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The Valerie Fund Children's Center at Monmouth Medical Center Makes Noise to Raise Awareness for Pediatric Cancer

The Valerie Fund Children’s Center at Monmouth Medical Center Makes Noise to Raise Awareness for Pediatric Cancer

The Valerie Fund Children’s Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders, part of The Unterberg Children’s Hospital at Monmouth Medical Center, recently hosted a tree-lighting ceremony and reception honoring Make Some Noise: Cure Kids Cancer Foundation as part of the Go Gold for Pediatric Cancer Campaign. A joint effort of Make Some Noise: Cure Kids Cancer Foundation and Monmouth Medical Center, the campaign is designed to raise awareness of childhood cancer and the need for critical research funding during the month of September, recognized nationally as Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.

The event, which was held in front of the Sea Bright fire house, featured personal perspectives from children and families who have benefited from The Valerie Fund Children’s Center at Monmouth Medical Center, as well as commentary from Lt. Governor Kim Guadagno; Mayor Dina Long of Sea Bright; and Margaret Fisher, M.D., chair of pediatrics and medical director of The Unterberg Children’s Hospital at Monmouth Medical Center.

Participants placed gold ribbons – the trademark color of the Make Some Noise Foundation – on the tree and were then invited to raise their voices for pediatric cancer awareness alongside ringing church bells and fire alarms.

“We are excited to bring the Sea Bright community together to raise awareness and ‘make some noise’ for such an important cause. Pediatric cancer is a disease with a devastating impact on both children and their families. There is a crucial need for more pediatric cancer research and funding,” said Susan Dulczak, clinical director, The Valerie Fund Children’s Center at Monmouth Medical Center.

Also on-hand at the event was information on Roll Out The Ribbons, Monmouth Medical Center’s unique awareness campaign designed to strengthen the fight against all types of cancer and honor courageous individuals who have fought and are fighting the battle.

Throughout the summer, members of the local community had the opportunity to dedicate personalized, multi-colored Ribbons of Honor that were tied to the “Promenade of Hope” along the Long Branch boardwalk to deliver messages of hope and healing to the community. Optional donations benefit programs and services for patients and family members of both the Leon Hess Cancer Center and The Valerie Fund Children’s Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders. The campaign has since moved indoors and is now located at the Monmouth Mall to honor pediatric, prostate, breast and lung cancer awareness months. Ribbons of Honor can be submitted for free online at www.rollouttheribbons.com or by filling out a short form at more than 70 participating retail locations.

To learn more about Roll Out The Ribbons, please visitwww.rollouttheribbons.com or call 1-877-360-6275. Get connected by “liking” Roll Out The Ribbons on Facebook and following @RollOutRibbons on Twitter.

For more information about Make Some Noise, visitwww.makenoise4kids.org. For further information about The Unterberg Children’s Hospital at Monmouth Medical Center or the Valerie Fund, please visit www.barnabashealth.org/Monmouth.

PHOTO: Gathering at the tree-lighting ceremony in front of the Sea Bright fire house are, standing from left, pediatric oncologist Heather Grossman, M.D.; Margaret Fisher, M.D., chair of pediatrics and medical director of The Unterberg Children’s Hospital; Make Some Noise: Cure Kids Cancer Foundation founder Malcolm Sutherland-Foggio; New Jersey Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno; and Carol Stillwell, a member of the Monmouth Medical Center Foundation Board of Trustees and friend of the hospital’s Valerie Fund Center. Seated from left are Mayor Dina Long of Sea Bright and Susan Dulczak, clinical director and nurse practitioner with the Valerie Fund, as well as Valerie Fund pet therapy dog, Maja, and a patient and family members.

About Monmouth Medical Center

Located in Long Branch, N.J., Monmouth Medical Center, a Barnabas Health facility, along with The Children’s Hospital at Monmouth Medical Center, is one of New Jersey's largest academic medical centers and has been a teaching affiliate of Philadelphia’s Drexel University College of Medicine for more than 40 years. From its earliest days, Monmouth Medical Center has been a leader in surgical advancement and has introduced many technological firsts to the region, including robotic surgery and other minimally invasive techniques. The hospital is routinely recognized by HealthGrades, the nation’s largest premier independent health care quality company, for excellence in both emergency medicine and maternity care. U.S. News & World Report has recognized Monmouth as a regional leader in cancer, geriatrics, gynecology, neurology and neurosurgery. For more information on Monmouth Medical Center, visit www.barnabashealth.org

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