Tackle Kids Cancer

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Tackle Kids Cancer

Funds raised support research and patient programs at Hackensack Meridian Children's Health.
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Tackle Kids Cancer, a philanthropic initiative of Hackensack Meridian Health Foundation, raises critical funds for pediatric cancer and patient programs at Hackensack Meridian Children's Health at The Children's Cancer Institute. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter .

06/18/2026

Meet Angelique! Angie, as she’s affectionately known, was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) in January 2024. After more than two years of treatment, Angie recently rang the bell at K. Hovnanian Children's Hospital!

Angie is known for her grace, her unstoppable determination and her beautiful smile, all of which helped her persevere through 856 days of treatment. She also had incredible support from her parents and her older brother.

Now that Angie is finished with cancer treatments, she cannot wait to get back to the things she loves most — cooking with her family, dancing, bike-riding with friends and playing with Queen, her beloved pet chicken!

We are so proud of Angelique and her perseverance! Her celebration of ringing the bell to signify the end of treatment is the perfect example of the we love to celebrate. With the support of donors like you, we can continue to give back these precious life moments to our TKC MVPs.

06/07/2026

On , we celebrate all of the milestones our Tackle Kids Cancer MVPs (Most Valiant Patients) achieve thanks to the generous support of donors like you. From ringing the bell to signify the end of treatment to celebrating birthdays and graduations, your contributions help ensure our MVPs experience these precious life moments.

Darius's story is a powerful testament to the resilience we celebrate today.

At 17, Darius was a typical high school senior, busy with college applications and rehearsals for his school musical.

As Thanksgiving 2023 approached, what seemed like exhaustion led to an emergency room visit that changed everything. Darius was diagnosed with acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL). "I remember thinking, ‘this is the end of my childhood,’" he said. "But I also knew I was going to get through this.”

From the beginning, the team at Jersey Shore University Medical Center provided expert and compassionate care. Music became Darius's escape. Funding from Tackle Kids Cancer made special moments possible, like when a music therapist surprised him by playing his favorite songs on her violin during a chemotherapy session.

Through it all, Darius persevered. He made it to his prom and walked at his high school graduation. "It wasn’t easy,” he said. “But those moments mattered. They reminded me that cancer didn’t take everything.”

Now 19, Darius rang the bell to signify finishing treatment and is a student at Seton Hall University. He is studying nursing, inspired by the nurses who cared for him. His mother, Tara, emphasizes the impact of support from programs like Tackle Kids Cancer. “You’re not just giving money. You’re giving a parent the ability to sit beside their child, to hold their hand. You’re giving a family hope.”

Read more about Darius's journey at GiveHMH.org/TKCMVPDarius.

06/04/2026

This , we are excited to introduce our 2026 TCS New York City Marathon runners!

On Sunday, November 1, 2026, , Tackle Kids Cancer’s running team, will represent our organization at the 2026 TCS New York City Marathon. As an Official Charity Partner of the prestigious race, our runners celebrate milestones, honor loved ones and raise crucial funds to support pediatric cancer research and support programs.

We are grateful to have a mix of runners, including Hackensack Meridian Health team members, family and loved ones of TKC MVPs (Most Valiant Patients) and those who hold Tackle Kids Cancer close to their hearts.

Last year, our runners raised nearly $250,000 for Tackle Kids Cancer. We thank our runners and supporters for joining in the fight against pediatric cancer. Together, we can tackle kids cancer.

To meet the full squad and make a gift to help them cross the finish line, please visit GiveHMH.org/TKCNYCMarathon.

05/21/2026

Meet Domenic! Domenic was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia in July of 2023 when he was just 4 years old. After more than two years of treatment, Domenic finally rang the bell at K. Hovnanian Children's Hospital last September!

Domenic is known for his wonderful sense of humor, sweet smile, and love of family and sports. No matter what cancer threw his way, he faced it with strength and determination, showing everyone what a superhero truly is.

Now that treatment is complete, Domenic is enjoying getting back to doing all of the things he loves, which included getting to share the field for the season opener with one of his favorite people, Dr. Jessica Scerbo! To celebrate Domenic’s return to little league, Dr. Scerbo attended the game and even threw out the ceremonial first pitch.

We are so proud to see Domenic back to playing sports and are grateful that he is doing well!

These are the precious life moments we able to give back to our TKC MVPs, especially with the support of donors like you!

05/20/2026

Meet Jacob! Jacob was the kind of kindergartner who couldn’t sit still for long, always running, jumping and bouncing with endless energy. Whether it was chasing a soccer ball across the field or racing his friends around the playground, Jacob radiated joy.

At Jacob’s very first soccer game, the boy who once couldn’t wait to lace up his sneakers sat down on the field, unable to summon his usual energy. “That wasn’t my Jacob,” Erin recalls. “In that instant, I knew something bigger was going on.” Bloodwork would soon confirm the diagnosis: B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

From the start, Jacob showed strength beyond his years, whispering words of courage to his parents: "Don't worry, I got this." These small pep talks became a lifeline for his family, a reminder of his resilient spirit.

The family credits the team at Hackensack Meridian K. Hovnanian Children’s Hospital at Jersey Shore University Medical Center for making the experience positive. “They’ve taken the worst time in our lives and allowed Jacob to still be a social, happy kid," Erin shares.

