• Pictures from the variety show are on-line.
  • Album 1
  • Album 2
  • Album 3
• Thank you EVERYONE for your support!

1. Raise money to help our three charities:
   • Derek Hoffman Rhabdomyosarcoma Research Fund
   • M.D. Anderson Volunteer Program
   • Make-A-Wish Foundation
2. Empower teenagers to help young cancer patients by utilizing their
• time and effort
• talents
• creative skills
3. Promote awareness to communities around us that teens can make a concrete impact in:
• the development of improved cancer treatments for kids
• organizations that support pediatric cancer patients

A small step towards a big dream for

Rhabodomyosarcoma Cancer Research Fund

The Snap Shot article from National Cancer Institute stated that "Between infancy and 15 years of age, cancer is the leading cause of death by disease among U.S. children. Approximately 9,500 new cases of pediatric cancer are expected to occur in this age group in 2006." However, due to increased pediatric research funding and improved treatments, "mortality in the [invasive] cancer group has declined dramatically for many childhood cancers." Increased survival rate is extremely comforting to know but the statistics for patients with later stage cancer or rare form of cancers are still disappointing. That was the case for Jennifer's favorite cousin, Derek. According to American Cancer Society, "Rhabdomyosarcoma accounts for about 3% of childhood cancers....About 60% of these cases are diagnosed in children under the age of 10." It is not surprising that research done on this particular type of cancer is much less than those cancers with higher incidence rate. When the available medicine did not work on Derek, he received new experimental drugs that were developed to treat more common types of cancers.

After losing Derek to cancer in September 2003, his parents, Yoon and Tom Hoffman, have set up a research fund (Derek Hoffman Rhabdomyosarcoma Research Fund) at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas, to give hope to future pediatric cancer patients via more available treatments than what their son received. Jennifer is so eager to see their dream come true, because it is her dream also. The initial research fund establishment fee of $2500 was quickly amassed -thanks to Jennifer's 2004 fundraiser. Through generous donations from individual donors and Jennifer's fundraisers, the research fund has accumulated $50,000 as of August 2009. The goal of Teens Against Cancer organization is to financially support this research fund, so researchers will have the resources to develop effective treatments that can brighten the future of Rhbadomyosarcoma patients.

For the love of reading...

The Book-Man

When kids are weakened by strong chemo treatments, they often resort to no activities (i.e. sleeping, watching TV) or very low level activities.Understanding the needs of such group of young patients, M.D. Anderson -a hospital with state-of art cancer research programs -also provides a Reading Program to nurture the minds of these patients who lack the energy and spirit to even get out of their room sometimes.

During such down time, a visit from "Book-man" is a real treat for most kids. Jennifer is very thankful for the "Book-man's" relentless effort to get these young boys and girls excited about reading and providing them with books. She knows, as a result of Book-man's effort and the Volunteer Reading Program, countless kids like her late-cousin, Derek, have never lost the love of reading even though some have lost the battle with cancer.

It is the hope of Teens Against Cancer organization that M.D. Anderson's Volunteer Reading Program continues to provide more books to these young patients so their love of reading never stops. Jennifer and her friends are grateful for the opportunity to help the program financially through their annual fundraiser.

Make-A-Wish Foundation gift

For many years, Make A Wish Foundation has been generously helping countless children with life-threatening illnesses. Their compassionate work has touched many children's lives by providing them with unexpected surprise gifts and making their wish come true. Thanks to Make A Wish Foundation, Derek's wish for a puppy came true in the summer of 2003. This precious, few weeks old puppy -which Derek named, Shilo -was a perfect companion for him at that time. Derek loved to cuddle with Shilo and fall a sleep together.

Jennifer and her friends would like to extend their appreciation to Make A Wish Foundation for their effort in helping pediatric patients by donating part of the fundraiser proceeds to their organization. We hope that you will make a difference in pediatric cancer patients lives by supporting this wonderful foundation.

Bitter Sweet Time

Derek was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer, Rhabdomyosarcomas, only a day before his mom's baby shower. Although he wanted to be near his mom and dad to welcome the birth of his baby sister, Ashley, who was born two weeks later, Derek had to stay at the hospital to receive chemo treatments. When his new born sister, Ashley, finally came to visit him at the hospital, Derek was in complete joy and happiness -affectionately holding her in his arms.

Derek: Courageous, Smart, Funny

Derek was only five when he was diagnosed with cancer in 2001. After the initial surgery and large dose of chemo treatments, he continued his Kindergarten classes under Independent Study Program. His parents made sure that Derek was treated like any other kids, except when he was feeling weak from chemo. He excelled in school but if he had the choice, he would rather spend time figuring out how to build the latest and greatest lego set or figure out the best strategy to win various video games. Because he was so good at what he did, he could even challenge adults at their level. Behind his creative mind was quick wittedness and a great sense of humor like his dad. One of the favorite things Derek like to do was share funny jokes with people, especially Jennifer. Because she would laugh so heartedly, he got even more big kick out of making Jennifer crack up through his jokes.

Everyone can find resources to help others if they look in the right places. They do not need to be big or extravagant, nor do they have to be expensive. Often ,they are the small, practical things that kept the TAC moving forward with creative fundraising ideas. Upon hearing about the fundraiser effort, Mrs. Bunch, Jennifer's 6th grade English teacher, without hesitation offered to contribute something.To give the girls an opportunity to raise money via selling jellies, she combined her resources, grapes from huge grape vines in her back yard, and her experience in making homemade grape jellies. Although selling grape jellies brought in $200 the first year, the jelly making lesson taught them a general knowledge about making jellies and jams. The experience they gained gave them confidence and has allowed them to make strawberry jams the next year. Mrs. Bunch, bless her heart, has never lost her cool throughout the entire grape jelly sessions, constantly encouraging and praising the girls for their good work.

One of Jennifer's distant relatives who own a strawberry farm in Riverside generously donated 18 to 20 pounds of strawberries for TAC's jam making effort in 2005 and 2006. The owner's only request was to be remained anonymous. To respect his wish but still recognize his kindness, we decided to refer him as our "Strawberry Man".

After making grape jellies in the summer of 2004, Jennifer and her friends took on a challenge of making strawberry jams -without an expert but only with an instruction from a "Certo" packet. Although they were only thirteen years old then, their confidence allowed them to successfully make delicious strawberry jams all by themselves. From crushing strawberries to watching them bubble to the brim as Certo was poured into the pot, these hard working girls had an incredible time over five to six hours. The best part for the day was to see their final products -homemade strawberry jams in rows of jam bottles, all lined up and ready to be sold!

Sister of Derek's grandmother, also known as "Aunt Janet", is a gifted sewer with a big heart. Wanting to help the fundraiser, Aunt Janet brought many handmade seasonal craft items to annual fundraisers since 2004. Such a generous contribution brought festive atmosphere to block parties.

Her restless creativity could not be contained even after the fundraiser was done for the year. Using the earlier "Kids Against Cancer" logo, Aunt Janet printed the design on a fabric, collected KAC girl's signatures, made a quilt and presented to Derek's parents as a reminder of Derek's memory in Jennifer's fundraiser effort.

In 2008, Aunt Janet taught the TAC girls how to make holiday aprons, hair scrunchies, etc. Although she patiently showed them how to sew, sewing did not come easy to these girls who had a very little experience in sewing. But their tenacities paid off eventually, making over forty hair scrunchies to be sold at the fundraiser.