Wrigleyville Rooftops to host the Pediatric Cancer Advocacy & Research Foundation and honored guests, the Veghts Family.

Oak Brook, IL -- (SBWIRE) -- 09/04/2013 -- The Pediatric Cancer Advocacy & Research Foundation (PCARF) is excited to be bringing awareness to September being Pediatric Cancer Awareness Month by working with the Wrigleyville Rooftops on Sunday, September 21st. The agency will be taking in a Chicago Cubs baseball game while honoring all families that have been impacted by cancer. In fact, PCARF will be focusing on one family specifically, the Veghts Family. Their son, Nicholas, died of cancer in February of 2012, at the very young age of 8.

There is a strong and profound connection with the Veghts Family and PCARF, as Nicholas' oncologist, Dr. Jennifer McNeer of Comer Children's Hospital, is a board member of PCARF and has been with the agency since the beginning. Founder and CEO of PCARF, Michelle Dodd, said, "PCARF's goal this month is to bring awareness to families just like the Veghts and create an awareness and sensitivity to what this month represents. The fact that Nicholas as such a strong connection to our work has been powerful for us – and we want to celebrate the incredible fight and strength of Nicholas."

The proceeds of this Chicago Cubs Rooftop Event will go directly to PCARF's Post Treatment Support Program, which includes hospice assistance and funeral assistance. This program is an important one for oncology Social Worker's to have access to, as most other financial assistance programs end their assistance after treatment ends.

"After all," Dodd states, "If a child fights hard against their cancer, don't they deserve to be celebrated? No child should have to forgo a celebration of their strength because parents can't afford to pay for the funeral due to treatment costs being too high. We are determined to ensure that happens for every child."

The Chicago Cubs game is Sunday, September 21st at 1:05pm. Tickets are $120/each and include food, drinks, and alcoholic beverages. For tickets or information, please visit http://www.PedCARF.org.

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Art show to feature local youth artists and pediatric cancer patients from Lurie Children's Hospital.

Oak Brook, IL -- (SBWIRE) -- 05/31/2013 -- On June 23rd, 2013, the Pediatric Cancer Advocacy & Research Foundation (PCARF) will be holding the Pediatric Cancer Art Show and Family Carnival. Pediatric Cancer patients from Lurie Children's Hospital and Comer Children's Hospital will be submitting art, as well as area youth who are submitting art to be donated to children in cancer treatment. The events of the day will include carnival games, food, and fun, as well as horse rides and several guest appearances!

The impact of the event is important because there are so many families in desperate need – and the work of PCARF is just beginning. According to KidStrong.org, a cancer based organization, the out of pocket cost for pediatric cancer in the United States is close to $40,000 per year ­ and that is for families that have quality health insurance. Add this to the statistic that, according to The American Journal of Medicine, 62% of all bankruptcies in the United States are due to medical reasons, and there is clearly a massive need for these families to be helped.

This is why PCARF is introduced the unique financial assistance program that is catered to the unmet needs of middle class families impacted by their child's cancer. The one of a kind financial assistance program offers assistance to families based off of an expense to income ratio. There is no spend down required and no savings or stocks are taken into account. According to Founder and CEO, Michelle Dodd, she believes that this is the only way to keep families out of crisis. Dodd states, "A family making $700,000 is clearly not eligible for financial assistance. However, if they are sitting on $699,000 worth of debt, they are facing substantial crisis ­ which will ultimately impact the child's road to health. We are not here to pull a family out of financial crisis ­ we are here to ensure a family never GOES into financial crisis."

The Art Show and Carnival Event will be held on June 23rd at the horse rescue, Spirits Whisper Acres in Kingston, IL. The Carnival and Art show will be from noon to 4pm and there is no cost to enter. For more information, contact Michelle Dodd at mdodd@pedcarf.org.

About PCARF
The Pediatric Cancer Advocacy & Research Foundation is a nonprofit, 501c3 organization that provides emotional, financial, and crisis based support to families and friends impacted by pediatric cancer. For more information, please visit www.PedCARF.org.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Middle Class Families impacted by pediatric cancer will have much-needed support by Mid-June.

Oak Brook, IL -- (ReleaseWire) -- 05/28/2013 -- When a child is diagnosed with cancer, the world can seem like it is ending for a parent. However, what isn't thought of is the financial impact fighting your child's cancer will have. According to KidStrong.org, a cancer based organization, the out of pocket cost for pediatric cancer in the United States is close to $40,000 per year ­ and that is for families that have quality health insurance. Add this to the statistic that, according to The American Journal of Medicine, 62% of all bankruptcies in the United States are due to medical reasons, and there is clearly a massive need for these families to be helped.

This is why PCARF is introducing the unique financial assistance program that is catered to the unmet needs of middle class families impacted by their child's cancer. The one of a kind financial assistance program offers assistance to families based off of an expense to income ratio. There is no spend down required and no savings or stocks are taken into account. According to Founder and CEO, Michelle Dodd, she believes that this is the only way to keep families out of crisis. Dodd states, "A family making $700,000 is clearly not eligible for financial assistance. However, if they are sitting on $699,000 worth of debt, they are facing substantial crisis ­ which will ultimately impact the child's road to health. We are not here to pull a family out of financial crisis ­ we are here to ensure a family never GOES into financial crisis."

PCARF supporter, Vickie Czapla, agrees. "We've always done things right. We never lived outside of our means, we saved, and we were very careful with our money. However, when my son, Jack, was diagnosed with cancer, it was a game changer. No one is ever prepared for the financial impact cancer will have on a family."

PCARF is currently launching in several hospitals in the Chicagoland area and is offering crisis based programming to families in the Chicagoland Ronald McDonald Houses.

About The PEdiatric Cancer Advocacy & Research Foundation
The Pediatric Cancer Advocacy & Research Foundation is a nonprofit, 501c3 organization that provides emotional, financial, and crisis based support to families and friends impacted by pediatric cancer. For more information, please visit http://www.PedCARF.org.?

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm