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- 2011 Teen Variety Show has been cancelled due to the unavailability of key TAC volunteers.
- Next year's fundraiser will be held during summer. More detailed information will be available sometime in March or April.
We invite you to explore the story behind our organization, and encourage you to not only find ways to help TAC but other cancer related organizations as well. With our collective effort, we are hopeful that a cure for many forms of cancers will be found in our lifetime.
- Raise money to help our three charities:
- Derek Hoffman Rhabdomyosarcoma Research Fund
- M.D. Anderson Volunteer Program
- Make-A-Wish Foundation
- Empower teenagers to help young cancer patients by utilizing their
- time and effort
- talents
- creative skills
- 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. |
- Fundraiser Summary
- What We Did
- Video Clip
- Special Thank You
- M.D. Anderson Derek Hoffman Fund...................$13,595
- M.D. Anderson Pediatric Reading Program.........$1,000
- Make-A-Wish Foundation:................................................$200
Car Wash by West High Inter Act group
Megan and Melanie worked with the West High Inter Act group members to organize a car wash fundraiser on November 1, at the parking lot of Papa John's restaurant. These teens worked diligently for three hours and raised $175 for M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. TAC appreciates unexpected support from the West High Inter Act group who generously volunteered their time on two occasions to not only wash cars but bake cookies to sell at the car wash.
Brothers raise $350 from Garage Sale
When I heard what these boys have done I couldn't help but laugh and beam with pride. Kevin, Matthew, and Patrick are the stars of this story.
So how this began was when they found out that they could not go to this year's show: they decided to host a garage sale and all of the money would go towards the Derek Hoffman Rhabdomyosarcoma research fund. They dug through their entire garage and house and raised over $300 in one Saturday! And then came the time to decide what to do with the money. Their mother gave them the choice to take fifty dollars each and donate the other half. Matthew and Patrick (the two older ones) immediately said that they did not need it and wanted to donate it. Kevin decided to take the money, though. I would think that he definitely deserved it after such a hard day of work. But according to his parents, his decision was not a set one. All day he wrestled with himself until finally after one day he asked his mother where he could put the money so that he too could donate his portion.Isn't that amazing, or what? Now those are some real heroes. -Jennifer Matsui
Reduced Theater Rental Fee
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Garage Sale on Saturday raised $390!
Jennifer and her friends are grateful for Auntie Terry's valuable help in organizing the first TAC Garage Sale. Had it not been for Autie Terry's many valuable information -i.e. how to increase the traffic and the sales - we would not have raised almost $400 in one day! Thank you, Melanie, Cassidy, Jessica, Jamie, Megan Ki., Megan Ku., Chaya for coming out early in the morning to help set up and sell the donated items. You are awesome!
- The Mayor and City Council members voted to subsideze a portion of Armstrong Theater rental fee by $500. What a generous support from the Torrance city government! (7/8)
- A generous donation of $500 came from a private donor in Torrance, wanting to help these teens who share donor's compassion. (6/24)
- Daily Breeze Article (8/28): TAC is very grateful to Daily Breeze for writing about Teen Variety Show.
- Special Thanks to 2008 Fundraiser Supporters: Ann Mikols, Sharon Eaton, Terry Nichols, Aunt Janet, Kathy Melillo, Eleanor Jones, and Kimberly Yu....
- A generous donation of $1,000 came from B.J.'s restaurant for M.D.Anderson Rhabdo Research Fund.
- The support from various businesses is just overwhelming. TAC is very blessed by the generous food donations from:
- B.J.'s, P.F Chang, Starbucks, Souplantation, Red Lobster, the Loft
- Togo's, Elephant Bar, CPK, , Marie Callendar's, Claim Jumper, Target, Ralphs & How's, Panda Express, El Torito.
From the day we started this organization, SIX years ago, to today, Teens Against Cancer has always had one goal: to make a positive impact on pediatric cancer patients. And the exciting part is that the friends who were with me from the beginning are still involved for the same reasons. I don't know how I can summarize this past summer in a paragraph, or even in a hundred, but I'll do my best. I must say that it has been an experience too great and exciting for words (now that sounded cheesy)! The three months leading up to the August show were the craziest. It was a blur of meetings, crafts, traveling to stores, calling performers, designing flyers, planning garage sales, and worrying. Yes, there was PLENTY of worrying on my part. But whenever I felt so stressed that I thought I would collapse, my friends were there to support me from all sides. The day of the show was the absolute best part. The performances were amazing and the people who came were wonderful. I still can not believe that we were able to sell out! And the total money raised took my breath away too. This year Teens Against Cancer raised over $12,000! That is over one-thousand dollars more than last year, which is very impressive. A few days ago I took a moment to think about how much TAC has raised throughout the years towards pediatric cancer patients, and if I am not mistaken, it is over $41,000! Before I finish, I also need to give a warm thank-you to everyone who contributed 'behind the scenes'. Even though a handful of people could not make it to the performance, that did not stop them from getting involved in some way. And I truly look up to every single person who has such a giving heart; giving so freely and expecting nothing in return. I just hope that if I was put in the same situation, I would have done the same. So I end this letter to all who are reading with hope. Because there is no way that I can not. Every day I hope and dream of the time when cancer will finally be eradicated. Gone. Forever. And even though I am well aware that there are so many other problems in the world, I want to focus for the present on fixing just one of them. With much love....... Jennifer Matsui |
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