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Since Jack was diagnosed we have learned more than we ever imagined about neuroblastoma and childhood cancers. While there have been many advances in treating neuroblastoma over the last decade that give Stage IV patients real hope, there is still much more work to be done.

Neuroblastoma affects only 500 children in the U.S. per year. Consequently, there has been relatively little research or funding for treatment of this disease. A local family whose daughter is a neuroblastoma survivor recognized the need for an organization committed to neuroblastoma research and awareness. In February 2003 they launched a foundation called ‘Friends for Life’ with the goal of raising a million dollars to endow a neuroblastoma research position at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

There is currently no effective treatment for relapse of neuroblastoma. The research will focus on developing new treatments, particularly in the area of relapse. Since its inception, Friends for Life has raised more than FOUR MILLION DOLLARS for research based out of Dana-Farber. They have raised another million dollars at Children’s Hospital of Boston to fund the work of Judah Folkman and the early detection and prevention of cell proliferation. For more information on these fundraising efforts, please visit the Friends for Life website.

The picture above is from the 2004 Pan Mass Challenge. Jack was there to cheer on the riders that were kind enough to ride in his name. Friends for Life raised more than $300,000 from the efforts of a great team of riders, and the new neuroblastoma researcher joined Dana-Farber the day after the PMC. Friends for Life is making a real difference and it has been wonderful to see so many people come together to fight this horrible disease.