The Luke Neuhedel Foundation is dedicated to improving the quality of life for children with cancer through education, research, and aid to families in need.
Our goal is to share Luke's attitude toward life. Luke experienced life as a child, and shared that vision with all people he met. Everything was exciting, a new discovery, whether it was a robin hopping across the lawn or a trip to Disney World. We want to spread Luke's lesson in two ways:
1. We will give children with cancer experiences that will improve their
quality of life. This is different for each child. We especially seek to
help children like Luke whose age may disqualify them from other "wish"-type organizations, i.e., hildren 2 and under and 19 and over.
2. We want other children, especially those with rare liver cancers,
to have better odds than Luke did for survival. We give assistance to families and children undergoing experimental treatments.
Luke and his siblings George, Morgan Faye, and Guenevere
Paul and Becky never thought about pediatric cancer prior to August 2, 1999. That day Luke opened the door to a new world -- a world through which most children do not have to pass. But 35% of the children who are shoved through that door die each year. Childhood cancer is the #1 killer of children and adolescents in North America. More children die annually from cancer than from AIDs, asthma, cystic fibrosis, congenital anomalies, and diabetes -- combined. Every year 13,000 U.S. children are diagnosed with cancer -- that's two classrooms PER DAY. These children endure chemotherapy, surgery, radiation, spinal taps -- and one-third die despite the best efforts. The short lives that children with cancer live deserve days of fun, love, and laughter. Our goal is to supply children with happy days and to improve their odds of survival by supporting research.
OUR MISSION
Since the beginning of Luke's Foundation in April 2002 LNF has helped thousands of children with cancer, either through grants to families to help with expenses, or through LNF's quality of life events. LNF has brought smiles to thousands of children with cancer through our Annual Toy Drive (which, as the years pass, becomes one conitnuous toy drive, as we just can't say no!). LNF has sent toys to ped-onc centers in NC, NY, NJ, CT, Fl, MO, CA, TX, IN, and continues to seek new institutions that can benefit from our toy collection.
LNF puts all the money donated where it is most needed --- to the kids and their families. While some organizations need to use the donations they receive to pay employees, benefits, office rent, LNF doesn't do that. LNF is run entirely by volunteers, and is headed by Luke's parents out of Luke's home. `Donations to LNF average about $10,000 each year --- and there are always more families waiting, or we could give families sending in requests more, to help make their fight for their child less stressful. Please remember this when you make your donation, and let others know.
Every dollar makes a difference, every donation brings a smile!
1. We will give children with cancer experiences that will improve their
