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

DEREK HOFFMAN RHABDO 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 $19,840 as of May 2007. 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.