Young Survivors of Childhood Cancer Lead Annual Walk to Raise Awareness About Pediatric Cancer

ARLINGTON, VA, April 20, 2011 (Press-News.org) Thirteen-year-old Lauren Chelenza and 12-year-old Noah Grove know what it's like to fight cancer. Both battled a rare and deadly cancer called osteosarcoma and are winning that battle. To help other children like themselves both Lauren and Noah will be leading the second annual Mattie Miracle Cancer Foundation Pediatric Cancer Walk on May 22, 2011, from 12:00 noon to 4:00pm at the St. Stephen's and St. Agnes Upper School campus, 1000 St. Stephen's Road, in Alexandria. The walk's theme this year is "Faces of Hope," and will raise awareness about pediatric cancers and the challenges children and their families face when diagnosed with a childhood cancer. Proceeds from the walk will support the Childlife program at Georgetown University Hospital.

Both Lauren and Noah have formed foundations, separate from the walk, that raise awareness and money for the fight against pediatric cancer. After meeting Mattie Brown's family online while battling her own cancer in Philadelphia, Lauren founded "Bows for Hope," for which she makes beautiful hair bows out of duct tape and sells them for a dollar apiece. All proceeds go to the Mattie Miracle Cancer Foundation, a non-profit that Mattie's parents Peter Brown and Victoria Sardi-Brown started to help other children like their son who died from his cancer in 2009. Noah Grove started the Noah's Courage Foundation, for which he speaks and advocates for pediatric cancer issues and raises funds for the Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center at Georgetown University Hospital. Both young people will speak at the walk.

When Lauren Chelenza and Noah Grove were selected to speak at the Walk, they shared with us the following statements. Lauren stated, "Mattie and I were diagnosed around the same time with Osteosarcoma. Even though we never met one another, I feel as if we went through the battle together. I design hair bows made out of duct tape. The bows were so popular at my school, that I began selling them to generate funds for the Mattie Miracle Cancer Foundation. I feel I have been given a second chance on life and take great pride in knowing that I have generated thousands of dollars for the Mattie Miracle Cancer Foundation, an organization that is near and dear to my heart." Noah stated, "I was so glad that I was asked to be a part of the Mattie Miracle Cancer Foundation Walk. It's important to me because I have the same disease as Mattie. Even though I am a survivor, I live with it every day because I don't have my leg due to osteosarcoma. I don't want other kids to go through what we went through. I hope we raise a lot of money for Mattie's Foundation."

The Walk will provide family-friendly activities for all ages including arts and crafts, LEGO build tables with members of the "Adult Fans of LEGO," a 26-foot tall climbing wall, "minute-to-win-it" games, food from Clyde's Restaurant Group, a LEGO Train and Cityscape display, DC Celebrity Chef Demonstrations, a Magic Show, artisanal vendors and fantastic raffle prizes. Registration includes admission and access to all activities as well as a free carabineer clip to which walkers can add awareness beads as they complete laps on the track. Information about the walk may be found at: https://www.mattiemiracle.com

More than 40,000 children fight for their life against cancer in any given year, and forty-six (46) kids a day are newly diagnosed with some form of pediatric cancer. "The Mattie Miracle Cancer Foundation recognizes that children and family need support, and that greater attention and resources are needed to support the psychosocial needs of children and their families dealing with pediatric cancer from diagnosis through survivorship, says Victoria Sardi-Brown, President and co-founder of the Foundation. "When the odds tell us that one in 330 children will be diagnosed with some type of pediatric cancer by the age of 20, the Mattie Miracle Cancer Foundation believes it is clear that more must be done to address this health crisis."

The Mattie Miracle Cancer Foundation is a 501(c) (3) Public Charity founded by Peter Brown and Victoria Sardi-Brown, in loving memory of their seven year-old son Mattie, who died in 2009 from Osteosarcoma, a type of bone cancer. "Our hope is that this walk will raise enough money to fund a Childlife Specialist position at the Georgetown University Hospital. This Specialist will help children and their families on scan and procedure days. Scans and procedures are typically performed to assess disease progression and the effectiveness of cancer treatment. These days are very stressful and anxiety provoking for children and their families," says Peter Brown, co-founder of Mattie Miracle Cancer Foundation. "Addressing these psychosocial needs of children and their families is central to our Foundation's mission and honors our son's memory in a meaningful way."

Mattie Miracle is dedicated to finding better treatments for and building awareness of pediatric cancer. Our Foundation is committed to addressing the psychosocial needs of children and families living with pediatric cancer as well as educating health care providers on the impact of such a diagnosis on children and their families. Mattie Miracle believes through increased awareness, education and support, and advocating for psychosocial support and needs, we can enhance the lives of children with cancer and their families.

The Foundation's website is: http://www.mattiemiracle.com
Contact: Peter Brown, admin@mattiemiracle.com

The Mattie Miracle Cancer Foundation is a 501(c) (3) Public Charity founded by Peter Brown and Victoria Sardi-Brown, in loving memory of their seven year-old son Mattie, who died in 2009 from Osteosarcoma, a type of bone cancer. Mattie Miracle is dedicated to finding better treatments for and building awareness of pediatric cancer. Our Foundation is committed to addressing the psychosocial needs of children and families living with pediatric cancer as well as educating health care providers on the impact of such a diagnosis on children and their families. Mattie Miracle believes through increased awareness, education and support, and advocating for psychosocial support and needs, we can enhance the lives of children with cancer and their families.