar Rhabdomyosarcoma, the cancer that took our Elaine.
ELAINE'S COURAGE
The pictures below are of Elaine's beads of courage, a Hope and Cope program at Children's of Alabama. Elaine earned 300 beads, each bead representing a needle stick, surgery, scan, hospital admission, chemotheraphy, radiation, blood transfusion or other act of courage like gaining enough courage to go in public wearing a scarf where her hair should have been. It is excruciating to watch anyone fight through cancer but watching a child is unimaginable unless you find yourself in that devastating situation. The Elaine Roberts Foundation does not want another child to have to experience these acts of courage nor does it want another parent or loved one to have to watch their child fight against cancer.
WHY DONATE
Pediatric cancer research is grossly underfunded. Only about 4% of the money allocated by the United States Congress for cancer research goes toward pediatric cancer research. Let that sink in...96% to adult cancers...4% to childhood cancers.
Pediatric drugs are not profitable. Drug companies will only research a drug for pediatric cancer if it proves successful in adults. If a drug is not successful in adults they will not continue because fewer children are diagnosed than adults and a drug only targeted for children is not profitable. To participate in an adult study you must be 18 years old. Elaine was 16.
Current treatments are old, harsh and ineffective. Drugs that were used to treat Elaine's cancer were over 30 years old at the time they were used on her. These same drugs are still being used today. These drugs made her sick, took her hair and ultimately did not achieve their intended purpose of saving Elaine's life. These same drugs are still being used today. We need something new and more effective. We need treatments that save our kids lives.
What if it were your child? Though it is almost impossible for parents to consider their child might be diagnosed with cancer, unfortunately, it happens. If the unthinkable happens to your family, we want you to have good odds of survival for your child. We want cures for children diagnosed with this terrible disease. Please consider a monthly donation, one-time donation or round-up donation. Click the donate button to help us fund research that can save lives!
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him and He will make your paths straight."
Proverbs 3:5-6