The Summer's way Foundation is striving to make a real difference in the lives of children and families impacted by childhood cancer. With your donation we will get ever closer to making childhood cancer survivable, while empowering our youth to embrace life and live it fully.
The Summer's Way Foundation Workshop from my perspective was a meeting that served its purpose well. I came away even more energized to do more for the Rhabdo (RMS) patients in years to come and it started a collaboration between myself and other researchers to advance new therapies in RMS.(CV Cold Spring Harbor Lab)
The Summer's Way Foundation presented a powerful program that left us leaving there feeling a renewed sense of our mission. I have been to several similar ones, but I think the most exciting thing to come from this one was seeing how research groups and the foundations are aligning. I truly believe we have critical mass to make some things happen, (JS National Cancer Institute.)
Am so honored to be the first recipient of the "Summer's Way/Friends of TJ Young Investigator Grant for 2019/20. (Katie Hebron PhD NCI/NIH)
Our daughter was a recent recipient of a wig by the SWF, " I cant believe the difference it makes in her whole emotional state. It brings back a precious glimpse of normal life".
We are so appreciative of the Summer's Way Foundation supporting a much needed program "Healing through the Arts". This program is afforded to our patients who must be isolated for prolonged period on the oncology unit and bone marrow transplant services. We believe it will provide much needed emotional and mental health support during these long hospitalizations.
Recognizing the low priority and current lack of support, the Summer's way Foundation has as its mission to find a cure for every patient diagnosed with Rhabdomyosarcoma and ultimately other rare childhood cancers, promote early detection, and serve as a support to patients and families impacted by childhood cancer.
The Summer's Way Foundation is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization created in memory of Summer Hammond, a remarkable young woman who exuded joy, positivity, and determination. Diagnosed with Rhabdomyosarcoma at the age of 16, she refused to allow the cancer to define her. She remained forever positive, incredibly strong and strove constantly to be a better person. Her story and how she embraced life proved to be inspirational for those facing adversity, and has had a lasting impact on those who knew her.
The Summer's Way Foundation in an effort to advance new therapeutics in the treatment of less common childhood cancers, started the process of breaking down silos between the scientific and clinical researchers from around the coutry and internationally back in 2018 at its 1st International Rhabdomyosarcoma Workshop. Since then there have been 4 subsequent biannual workshops held in Denver. These workshops have had a significant impact nationally and internationally building for the first time a collaborative and productive scientific community and creating for the first time a Rhabdo Coalition of foundations to support the research community. Our most recent workshop was held October, 2023 at Rose Medical Center, with several major initiatives advanced and the creation of ongoing work groups that have focused on drug prioritization and data sharing.
The most recent research initiatives have included support of a Master Statistician who has thus far analyzed over 2000 specimens for the Soft Tissue Sarcoma branch of the Children's Oncology Group at NIH. This 3 year supported grant has produced enormous data analysis and is ultimately helping to accelerate the development of more effective treatments for childhood sarcomas.
Summer's Way has established a Young Investigator's Grant program in conjunction with Friends of TJ Foundation. The recipients of the $50,000 grants to date are Katie Hebron PhD NCI/NIH 2019-2020. Claudia Yun Wei PhD Langenau Lab 2021-2022, Dr. Patience Obasaju Hopkins Medicine 2023-2024, and Christine Lu 2025-2026.
Summer's Way has continueed to support the Rhabdomyosarcoma efforts through the Beat Childhood Cancer Consortium with support to ongoing clinical trials.
Within the community, Summer's Way Foundation has established a Wigs for Teens Program where the cost of a hairpiece is covered by Summer's Way in conjunction with Hana Designs. We have also initiating this October, our most ambitious in hospital program "Healing through the Arts" at Rocky Mountain Hospital for Children. This program will provide individual art therapy session by a registered Art Therapist to those children and teens on the bone marrow transplant service or who are experiencing long term hospitalization. These kids are facing the greatest of adversity along with the isolation and emotional stress that accompanies their cancers. Studies have shown improved healing, lower pain levels and improved psycho -social interactions through the art medium. Summer's Way has likewise established a Scholarship program at Grandview High School that recognizes graduating seniors who have faced adversity and excelled.
Our Foundation continues to strive to represent the values of Summer Hammond in making this world and one another "better people".
Organization name
Summer's Way Foundation
other names
SWF
Tax id (EIN)
81-5312474
Category
Medical Research, Diseases, Disorders & Medical Disciplines, Health Care, Youth Development
Address
6282 S Netherland WayOther
6282 S. Netherland WayArapahoe County, CO, US