“Mad Hatter” Tea Party Benefits Nevada’s Only
Long-Term Follow-Up Clinic for Childhood Cancer Survivors
The public is invited to an afternoon of tea, sandwiches, cakes — and a double dose of whimsy — as Cure 4 The Kids Foundation presents a special “Mad Hatter” tea party on Saturday, April 16, 2016, at the Four Seasons Hotel Las Vegas.
The theme of the fundraising event is based on the Lewis Carroll classic story Alice in Wonderland, and will raise funds for the Long-Term Follow-Up Clinic for Childhood Cancer Survivors, Nevada’s only clinic focused solely on the needs of childhood cancer survivors.
The survival rate for many forms of childhood cancer is 82%. This remarkable increase in survival is due to aggressive chemotherapy, radiation, and surgeries. These treatments that save the lives of children and young adults often cause side effects after treatment is complete. In fact, two-thirds of childhood cancer survivors have at least one serious, chronic medical condition. Being aware of these possible side effects, scheduling needed testing and referrals, and educating patients and families about specific risk factors will lead to longer and healthier lives for childhood cancer survivors. That’s why Cure 4 The Kids Foundation and the Children’s Specialty Center of Nevada created the Long-Term Follow-Up Clinic (LTFU) for Childhood Cancer Survivors.
Under the direction of Alexandra Walsh, M.D., MSPH, the LTFU clinic screens all childhood cancer survivors no matter where cancer treatment was provided, giving survivors an individualized plan at a multidisciplinary clinic where patients and families can meet with a social worker, neuropsychologist, endocrinologist, education specialist and complementary medicine specialist—all in one day.
“These children and young adults spent a large portion of their childhoods undergoing serious treatment that included chemotherapy, radiation and in some cases surgery,” said Alexandra Walsh, M.D., Director of the Long-Term Follow-Up Clinic. “We want to keep these survivors as healthy as possible long into the future and provide them as much information about how their particular treatment could affect their future health, and give patients and families information about how to advocate for needed services.”
At the initial clinic visit, a binder is presented to each patient with educational information, treatment summary, and follow-up recommendations. Patients are seen in the clinic at least yearly and scheduled for any needed testing or follow-up services after their clinic visit. Because of Cure 4 The Kids Foundation’s 501(c)(3) nonprofit status and mission, these services are available to those survivors without medical insurance or without the ability to pay for treatment.
The “Mad Hatter” Tea Party is being held in the Palms Room at the Four Season Hotel Las Vegas from Noon to 4 p.m. A limited number of tickets are available for the event and can be purchased online for $130 before March 31, 2016, at survivor.auction-bid.org. Tickets purchased in April are $150. Donors who would like to sponsor a childhood cancer survivor to attend the tea party can receive additional information by calling Dawn Marie Pavuk at 702-732-0952.
Along with extravagant offerings of bottomless mimosas, tea, cakes, petit fours, sandwiches and other treats, guests will be entertained by roving characters. In addition to a silent auction, talented balloon artist Tawney Bubbles will design a number of outrageous balloon tea hats for purchase. All donated funds will go toward the Long-Term Follow-Up Clinic for Childhood Cancer Survivors.
The Long-Term Follow-Up clinic for childhood cancer survivors is the only clinic of its kind in Nevada. It is designed to address the specific needs of childhood cancer survivors and the long term affects any of their treatments may have on their future health. Dr. Alexandra Walsh (center) is surrounded by current patients of the Long-Term Follow-Up clinic, as well as some of their siblings. As a program of Cure 4 The Kids Foundation, all patients at the Long-Term Follow-Up clinic are accepted with or without medical insurance and regardless of a patient’s ability to pay for treatment.
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Cure 4 The Kids Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Its mission is to provide funding and access to the latest medical treatments for those facing life-threatening diseases such as cancer, rare and ultra-rare diseases, inherited bleeding disorders, rheumatological and genetic conditions. Dr. Jonathan Bernstein founded Cure 4 The Kids Foundation in 2007. Bernstein saw firsthand the difficulties faced by families whose children were affected by serious illnesses but didn’t have the financial resources or health insurance to receive treatment. Cure 4 The Kids Foundation was created with these families in mind. Cure 4 The Kids Foundation’s Charity Care Program ensures patients at the Children’s Specialty Center of Nevada and the Hemophilia Treatment Center of Nevada receive medical treatment regardless of family income or presence of health insurance. www.cure4thekids.org