It is a dream shared by many: to have a family. But what if you are a childhood cancer survivor who, one day, also wants to have a family? The aggregate five-year cancer survival rate of more than 85% for children, adolescents and teens is leading to research that can preserve fertility, which may have been impacted by the cancer itself or the therapies to treat it, such as chemotherapy, radiation therapy or surgical procedures. While CHOC offers an array of options for pre- and post-pubescent male and female cancer patients—including egg harvesting, testicular sperm extraction, ovarian and testicular tissue cryopreservation and banking—there’s more to be done to help patients access and afford fertility preservation.

Hope comes from CHOC’s Hyundai Cancer Institute, which is part of the national interdisciplinary Oncofertility Consortium exploring the relationships between health, cancer, survivorship and fertility preservation. CHOC also is the one of the only institutions on the west coast to partner with Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago in research around pediatric and adolescent ovarian biology and fertility leading to the next generation of protocols for ovarian tissue banking. Oncology fertility treatment is not covered by insurance; rather, it is solely supported through philanthropy...Here's where MOMentum starts.

By making a donation to my fundraising campaign, you are making a gift in any amount to help create an endowment that would provide sustainable funds for young patients to preserve their fertility and allow them to remain hopeful and create future plans in the face of cancer.

I have committed to running/walking at least 100 miles between 5/1-7/1. Please consider donating any amount or join with me on this challenge!