2013 began with my husband in the hospital with pneumonia and ended with our daughter battling what we thought was just a persistent virus. As I watched kids' cancer commercials, I naively thought, "Thank God it'll never happen to my kids." Then, in January of 2014 at age 11, our daughter was diagnosed with high-risk pre-B ALL. Our world shattered. Eleven years, countless near-death experiences, a secondary cancer (Sertoli-Leydig Cell Tumor) and a Graves' Disease diagnosis later, she's still fighting. Through it all, the Valerie Fund has been our lifeline, supporting us emotionally, financially, and even educationally through a Valerie Fund Scholarship for our daughter. Now, at 53, I'm running my first 5K as Captain Hope, the Valerie Fund's superhero mascot, designed by young patients to give hope. My daughter even wrote Captain Hope's activity book https://thevaleriefund.org/for-patients-and-families/patient-activity-book/ ! This is our way of giving back to the organization that saved us, a way to channel my anxiety and PTSD into something positive. Please join us in celebrating the 20th Annual Valerie Fund Walk/5K Run

Presented by Ed and Sue Goldstein & JAG Physical Therapy– run, walk, donate, and help the Valerie Fund continue their incredible work.

#CaptainHope #Thevaleriefund #TVFNJ #becauseofvalerie #AlwaysAValerieKid #pediatriccancer #Blooddisorders