Childhood Cancer Research Grants Given in Honor of Santa Ana Child

SANTA ANA, Calif. (September 26, 2017) – The St. Baldrick’s Foundation, the largest private funder childhood cancer research grants, is proud to announce that a St. Baldrick’s Hero Fund created in honor of Max Wilford, from Santa Ana, Calif., will support lifesaving childhood cancer research.

This year, two doctors received grants as part of the MaxLove Project Hero Fund. Dr. Taryn Allen, Ph.D., pediatric psychologist at the Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research in Frederick, Md., received the MaxLove Project Hero Fund St. Baldrick’s Supportive Care Research Grant for $49,700 and Dr. Kathy Ruble at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and Kimmel Cancer Center in Baltimore, Md., received the St. Baldrick’s Scholar MaxLove Project Hero Fund for $49,700.

With this grant, Dr. Ruble is measuring sleep with a home monitor, and testing survivors for specific learning difficulties. She will then examine the relationship between sleep and cognitive function in this population. Dr. Allen is evaluating a new coping program using age-appropriate mindfulness activities to improve the quality of life of children diagnosed with an incurable brain tumor and their families.

“We have witnessed firsthand the power of what parents can do at home with their kids to help them thrive,” said Max’s mom, Audra DiPadova. “We could not be more thrilled to contribute to the research of Drs. Allen and Ruble, who are focused on mindfulness and healthy sleep, cornerstones of family-centered quality of life in childhood cancer treatment and survivorship.”

The MaxLove Project Hero Fund was created to honor the journey of Max Wilford, who was diagnosed with a brain stem tumor at 4 years old. His parents attribute his current successes in his fight to integrative therapies, such as acupuncture, massage and anticancer nutrition. For this reason, his parents have chosen to establish a St. Baldrick’s Hero Fund as a way to fund further research of pediatric cancer treatment.

A St. Baldrick’s Hero Fund is an ongoing way for friends, family members, or groups to donate or raise funds for a loved one. To learn more about the program visit the Hero Fund page.

About St. Baldrick’s Foundation
As the largest private funder of childhood cancer research grants, the St. Baldrick’s Foundation believes that kids are special and deserve to be treated that way. St. Baldrick’s is leading the charge to take childhood back from cancer by funding some of the most brilliant childhood cancer research experts who are working to find cures and better treatments for all childhood cancers. Kids need treatments as unique as they are – and that starts with funding research just for them. Join us at StBaldricks.org to help support the best cancer treatments for kids.

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