APPLY FOR A GRANT
The Jenna Westerholm Pediatric Help$ Program is available to provide grants of $250 to Sarcoma patients under the age of 22 and currently undergoing treatment in children cancer care medical facility in AK, ID, MT, OR, or WA.
WHY WE HELP
Chris & Michele Westerholm
We first heard about Northwest Sarcoma Foundation shortly after our two year old daughter, Jenna, was diagnosed with rhabdomyosarcoma in 2006. We gathered a small group of friends and family to walk with us and support our journey at the Dragonslayer walk at Greenlake. Tragically, on January 22, 2009 Sarcoma took her life. Team Jenna continues to walk every year in her memory.
Throughout Jenna’s three years of treatment we missed many days of work, our income was greatly reduced, and our son, Braden, was born. We personally felt the financial and emotional strain caused by having a seriously ill child. Without the financial support from friends and family, we would not have been able to pay our bills.
After Jenna’s death, we wanted to honor her memory and express our appreciation for the support that we’d been given, and in turn pass that along to other families. To accomplish this desire, we founded The Dragon’s Last Ride, a motorcycle ride that raises funds for pediatric Sarcoma families. Grants are dispersed by the foundation through the Jenna Westerholm Pediatric Help$ Program (Jenna Help$).
Honestly, it takes an enormous amount of work to put on an event. We spend at least six months planning the event, finding sponsors, gathering raffle items, designing t-shirts, advertising, and ensuring that everything is ready for the big day. Then, after the event, we pay for expenses, finish up spreadsheets, send out thank you notes, and brainstorm for the next year. But, the reward of walking beside Sarcoma families and providing them with hope far outweighs the work.
Friends continue to help us on this journey, many whom we’ve met along the way. Darlis Elliott expanded the ride to Alaska in 2013 (in memory of Katie) and Chris Dantzscher started an off-road ride in 2016. We’d like to invite you to join us as well—as an attendee of the ride or the lunch that follows, as a volunteer, or to help us spread the word! Or perhaps you have a big idea of your own? If we work together, we can all make a difference in the Sarcoma community.
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"First of all we want to say thank you very much from the bottom of our hearts. Your help has helped us tremendously and it came at a time that we absolutely needed it. It was unexpected and I literally cried. We are behind on our mortgage along with car payments and this check brought us current on our mortgage. We just have the month November to pay now. You don’t understand what a relief this is for us. Thank you! I had to stop working to care for my daughter so we are trying to survive on my husbands income. We so appreciate your kindness and help. Thank you!"