Erin also highlights the incredible support from Tackle Kids Cancer. “They took the worst and darkest moments and brought back my social and happy kid. I will forever be grateful for that.” A simple but powerful motivator for Jacob is picking out a new Lego set at every chemo visit, a tradition that makes the treatments more bearable.

Jacob still has a long road ahead, but his dreams of returning to the soccer field and riding the tractor with his grandfather keep him fighting. With each day, he grows stronger, ready to reclaim all the joys of childhood.

Read more about Jacob’s journey: www.TackleKidsCancer.org/TKCMVPJacob

05/15/2026

Hackensack Meridian Health is committed to addressing the recovery gap among Adolescent and Young Adults (AYAs) with cancer - and we’d like to thank Teen Cancer America and First Citizens Bank for helping to expand our AYA program at Hackensack University Medical Center.

Their generous donation, which totals nearly $380,000 over three years, will allow HUMC to expand its AYA program, which bridges the health care gap in cancer patients between 15 and 39 who might otherwise be left behind. We are honored to be the first health care provider in New Jersey to partner with Teen Cancer America, and we’re thrilled to when it comes to helping our young patients statewide.

Read more about the partnership: GiveHMH.org/HUMCTCAPartnership

05/14/2026

Meet Francesca! Four-year-old Francesca loves to play, paint, dance and imitate her favorite princesses.

In February 2025, Francesca's family was on a trip to Ecuador when they noticed some bruises. A precautionary visit to the pediatrician led to a blood test, and then to a hematologist, where they received the news that Francesca had acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

The family immediately flew back home to be admitted to the Joseph M. Sanzari Children’s Hospital, where her treatment began right away. "Throughout it all, she just keeps being Francesca," said her mother, Irma. "She plays, she paints, she dances and imitates her favorite princesses. But most importantly, she never stops smiling. She spreads so much love to everyone she meets, even on the hardest days."

While the road ahead is long, Francesca's courage shines brightly. "As parents, the fear is always there, lingering in the background," said Irma. "But we’ve been surrounded by the most incredible doctors, nurses and hospital staff who have held our hands through every high and low—every hospital stay, every transfusion, every tear. We want to thank them, and Tackle Kids Cancer, for their support during these difficult times and for reminding us that we are not alone."

We are so grateful to know that Francesca is doing well and was able to return to school this spring! Her return is a perfect example of the we love to celebrate. With the support of donors like you, we can continue to give back these precious life moments to our TKC MVPs.

05/06/2026

For Kaylee, an energetic little girl who loved to dance, life changed in an instant. What started as a simple limp turned into something far more serious. After a fall led to a broken leg, an MRI revealed the unthinkable—Kaylee had bone cancer.

She faced months of grueling chemotherapy, major surgery and an uphill battle to recovery. For 10 long weeks, she remained confined to a hospital bed. Throughout her hospital stay, her mom, Justina, never left her side, often sleeping hand-in-hand with her daughter.

But Kaylee’s greatest challenge was yet to come. She needed a rotationplasty, a complex surgery that would remove part of her leg and allow her to walk again with a prosthetic. It was a daunting journey, but Kaylee refused to let cancer define her.

“I was always surrounded by family, friends, my doctors and nurses and my community that gave me love and support throughout my journey,” said Kaylee.

Thanks to the generosity of our Tackle Kids Cancer donors, 11-year-old Kaylee was able to receive the critical care and support she needed following her bone cancer diagnosis.

With the incredible care and encouragement from her nurses and doctors, Kaylee took her first steps again - this time, on her new leg. And not long after, she did something even more incredible: she stepped back onto the stage of her 4th-grade talent show to dance.

Stories like Kaylee’s would not be possible without the support of our donor community. Learn how you can be the difference at TackleKidsCancer.org.

05/05/2026

Under the sea — and over our brave, young patients.

Thanks to 22 students from Hackensack High School, the ceilings at Joseph M. Sanzari Children’s Hospital will now provide comfort, wonder and a sense of adventure to our and youngest patients when they need it most. Over the past few months, students created uplifting ceiling tiles with an under-the-sea theme, letting their creativity shine while easing anxiety for our patients.

Through collaboration with our Child Life program, these local students transformed simple ceiling tiles into colorful underwater worlds that will now brighten the Pediatric Emergency Room for all those receiving treatment there. Thank you to hhs_comets_art for bringing joy with this generous and thoughtful gift!

04/16/2026

Angel crushed cancer! 🔔👏 We’re so happy to celebrate the bell ringing ceremony of Angel!

At just 4 years old, Angel was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL). For over two years, he has undergone intense treatment with several hospital stays. The one thing that has never changed is Angel’s joy and larger-than-life personality. He remains the sweetest boy with the biggest smile and most contagious laugh.

Angel is a natural comedian who plays hard and loves those around him even harder. He adores Minions, Monster Trucks, his mom, his brother Chris, and school. Angel has finished chemotherapy and rang the bell at K. Hovnanian Children’s Hospital. Congratulations, sweet Angel!

In honor of our milestone 10th year of Tackle Kids Cancer, we’re celebrating the incredible we’ve been able to give back to our TKC MVPs (Most Valiant Patients) with the support of donors like you. From ringing the bell to birthdays and celebrations, you can join us in ensuring every MVP gets to experience these precious life moments. Learn more by visiting TackleKidsCancer.org.

Address

1 Wellbrook Place
Woodbridge, NJ
08830

Telephone

(844) 775-5437

Website

http://www.TackleKidsCancer.org/

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