The Valerie Fund News

The Valerie Fund’s Annual Walk & 5K scheduled for June 6th

Fundraiser for kids battling cancer and blood disorders in Verona Park

Marking Fifty Years of Hope and Healing For Our Kids

(April 8, 2026, Maplewood, NJ) Now in its 21st year, The Valerie Fund Walk & 5K Run, presented by Ed & Sue Goldstein and JAG Physical Therapy, returns to Essex County’s Verona Park on June 6th. This community-wide event gathers thousands together to celebrate and honor The Valerie Fund patients battling pediatric cancer and blood disorders. The Valerie Fund is marking 50 years of comprehensive care for our kids, and this signature community event has raised awareness and funds, creating a lasting impact.

The popular 50/50 raffle will be back, the winner drawn at Verona Park. Tickets are offered at $25 each or a booklet of 5 for $100.  Raffle tickets may be purchased through team captains, online at www.TheValerieFund.org/Walk, or at your local JAG Physical Therapy clinic. The holder of the winning ticket does not need to be present on the day to win.

The Color Run Kid Sprint, sponsored by The Learning Express, is back, as is the Family Games area sponsored by Schumacher Chevrolet. The Oritani Charitable Foundation is our exclusive Kids Entertainment sponsor. If you are interested in any sponsorship opportunities, please contact Leah DelPiano at ldepiano@thevaleriefund.org.

Thank you to our sponsors for the ongoing support of our amazing Valerie Fund Kids and their families.

Special thanks to Ed and Sue Goldstein, our founders and presenting sponsors. Thank you to JAG Physical Therapy for being our exclusive run sponsor. Thank you to Village Super Markets, RWJ Barnabas, Atlantic Health, Burger King, CBS TV, Dunkin’ Joy in Childhood Foundation, Inserra Supermarkets, Bank of America, CBOE, Hackensack University Hospital, Hope & Heroes, Tyler Hill Camp, St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital Foundation, and Servier Pharmaceuticals.

 OVER FOURTEEN  MILLION DOLLARS AND COUNTING! We can fight childhood cancers and blood disorders….. together!  To learn more about the event and to register for the USATF sanctioned 5K race and the Walk, go to https://thevaleriefund.org/Walk. Many questions can be answered by referring to the website’s FAQ tab or call The Valerie Fund offices at 973-761-0422. 

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. Fifty years later, The Valerie Fund’s mission remains to support 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 eight Valerie Fund Children’s Centers and a dedicated Pediatric Pain and Palliative Care Program 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 6,500 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.

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