Valerie Fund Makes Cancer Fight Less Scary For Young Patients
MORRISTOWN, N.J. (CBSNewYork) -- Cancer in your child can be a terrifying ordeal. Even more frightening is if he's only 7, as is Susan Rascio's son, Jared.
"He described them as if it was a volcano erupting inside of him," his mother told WCBS 880's John Metaxas.
But Jared and his family feel fortunate to be getting treatment at The Valerie Fund center in Morristown.
Valerie Fund Makes Cancer Fight Less Scary For 7-Year-Old Boy
"They're really nice," Jared said.
For 39 years, The Valerie Fund has worked to make the cancer experience easier for children to bear.
"He could have chemo going in one arm but be juggling with a clown in another arm," Susan Rascio said. "Or even just the way that they explain to him that he had leukemia -- they used puppets and played a game, and the simple ways that they sat with him and taught him about the disease."
Even a 7-year-old understands that cancer is not good. But his mother said The Valerie Fund made their experience the best it could be.
"There was not a single day that Jared was at the hospital for treatment that he didn't want to be there," she said.
The Valerie Fund, which helps children diagnosed with cancer and blood disorders, is hoping to raise $1 million when it holds its annual walk and 5K run Saturday at Verona Park in Verona, New Jersey. For more information, click here.
A Giant Supporter
Patients of The Valerie Fund have a network of supporters.
Jim Cimino remembers the special visitor who came to see his 20-year-old son, Zippy.
"About 9:30 at night at the hospital, who comes through the door? It's Odell Beckham," Cimino said. "And it was like Zippy saw Santa Claus."
Valerie Fund: A Giant Supporter
The Giants receiver had heard about Zippy's bout with lymphoma. And Zippy gave Beckham two plastic bracelets with the words "Zippy Strong" on them.
But Zippy did not expect what came next.
When Beckham made his signature one-handed catch against the Cowboys last season, he was wearing the bracelets.
"We were all watching, and the first thing Zippy jumped up and says, 'My bracelets are on that wrist!'" Cimino said.
"You have a lot of ups and downs through this, and it helped us through a very tough period of time."
Zippy and his family are giving back, raising money for The Valerie Fund to help others make it through a tough time, too.
