The Valerie Fund’s Annual Walk/5K Fundraiser for kids battling cancer and blood disorder will be held on September 17th in Verona Park

(April 4, 2022 Maplewood, NJ)- The Valerie Fund is excited to host our Annual Walk/5K, with the continued support of our Presenting Sponsors Ed & Sue Goldstein and our Exclusive Sponsor of the 5K- JAG-ONE Physical Therapy. Our mission of supporting area children being treated for cancer and blood disorders continues as strongly as ever.

Now in its 17th year, the 2022 Valerie Fund Walk & 5K presented by Ed and Sue Goldstein & JAG-ONE Physical Therapy will return to Essex County's Verona Park. September is designated Childhood Cancer Awareness and Sickle Cell Awareness month, which makes it the perfect time to celebrate and support the 6,000 Valerie Fund kids seen each year at one of our seven centers. This community-wide gathering will be a wonderful opportunity to applaud their courage and resilience while educating the public about these pediatric diseases.
The 2nd Annual Lawyers Run will take place again, alongside the walk. Last year, the Lawyers Run raised over $25,000! Through the strong support of this community, we have the opportunity to help more children get the services they need.

Our new partnership with Verona Township aligns with the values of the town, its residents and the businesses that make up the community, all coming together to support a cause that is particularly important to the township this year, as two residents have recently been diagnosed and treated at a Valerie Fund Center.
The Learning Experience is this years' Exclusive Sponsor of our Kids Sprint, a 100-meter sprint for kids 12 and under! The Learning Experience teaches kids about the importance of generosity and giving through the teaching of philanthropy. The walk serves as a first-hand experience for kids in the community on how they can make a positive difference in society.
All of our sponsors, new or continuing, make the work that The Valerie Fund does each year possible. We'd like to thank Ed & Sue Goldstein, JAG-ONE Physical Therapy, RWJ Barnabas Health, Atlantic Health System, Bristol Myers Squibb, West Deptford Energy, CBOE Global markets, St. Joseph's Children's Hospital, Servier, and Merck.
TEN MILLION DOLLARS AND COUNTING! We can fight childhood cancers and blood disorders..... together! To learn more about the event and to register for the Sanctioned 5K race and the Walk, go to www.thevaleriefund.org/Walk2021/org . Many questions can be answered by referring to the website's FAQ tab or call The Valerie Fund offices at 973-761-0422.
Ed Goldstein said, "Sue and I are very thankful for the expanded support of so many sponsors, teams and individuals for this event. The outpouring of community support is so very important and continues to help us reach our $1,000,000 goal each year. Every single gift to support the children and families of The Valerie Fund makes a difference in the life of a child with cancer or a blood disorder. We are always looking to have more people join us as together we fight cancer and blood disorders."

#BecauseofValerie After their nine-year-old daughter Valerie succumbed to cancer, Sue and Ed Goldstein were determined that no family should have to travel great distances to receive superior medical care. Along with a group of close friends, they began fundraising efforts from their living room---tireless work that would lead to the 1977 opening of New Jersey's first pediatric oncology facility at Summit Overlook's Hospital. More than forty years later, The Valerie Fund's mission remains that of supporting comprehensive health care for children battling cancer and blood disorders.

The Valerie Fund addresses the most immediate needs of patients and families whose lives are suddenly and dramatically upended. Core services provide emotional, practical, and financial support complementing state-of-the art medical treatment at seven Valerie Fund Children's Centers located in New Jersey, New York and metro Philadelphia. The hallmark of The Valerie Fund services ensures that families and hospitals do not have to rely on insurance reimbursements to receive the range of support of a multi-disciplinary team including a staff of social workers, psychologists, child life specialists, and educational liaisons. More than 6,000 children with cancer and blood disorders are treated annually---a network that is one of the largest of its kind in the country.

For more information, please contact Bunny Flanders, Director of Marketing and Communications at bflanders@thevaleriefund.org.